On Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, council approved an organizational chart to unify bureaus, programs, and services under the leadership of a city administrator. Organized by service areas, the new model establishes key leadership positions and realigns core services to operate efficiently and effectively.
Organizational structure highlights
Service areas
The organizational chart includes six service areas, each led by a deputy city administrator:
- Budget and Finance
- City Operations
- Community and Economic Development
- Public Safety
- Vibrant Communities
- Public Works
City of Portland executive leadership
The new organizational structure features a city administrator’s office and executive leadership team: six deputy city administrators, an equity officer, a sustainability officer and an assistant city administrator. Together, these people will be responsible for leading and coordinating operations across the City to improve delivery of internal and external services, developing and implementing a shared citywide vision and priorities, and continuing to grow a shared culture across the organization.
The city administrator’s office will also include the Office of Equity and Human Rights, Communications, Community and Civic Life, Council Operations, the Office of Government Relations and Portland Solutions, to provide greater citywide coordination of policies and programming. The Portland Solutions workgroup will develop and deliver integrated solutions to pressing challenges such as houselessness.
New executive leadership positions for equity, engagement, communications and sustainability will be housed in the city administrator's office, responsible for developing and delivering citywide approaches.
Council and mayoral staffing
The proposal also outlined a staffing plan for the new council and mayoral offices, including two dedicated staff positions for each council member and five for the mayor.
Amendments discussed at the November 1 City Council meeting
The organizational chart City Council ultimately approved reflected approximately a dozen amendments. Read the adopted resolution and view the amendments.
Key amendments include:
- Renaming the Parks and Recreation service area Vibrant Communities, moving the city arts program to that service area and creating a citywide natural area and tree management unit there
- Adding a chief sustainability officer to the city administrator’s office
- Combining Permitting and Development Services into a single entity in the Community and Economic Development service area
- Establishing council authority through the end of 2024, by designating service areas for each of them to oversee and directing Jordan to consult them on a variety of implementation elements
Our new organizational chart will take effect July 1, providing six months to prepare for the formal launch of Portland’s new form of government in January 2025. An interim city administrator may be hired next year, while city council members continue to oversee service areas.
Additional information
Read more on the process: