Work at Water

This Total Rewards Statement provides a holistic view of the rewards and resources you could receive as part of the Water team. These rewards and resources reflect our commitment to employee growth and success. Every role at Water drives innovation and creates meaningful impact. We value our staff, and our Total Rewards Statement outlines ways we invest in your long-term career journey, technical skills, and overall well-being. With a range of benefits—from financial incentives to professional development resources to a balanced work-life experience—we'll support you while you support our community.

This Total Rewards Statement may not include every benefit available to you, and benefits can change. Find the most up-to-date information on the City's Health and Financial Benefits web page.

Base salary

We offer a competitive base salary as outlined in the compensation plan for your classification and any applicable bargaining agreement.

Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)

Eligible employees can establish membership under Oregon's Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). The City makes a monthly contribution to PERS on behalf of eligible employees. The base contribution for Water employees is six percent of your pre-tax annual salary.

Deferred compensation

The City of Portland's Deferred Compensation Program is a voluntary savings plan to help supplement your retirement. The City offers a 457(b) plan, which is like a 401(k) but specifically for government employees. You can contribute pre-tax or post-tax. The closer you get to retirement, the more opportunities you have to save, such as a higher contribution maximum for employees over 50 years.

Language Pay Differential

Multilingual employees may qualify for the City's Language Pay Differential. The Language Pay Differential aligns with the City of Portland's core values, racial equity goals and strategies, language access standards, and goal to be an employer of choice. Employees who qualify for the benefit will have $1.00 per hour added to their base wage. The benefit is only paid on hours worked. It does not apply to vacation time or sick time, and it is suspended while employees are on leave.

How to qualify

Employees must demonstrate a professional working spoken proficiency in the specified language(s) as verified by a proficiency test. Employees must also be employed in one of the qualifying classifications. Please review the language and job classification eligibility list.

Merit increases and cost-of-living adjustments

City Council votes to set cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and merit increase percentages each year. The approved COLA applies to non-represented employees and represented employees whose contracts include COLA. Non-represented employees also undergo annual performance reviews, and they receive the approved merit increase if their performance meets standards. Increase amounts are calculated based on placement in the compensation plan.

Medical, dental, and vision premiums

The City of Portland pays 95 percent of the premium for CityCore or Kaiser medical, vision, and dental plans for full-time employees. Your share of the cost is five percent. (To keep your premium at five percent, you need a preventive exam—sometimes called a checkup or well visit—once every two calendar years.) The City pays 100 percent of the premium for the CityHD medical and vision plan.

Trip Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP)

The City of Portland encourages employees to use alternative modes of transportation such as walking, biking, riding public transit, and carpooling. Doing so can relieve road congestion, reduce harmful emissions, and improve employee health. The Trip Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP) gives benefits-eligible employees incentives to choose alternatives to single-occupant vehicle commuting. Both CTRAN and TriMet passes are only available to City employees who are receiving benefits and not working on a casual, seasonal basis. Visit the Trip Reduction Incentive Plan (TRIP) page for more information.

Holidays

The City of Portland observes 11 official holidays. A full-time employee receives holiday pay if they are in pay status for the entire scheduled workday before and after the holiday, or as dictated by a bargaining agreement when represented by a union. Full-time Casual/Casual Other employees are eligible for holiday pay if they were hired at least two weeks prior to the holiday and are in pay status the day before and the day following the holiday. Part-time, casual employees don't receive holiday pay.

Personal holidays

Unless otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement, full-time employees receive three personal holidays (24 hours) in addition to the holidays stated above.

Vacation

City employees accrue vacation based on years of service. Vacation is accrued per biweekly payroll period. New full-time employees accrue 112.06 hours per year (approximately 14 days) with 0 years of City service. Vacation accrual increases with each year of service as outlined in the vacation appropriation schedule. Casual employees do not accrue vacation.

Sick leave

Unless otherwise provided in a collective bargaining agreement, all employees assigned to a 40-hour week shall accrue sick leave at the rate of 4 hours per biweekly payroll period, or 104 hours per year (approximately 13 days). Seasonal appointments and any persons employed as consultants on a contract basis are not entitled to sick leave.

Conventions and meetings

A bureau director or their designee may authorize an employee to attend a convention, meeting, or conference directly related to the business or interest of the City with no deduction in leave accruals.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning provides free online training and skill coursework designed to accelerate your skills and career development. This resource is available to all Water employees.

The Watering Hole Share and Learn series

Gather with us at the Watering Hole to connect, communicate, and discover through informal learning opportunities. Topics support both personal and professional development and help us build essential skills, learn about each other's work, use technology, and more.

SOAKED (Sharing Our Assets and Knowledge for Employee Development)

SOAKED is a multiday program that gives Water Bureau employees a hands-on, in-depth look into each part of our "forest to faucet" process. You'll get to know the unique functions of each work group, experience the work your colleagues are doing, and form new friendships across the bureau. You will visit worksites like the Bull Run Watershed and Powell Butte, and you'll get to practice Water Bureau work like reading a water meter or surveying.

The Ambassador Program (TAP)

Employees who are interested in making connections and shaping workplace culture are encouraged to apply for TAP. This opportunity brings together a wide range of employees from both Water and Environmental Services. Serving as an ambassador gives employees the opportunity to meet people outside of their work groups, work to improve the workplace, and practice new skills like facilitation, resource navigation, and Appreciative Inquiry.

