23 Pierce County Planning Director Jobs Hiring Near You

Description Summary Why It's a Great Opportunity: In this role, you will manage a small team of staff that coordinate the procurement, contracting, compliance, and monitoring process for the County's Planning and Public Works Department. You will create, deploy, and monitor Department wide contracts and ensure contract compliance. This position will provide reports and information as needed to manage staff workloads and provide data to requesting stakeholders.

You may also work with the County's Prosecuting Attorney's office and Risk Management Division during contract preparation, execution, and administration of the contracts that are essential to the residents of Pierce County. Why It's a Great Department: PPW stewards a healthy and vibrant community by collaboratively planning and investing in our people, infrastructure, systems, and policies. PPW's team has more than 800 members that collaborate, innovate and inspire in performing essential services to the community.

The department is responsible for the County road and levee systems, sewer systems, airports, ferries, building permits, environmental review, sustainability, community planning, and code enforcement - just to name a few. Learn more about Planning and Public Works here. How to be Successful in the Role: Your success will come from using your experience in and knowledge of public works procurement and contracting to manage the contract procurement, writing, execution, compliance, and monitoring processes for the County.

Your focus as a solution-oriented person who has the ability to coach and develop staff in technical concepts, is comfortable speaking confidently and with technical knowledge with customers, excellent writing skills, ability to research, project management and process improvement skills, and ability to prioritize based on changing business needs will ensure your success. Your Future in this Role: You will have access to professional development through robust online learning and other training opportunities throughout your career to ensure your success. This position has multiple career growth and promotional opportunities in Pierce County to build on a great career while directly impacting the communities in Pierce County.

Core Daily Responsibilities: Manage the contract procurement, writing and monitoring processes. Manage, supervise, and coordinate activities of a designated unit; determine work procedures, prepare work schedules and determine methods for expediting workflow. Facilitate the work of evaluation committees and process.

Ensure evaluation committee work is completed in a timely manner to meet deadlines. Assign, review and approve the work of subordinate staff; investigate grievances involving subordinates and recommend resolution; recommend hiring, promotional and disciplinary actions; approve leave requests and overtime; provide adequate coverage during staff absences. Participate in and support development, measurement and execution of the mission, goals, and objectives of the County, department, division, and individual work groups.

Effectively educate, train, and direct a wide variety of people. A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here. Minimum Qualifications Any equivalent combination of experience and education is required.

Four years of progressively responsible work experience in the area of contract and monitoring management with at least one year in a supervisory capacity. Bachelor's degree in public or business administration, social work, or related area. A resume and cover letter are required for this position.

A valid driver's license is required. Preferred Qualifications: Certifications in Procurement and Contracting such as CPPO, CPPB, NIGP-CPP. Experience in Public Works and goods/services contracting / purchasing.

Experience in administering inter-locum agreements. Knowledge of RCWs, WACs and other procurement guidelines. State, County or City Government contracting and procurement experience.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration. Supplemental Information How to Apply: Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or visiting www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs

If you have questions about this opportunity, email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and include the job number and title. Individuals who need accommodation in the application or interview process may contact Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days prior to the need. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship

Our Recruitment Practices: This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials.

We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style. During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen.

Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation. Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date.

Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews. Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity. Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment: Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive.

We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service. Guided by the County Executive's Forward Together mission, Pierce County works to build communities that are safe, welcoming, and connected. This same commitment shapes how we recruit, develop, and retain our employees.

County employees make a direct and visible impact in the lives of residents every day, and we invite you to join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.