Business Services Supervisor

Full Job Description

Tacoma Power’s Power Shared Services (PSS) division is seeking a Business Services Supervisor to lead the development and implementation of the PSS Business Services program.

This position will provide strategic and operational leadership to strengthen PSS business and financial practices, ensuring efficient and effective support for PSS’s mission and vision.

In this role, you will oversee budgeting, contracting, and procurement support for the division while advancing business process maturity and alignment across PSS.

You will work closely with the PSS Asset Investment Planning group and the PSS Leadership Team to implement the PSS Business Services program, enabling better decision-making and long-term value for Tacoma Power customers.

The Business Services Supervisor will play a key role in improving financial stewardship, enhancing operational transparency, and fostering collaboration across PSS functions.

This position will ensure that PSS business practices are standardized, scalable, and adaptable to evolving organizational needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead PSS Business Services Program – Oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of PSS’s business and financial processes, ensuring alignment with Tacoma Power’s strategic goals and compliance requirements.
• Provide Financial and Contracting Oversight – Direct budgeting, procurement, contracting, and financial reporting for PSS, including managing solicitations, contracts, grants, invoicing, and compliance related closeouts.
• Manage Capital Budget Portfolio – Lead PSS’s capital planning process, including business case development, portfolio coordination, alternatives evaluation, and reporting to ensure transparency and effective decision-making.
• Supervise and Develop Staff – Provide leadership, mentorship, and direction for staff, including assigning work, setting goals, and overseeing contractors and consultants supporting PSS operations.
• Serve as Liaison and Representative – Represent PSS with City departments and external stakeholders on matters involving legal, financial risk, procurement, and policy; establish and maintain effective service level agreements with internal customers.
• Advance Business Process Maturity – Map, develop, and optimize business processes, tools, dashboards, and documentation; lead change management efforts and communicate process improvements to PSS leadership and staff.
• Enhance Business Analytics and Reporting – Compile and analyze financial and performance data; prepare dashboards, reports, and presentations that improve visibility into operational and financial performance for PSS leadership.

Requirements

Minimum Education*
Bachelor's degree public or business administration or directly related field such as Finance

Minimum Experience*
5 years of progressively responsible analytical and/or program coordination/management work in area related to assignment including 1 year prior at senior, lead and/or supervisory level

LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS AND OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS:

• WA driver's license required, as travel between department locations may be required.
• Individuals must pass a background check.

*Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education

Qualifications

• Utility Financial Acumen
  Understanding of public finance: operating vs. capital budgets, rate impacts, depreciation of assets, bond funding, and how facilities investments support long-term system reliability and affordability.
• Strategic Facilities Planning
  Ability to translate strategic goals into sustainable financial plans that consider risk, lifecycle costs, and operational resilience.
• Business Partnership Mindset
  Skill in serving as a trusted internal partner to operations and PSS leadership—balancing fiscal discipline with service, responsiveness, and mission alignment.
• Public-Sector Procurement & Contracting
  Working knowledge of public procurement rules, competitive bidding, contract negotiation, vendor management, and compliance requirements unique to municipal or public utilities.
• Data-Driven Decision Making
  Using financial models, KPIs, and asset data to justify investments, track performance, forecast needs, and clearly communicate tradeoffs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Information

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:
Hourly Rate: $53.02 - $74.64
Salary Rate: $110,281.60 - $155,251.20

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma

This recruitment is being managed by Kye Merritt, if you would like to be notified of similar opportunities or stay connected with things going on at Tacoma Public Utilities and the City of Tacoma, connect with me on LinkedIn!

This section should provide a brief but compelling description of the department to help candidates understand its purpose and how the role fits within the organization. Departments may include short departmental videos if they have been vetted by the City or TPU’s Communications Teams.

City of Tacoma Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve.

We're committed to eliminating racial and other disparities, and we actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

The City of Tacoma believes that diversity of thought, background, and experience contributes to our success and innovation.

If you’re passionate about this role and our mission, we encourage you to apply. If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience.

We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia.

The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States.

Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country.

The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area.

Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvI

Application Process:

Interested individuals should apply online by completing the application and attaching a resume and cover letter by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Applications received without attaching the required materials may not progress in the selection process.

If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for veteran's preference points, please attach a copy of your DD214 to your application.

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the Neogov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma:

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Employer

City of Tacoma

Address

Human Resources Department
747 Market Street
Tacoma, Washington, 98402-3764

Phone

253-591-5400

Website

http://www.tacoma.gov