City Manager seeks homegrown
talent for municipal workforce

inding people to staff City Hall and other spokes of the municipal wheel isn’t that difficult, according to Roseburg City Manager Lance Colley. Keeping people in those jobs can be more of a challenge when the employees aren’t familiar with rural Oregon.

That’s one reason Colley is pleased to be a DCPSS member.

“Sometimes it’s hard to keep people here. People in city government jobs tend to move a little bit, or they may move when a spouse gets another job,” Colley said. “We’d like to get the best students from around here to think in terms of opportunities if they want to stay in Roseburg.”

Police and fire are two of the most visible city departments to youth thinking over career possibilities. And the need for those jobs extends to county government and rural districts. Less obvious at City Hall, but just as necessary, are positions in parks, public works and accounting departments.

“We provide maintenance in parks and public works; we maintain streets, and storm drains and run the water treatment facility. And Roseburg Urban Sanitary Authority runs the sanitary sewer treatment facility,” Colley said. “Those are all good-paying jobs, entry level, that generally require just a high school diploma.” Once employed and with some experience under their belts, these workers usually go on to get certification, which they can do on the job with employer support.

Students interested in parks maintenance jobs could give themselves a boost by taking courses in construction, horticulture, science and math, though these generally aren’t required.

We don’t have Intel here, but we do have financial institutions, medical facilities and manufacturing opportunities for kids in that area that are a little more sophisticated than many people recognize.”

-Lance Colley
Roseburg City Manager

Math courses will also benefit students interested in working in accounts payable/accounts receivable jobs. Though accountant positions require at least a two-year degree, entry-level jobs in accounts payable/receivable usually are open to high school graduates with some continuing education credits. (Umpqua Community College has an associate degree program in accounting technology.)

Other departments feature jobs usually requiring four-year degrees, but with some exceptions. In public works, some entry-level engineering technician jobs may be available to high school graduates. Many clerical, secretarial and administrative assistant jobs do not require four-year degrees, though post-high school training in office practices and software systems is preferred. Colley said applicants with great communication skills and who have taken writing courses will have an advantage for those positions.

Returning to police and fire department work, Colley said the two fields represent two of the largest employment sectors within local government. Students interested in those jobs can turn to related courses at UCC such as fire science and law enforcement skills.

Vacancies left by retirement, replacement and relocations generally have the city of Roseburg prepared to recruit for a 5 to 8 percent turnover annually, Colley said. He added he’d love to see as many positions as possible filled by qualified people from Douglas County. Not only at City Hall, but also in other county businesses.

“We don’t have Intel here, but we do have financial institutions, medical facilities and manufacturing opportunities for kids in that area that are a little more sophisticated than many people recognize,” Colley said.

Learn more about the City of Roseburg on its website HERE.