Mayor Keith Wilson today named Raymond C. Lee III as his nominee for Portland's first long-term city administrator, a key position that oversees day-to-day operations across more than two dozen bureaus and departments in the city's new form of government.
Lee brings a wealth of experience to the job. He has served as city manager of fast-growing Greeley, Colo., from 2021 through this week, managing 1,600 employees and an annual budget of $515 million serving a community of 116,000.
"As the mayor of a city on the rise, I knew Portland would need an innovative city administrator with a track record of success to unlock a new chapter of safety, innovation, and shared prosperity," Wilson said. "We've found that and more with Raymond Lee. I'm proud to put Lee before my City Council colleagues for their vote, and I'm grateful for their support and enthusiasm as we finalize the confirmation process."
Lee's key achievements include:
- Leading the revitalization of Greeley's urban core through a partnership between the city, county, and school district to develop a public service hub, mixed-use housing, commercial space, a hotel, and office development
- Leading a 300-acre entertainment and housing district featuring a proposed 10,000-seat arena, resort hotel, water park, and multimodal transit hub representing $1.1 billion in investment
- Launching Greeley's Housing Solutions and Homelessness Services departments to help residents transition into permanent housing and improve coordination across service providers
- Transforming Greeley's development review process to accelerate affordable housing production and improve customer experience.
- Advancing major sustainability and climate-resilience initiatives across infrastructure, water systems, and community preparedness
- Helping develop citywide strategic plans, performance systems, and organizational alignment tools that strengthened accountability and cross-department collaboration
"I am honored and humbled to be Mayor Wilson's nominee for the role of city administrator for the City of Portland," Lee said. "Throughout my career, I have been guided by a deep commitment to public service, values-based leadership, and creating environments where people and communities can succeed. Stepping into this moment for Portland is both a responsibility and a privilege, and I welcome the opportunity to partner with the mayor and council as we continue building a strong foundation for this new form of government."
The Portland City Council is expected to hold a confirmation vote next Wednesday, Dec. 10. Lee will be in Portland for the council meeting.
If confirmed, Lee will succeed City Administrator Michael Jordan, who is retiring after serving in the role through the city's first year in the new form of government. Lee would start work Dec. 29 with a commitment to relocate to Portland in January, and make an annual salary of $370,000.
More than 100 people applied for the position in a recruitment led by Strategic Government Resources. Lee was one of three finalists who visited Portland last month for interviews with Wilson, city council members, and city and labor leaders.
"Portland is a remarkable city with passionate residents, talented employees, and a strong sense of purpose," Lee said. "While we have faced real challenges, this transition gives us a rare opportunity to reset, reconnect, and strengthen how we serve the community. Supporting our workforce through this change and helping shape an organization that is aligned, trusted, and focused on meaningful results will be one of the most rewarding chapters of my career. I am grateful for the confidence placed in me and look forward to contributing to Portland's next chapter."
Before joining Greeley, Lee spent 10 years with the City of Dallas in a progression of leadership roles and later served as public works director for the City of Amarillo, Texas, where he oversaw drainage utility, fleet services, solid waste, street services, traffic engineering, and traffic operations.
Lee, who is 41, earned a master's degree in public administration from the University of Kansas and a bachelor's degree in public administration from Henderson State University in Arkansas. He has completed executive leadership programs at Harvard University's Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, Yale University's Fostering Inclusion and Diversity Program, and Brown University's Leader as Coach Program, and multiple executive certificates from Cornell University in Labor Relations and Financial Management. Lee is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Outside of work, Lee enjoys mentoring emerging leaders, attending sporting events, and spending time with family.