Public Works Director

Job Description

Job Description

Seaside sits on Oregon's North Coast, where the Necanicum River runs through a historic downtown, and Tillamook Head rises two miles to the south. Roughly 7,334 people live here year-round, and another 1.3 million visit annually, giving the city an average daily population of 15,000 to 20,000. Incorporated in 1899, the community is anchored by a century-old, 1.5-mile oceanfront Promenade and a walkable downtown of shops, restaurants, and galleries, with the Turnaround at Broadway as one of Oregon's most iconic landmarks. Residents enjoy hiking, surfing, birding, and kayaking, schools rebuilt in 2021, and a 90-minute drive to Portland.

Seaside operates under a Council-Manager form of government, with a seven-member City Council (including the Mayor) setting policy and a City Manager overseeing daily operations on a budget of approximately $38.4 million. The Public Works Department employs 25 staff across Administration (4), Streets (7), Water (6), and Wastewater (8). The Department's work spans water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, streets and stormwater, parks and facilities, fleet, the municipal airport, and Evergreen Cemetery. Emergency response, regulatory compliance, and delivery of major capital projects also run through the department.

Reporting to the City Manager, the Public Works Director leads all department functions, including budgeting, long-range utility planning, and capital projects from procurement through construction. Direct reports include three division supervisors, a project manager, an administrative assistant, and a mechanic. The Director advises the Council and serves as liaison to the Airport, Parks, Tree Board, and Transportation advisory committees. This is first and foremost a leadership role, calling for someone who can organize operations, develop supervisors, advance safety and preventive maintenance, and keep projects moving. With a Wastewater Master Plan update underway and a Water Master Plan to follow, the next Director will shape Seaside's infrastructure for a generation.

Please note: Applications and supplemental materials must be submitted electronically through Prothman Company. To apply online, go to and click on "Open Recruitments", select "City of Seaside, OR – Public Works Director", and click "Apply Online", or click here.