CSO Project Manager (Sr Civil Engineer)

City of Seattle • Seattle, WA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is hiring multiple Senior Project Managers (Sr Civil Engineer) for its Combined Sewer Overflow Reduction Program. The role leads complex capital improvement projects that reduce sewage and polluted stormwater overflows into Seattle waterways. Projects move through options analysis, design, construction, and close-out and require technical expertise, regulatory awareness, and collaborative leadership across City departments and external partners. The position is part of SPU’s CSO Program Management Division, which delivers projects required under a federal Consent Decree to protect public health and the environment.

The Senior Project Manager oversees project delivery, integrated scope, schedule, and cost baselines, risk management, performance monitoring, permits, inter-agency coordination, contracts, and project finances. The position leads multidisciplinary teams and works with City staff, utilities, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders to deliver projects that support SPU infrastructure priorities, public interests, and the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative.

The position requires three days in the office, with the option to work remotely two days per week. General working hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The full salary range is $74.99–$87.31 per hour. The City offers a comprehensive benefits package, including vacation, holiday, and sick leave and insurance coverage.

Requirements

• Five years of professional civil engineering experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or Civil Engineering Technology, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington.
• Current Washington State driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing complex civil engineering capital improvement projects involving multiple stakeholders and organizations, with proficiency in project management methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with utilities, regulatory agencies, or similar organizations and varied audiences.
• Experience negotiating and amending contracts and tracking finances for infrastructure projects.
• Experience leading engineering teams and coordinating subject-matter experts across water, wastewater, drainage, or similar utility systems.
• Ability to conduct stakeholder discussions, resolve conflicts, build consensus among diverse groups, and identify mutually acceptable solutions that protect the public interest.
• Experience with project budgeting, cost control, and financial reporting for infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing projects with complex regulatory and permitting requirements.
• Knowledge of operations and maintenance requirements for water, wastewater, drainage, or similar utility systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage all phases of project delivery—initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, and closing—to meet scope, schedule, budget, and quality standards.
• Oversee integrated project baselines for scope, schedule, and cost development.
• Apply risk management practices consistent with PMBOK and the AACE Total Cost Management framework.
• Use Earned Value Management, Critical Path Method scheduling, and cost forecasting to monitor performance, identify variances, and support decisions.
• Provide technical subject-matter expertise and strategic leadership aligned with SPU infrastructure priorities.
• Collaborate with Utility and City staff and lead diverse, multifunctional teams of internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitor project-team performance and communicate status, including schedule, budget, risk, quality, and deliverables.
• Lead acquisition of environmental, inter-agency, and local permits and ensure compliance with applicable laws, permits, regulations, codes, and SPU protocols.
• Coordinate with cross-agency partners through clear communication and shared goals.
• Negotiate in good faith to identify mutually acceptable solutions that advance the public interest.
• Provide timely and accurate technical responses and collaborate with agencies to identify needs, risks, and mitigation measures.
• Navigate complex intergovernmental situations using engineering expertise.
• Support department goals related to diversity and social justice in keeping with the City’s Race and Social Justice Initiative.
• Prepare, negotiate, and amend contracts for major infrastructure projects.
• Track project scope, cost, and schedule performance and manage the financial aspects of multimillion-dollar investments.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of billing processes and payment coordination.

Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule opportunities, including remote work two days per week.
• Family-friendly and multicultural work environment.
• Generous benefits package.
• Free ORCA Pass.
• City pension plan with employer and employee contributions.
• Growth potential and advancement opportunities.
• Vacation, holiday, and sick leave.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior