Executive Director

Overview

Executive Director

Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District

Portland, Oregon

Salary: $207,838 – $290,824

The Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District (UFSWQD) is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and directly serves communities within the eastern Portland metropolitan area, including the cities of Portland, Gresham, Fairview, Wood Village, and Troutdale. Portland is the cultural, economic, and geographic center of Oregon’s largest metropolitan region and one of the Pacific Northwest’s most influential cities. Home to approximately 635,000 residents and more than 2.5 million people in the broader metropolitan region, Portland combines the scale of a major urban center with strong neighborhood identity.

UFSWQD is a special district under Oregon statute, formed in 2024 through the consolidation of four legacy drainage districts along the south shore of the Columbia River. The District has a general fund operating budget for FY of $21.1 million and that includes $1.4 million in contingency and $3.7 million in capital expenditures, and a projecting ending general fund balance of $14.7 million.

Governed by a nine-member Board of Directors, the District is led by an Executive Director and organized into four divisions:
Office of the Executive Director, Engineering & Operations, Finance & Administration, and Planning & Public Affairs. UFSWQD employs approximately 42.8 full-time equivalent staff. UFSWQD’s mission is to equitably reduce flood risk and prepare for, and respond to, flood emergencies while supporting community safety, regional economic vitality, watershed health, climate resilience, and equity. The District manages the flood safety system in northern Multnomah County, protecting approximately 13,000 acres of land, including 8,000 residents, 2,500 businesses employing 60,000 people, 2,000 acres of natural habitat, and critical infrastructure such as Portland International Airport and the region’s secondary drinking water supply.

Core services include operation and maintenance of 27 miles of levees, 12 pump stations, and 45 miles of sloughs, streams, and culverts along the Columbia Slough and lower Columbia River.

Reporting to the UFSWQD Board, the Executive Director serves as the chief executive of the District, providing overall leadership for operations, finance, administration, planning, public affairs, and engineering. This role requires strong political and organizational acumen, the ability to build consensus among diverse stakeholders, and a practical, forward-looking approach to complex public infrastructure and environmental challenges. The Executive Director leads a senior team responsible for strategic planning, advancing major capital initiatives, ensuring compliance and strengthening internal systems, and representing the District in legislative, intergovernmental, and community settings.

Education & Experience: Ten (10) years of relevant experience at an executive or senior management level that demonstrates the ability to meet the unique needs of the organization. Advanced educational degree work (e.g., work toward an LL.M. or Ph.D. in a relevant field) may be substituted for experience. Experience in utility management, government affairs, and/or water resources management is preferred. The ideal candidate will have experience in all three.

UFSWQD values a range of backgrounds and experiences. Candidates who believe they are well suited for this opportunity are encouraged to apply, even if they do not meet every qualification.

For a complete position profile, full job description, benefits summary, and to apply online, visit Prothman Company at  and click on “Open Recruitments”. For questions, call . The Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Apply by March 8, 2026
. (First review, open until filled.)