Supervisor Essentials training series

The Supervisor Essentials series covers content specific to people management at the City of Portland and helps you understand how to use human resources, labor rules, and best management practices in your day-to-day work. These trainings are delivered by our Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP), in partnership with many of Water's experienced managers. The best thing about these trainings? They're the perfect place to learn more about the intricacies of City management.

Leadership Engagement and Development (LEAD) training program

Whether you're a current manager or looking to step into a leadership role, the LEAD program is here to support your growth through trainings that uplift the City's Core Values of anti-racism, equity, transparency, communication, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility. Through Citywide funding and collaboration, the LEAD program offers ongoing training opportunities designed to help you build skills and cross-bureau connections at no cost to participants or their bureau. Members of the cohort receive training and collaboratively develop workplans to help bring community knowledge into City data practices. LEAD trainings can be found on CityLearner (accessible to current employees).

Path to Leadership program

Path to Leadership is an eight-month leadership development cohort program for City of Portland employees who are not currently in a manager or supervisor role. The program gives emerging leaders across the City an opportunity to build on their unique leadership skills.

Mentorship program

The six-month Citywide mentorship program is an employee development program that pairs mentors and mentees together to foster growth. Mentees benefit from extra assistance and guidance to learn a new job, enhance existing skills to improve performance and self-confidence, and develop new skills to help with career development. The program builds relationships across bureaus and leverages different perspectives.

Tapped-In channels

Water employees can connect with bureau colleagues by opting in to the Tapped-In channels on Microsoft Teams. The channels are organized by shared interests, including Sports, The Green Thumb, Cooking and Baking, Arts and Crafts, Local Happenings, Music, Pets, and Book Club.

Equity Action Toolbox

At Water, we work to uproot systemic inequities and their impacts on our employees and the people we serve. We commit to the difficult—and essential—work of transforming Water Bureau policies, practices, and culture to better serve historically and currently oppressed communities. The Equity Action Toolbox is a suite of tools, policies, and strategies developed by the bureau to empower our workforce as they implement the actions outlined in our equity plan. The Toolbox is designed to advance our commitment to equity, fostering a responsive and outcomes-based approach to serving our community's water needs.

Diverse and Empowered Employees of Portland (DEEP)

DEEP provides support to City of Portland employees of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. DEEP administers opportunities for employee growth and leadership development, advances an inclusive and respectful work environment for City of Portland employees, supports Employee Resource Group leaders and members, advocates for transparent City practices, and encourages trust and connection across the City of Portland. Additionally, DEEP sponsors and supports diversity and cultural celebrations and events for City of Portland employees.

Local shopping discounts

City employees receive seasonal invitations to visit local stores such as Nike, Adidas, and Columbia with access to discounted employee store pricing (typically, 40 percent off retail price).

Employee assistance programs

The City of Portland partners with CityStrong GuidanceResources and Canopy to provide free and confidential support to employees and eligible dependents. CityStrong GuidanceResources are available to all employees. Services include:

• Confidential counseling
• Work-life solutions
• Legal support
• Financial information
• GuidanceResources Online
• Interactive digital tools
• And so much more!

Fitness-related offerings

Employees have access to gym facilities at both the Interstate campus and the Portland Building, along with free fitness classes. CityStrong also offers reduced gym membership prices at partnering gyms.

Homebuying assistance

The City of Portland has an affinity partnership with HomeStreet Bank. View helpful homebuying articles, learn about savings programs, meet one-on-one with a financial planner, and more.

Carrot fertility and family planning

Employees can access fertility and family planning support through Carrot. Carrot offers family-forming education, virtual chats with physicians and other specialists, an expert-authored library of resources, exclusive discounts, and holistic pregnancy support.

Basic long-term disability

The City of Portland pays for basic long-term disability (LTD). Employees who can't perform work duties due to an illness or injury can receive continuing income on an approved claim. The basic LTD benefit provides eligible employees with up to 50 percent of their pre-disability earnings. Long-term disability begins after a 90-day waiting period.

Employees can choose to enroll in buy-up LTD, which increases the payments to 60 percent of your pre-disability income. If you choose to enroll, you will pay a monthly fee based on your earnings.

Supplemental workers' compensation benefits

If you're injured or become ill while on the job and must take time off to seek treatment or recover, you may be eligible to receive workers' compensation (or workers' comp). Workers' compensation is supplemental income you may be eligible to receive in addition to temporary disability benefits. You must apply and be approved for workers' comp to receive benefits.

Occupational health and well-being program

This Bureau of Human Resources program helps employees work safely and make healthy lifestyle choices throughout their career, continuing into retirement. The Occupational Health side of the program promotes and maintains the health and well-being of workers by addressing job-related safety risks, exposures, and incidents, through training, support, and delivery of on-site medical services. CityStrong Well-being side of the program offers employees education, resources, and support to attain balance and well-being across all areas of their lives. The team works with staff to address their health risks while managing exposures on the job.

Gender-affirming care and culturally specific resources

The City of Portland's benefits coverage supports gender-affirming and culturally competent care for benefit eligible plan participants. Read the complete benefits guide for more information.

Union-specific benefits are outlined in full in each union's contract. Benefits may include overtime pay, clothing or gear allowances, professional development funds, cost-of-living adjustments, and wage step increases. Refer to the respective contracts on the current city labor agreements webpage for details.