Code, Rule and Standards Analyst II - CPPW

City-of-Portland,-Oregon; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) seeks a Code, Rule and Standards Analyst to update regulations, codes, and administrative rules. You will work with engineers, permitting, operations and external stakeholders to draft language, balance policy goals with practicality, and ensure alignment with environmental and public health objectives.

Ideal candidates have strong communication, collaborative mindset, and experience with environmental regulations or design standards.

Qualifications

• Strong written and verbal communication skills to explain complex codes and rules clearly.
• Ability to work with diverse audiences including internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Analytical, planning and organizational skills for policy and standard development.
• Awareness of institutional racism and its impacts on communities involved.

Responsibilities

• Understand how regulatory requirements and technical standards meet environmental goals.
• Collaborate with city staff to identify improvements that benefit the bureau and the public.
• Lead revision projects and draft improvements for policy alignment and clarity.
• Review technical design standards and apply them to right‑of‑way projects.
• Manage final drafts and city council approval processes when required.
• Engage with diverse communities to ensure inclusive outcomes.

Skills

Strong communicator

Collaborative

Solutions oriented

Knowledge of history

Curious self-starter

Organized

Job description

Job Appointment

Full-Time

Work Schedule

Monday–Friday, 8 am-5:00 pm.

Work location

120 SW 5TH AVE, PORTLAND OR 97204

Benefits

Please check our benefit tab for an overview of benefits for this position.

Union Representation

City of Portland Professional Workers (CPPW)

Are you passionate about making government work better for people and the environment? Do you have experience writing, or implementing government regulations and standards? Join the team at BES that leads updates to the City’s stormwater and sanitary regulations and codes. Members of the team work with a wide range of stakeholders from across the bureau and city to write updates to codes, rules and regulations. The kinds of questions you will get to work on include:

• How can we pilot and implement innovative policies and design standards to improve the performance, cost-effectiveness, and maintenance needs of the public storm system?
• How can we balance the need to simplify City development requirements to facilitate construction of housing without compromising the City’s obligation to protect, regulate, and operate and maintain the public sewer system?
• What language revisions in code and administrative rule improve clarity and efficiency for city regulators and the public?

The City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is seeking a Code, Rule and Standards Analyst.

The BES Code, Rule and Standards Analyst works on a team of analysts and engineers to update the regulations the Bureau implements. BES regulations include development and engineering standards, methods for applying rates and charges, and environmental regulations. Collectively, these regulations protect public health and the environment, set standards for construction of public sewer and stormwater systems, and support revenue structures. Specific regulations that are the responsibility of this team include code chapters 17.32 through 17.39, administrative rules ENB-4.01 through 4.36, the Stormwater Management Manual, Sewer and Drainage Facilities Design Manual and the Source Control Manual.

An ideal candidate will have a keen interest in public policy and government regulations. This position will ensure City codes, rules, and technical standards align with industry best practices, regulatory requirements, system needs, and practical implementation. Experience in environmental regulations, water quality standards, the built environment, stormwater management, or technical and engineering design standards is preferred but not required. Responsibilities include collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders (internal teams like engineering, operations, and permitting and development, as well as external stakeholders including customers, the community, elected officials, and other agencies) to review policies, identify areas for improvement, and draft updated code and rule language. This involves building consensus around recommended changes and understanding the needs and impacts of those changes.

What you’ll get to do

• Understand how the City’s regulatory requirements and technical standards help meet environmental regulatory requirements, our system needs, and protect public health, safety and the environment.
• Collaborate with co‑workers across the city to identify technical, policy, and process improvements that will make requirements and technical standards work better for the bureau and the public. For example, changes in a technical standard can improve long term operations and maintenance, or simplifying regulations can improve efficiencies.
• Lead code, rule, and design standard revision projects with internal and external stakeholders and subject matter experts. Draft and recommend improvements, updates, and revisions to ensure policy alignment with goals and clarity for the public.
• Work with engineering, construction and operations and maintenance teams to review technical design standards, and typical details that apply to improvements in the right‑of‑way.
• Manage final draft development and approval by Bureau managers and director, draft ordinances, and manage the City Council approval process when required.
• Work collaboratively with City managers and staff to help ensure that customers and members of the community, especially communities and customers who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color and persons with disabilities, are engaged in the development and outcomes of code, policy and rule changes and projects.

An ideal candidate will demonstrate through direct or transferrable experience

• Strong Communicator: You possess strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely explain complex codes, policies, rules, and processes to diverse audiences.
• Collaborative: You value partnerships and can build strong working relationships with people from diverse backgrounds. You are comfortable leading or participating in group settings.
• Solutions Oriented: You use strong analytical, planning and organizational skills to research and collaborate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders on developing, implementing, and updating projects you are leading.
• Knowledge of History: You understand and acknowledge institutional and structural racism and biases and their impacts on underserved and underrepresented communities and the City of Portland’s history.
• Curious Self‑Starter: You are a motivated self‑starter who thrives in both independent and collaborative work environments. You are eager to learn the foundations, drivers, and goals of policies and technical standards, researching industry best practices and engaging subject matter experts to identify improvements.
• Organized: You value efficient processes, transparency, and clearly documented standards. You use systems to keep your own work on track and also enjoy establishing tools for teams to use to ensure progress and compliance.

About the Bureau of Environmental Services

This is an exciting time to join the Bureau of Environmental Services (BES). Together we are re‑imagining the work we do to ensure it aligns with Our Values:

• We implement equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery.
• We value our customers and partners.
• We carefully manage our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources.
• We encourage leadership among our employees in our City and community.
• We support a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce.
• We urge respectful communication and transparency.
• We advance innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

At BES, we value our customers and partners; Portlanders’ sense of connection to their waterways; conscientious stewardship of our watersheds, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and financial resources; a diverse, collaborative, healthy, and engaged workforce; leadership among our employees and in our City and community; equity in our workplace, business practices, and service delivery; clear communication and transparency; innovative, sustainable, and resilient solutions.

BES is seeking talented individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds with knowledge, ability, and experience working with a broad range of individuals and communities; and that desire to work collaboratively and creatively to broaden the variety of innovative ways to partner with and serve all Portland communities.

To learn more about the work we do at BES, click on the link: About Environmental Services | Portland.gov

Our BES 10-Year Strategic Plan can be found here: download (portland.gov)