Living and Working in Eugene

Calling Eugene Home

Located at the southern end of the lush Willamette Valley, Eugene is perfectly positioned for the modern adventurer. A scenic drive east takes residents to the towering Cascade Mountains, west to the stunning Pacific Ocean coastline, or north to the bustling city of Portland. Eugene is a small city with unlimited things to do; from hiking to kayaking to floating the river. Eugene is the ideal place for outdoor recreation. Downtown Eugene is the vibrant cultural hub of the region; the Oregon Bach Festival and Eugene Symphony call the Hult Center for the Performing Arts home. Additionally, the area hosts a booming food and beverage industry with top-notch craft breweries and wineries. The Eugene-based University of Oregon is the flagship public university and brings boundless educational, scientific, and cultural opportunities – not to mention the renowned Ducks athletic programs. Eugene’s nationally recognized transit system and gold rating as a "Walk-and-Bicycle-Friendly Community" helps residents fully experience all that the region has to offer. Eugene recently hosted the World Athletics Championships at the historic Hayward Field. Eugene’s title as TrackTown USA extends beyond Hayward Field with miles of trails running through its south hills, along the Willamette River, and through hundreds of acres of city parks. To learn more about living in Eugene, visit Eugene Cascades and Coast.

City of Eugene Government

Eugene operates under a city manager-style government. The city manager is hired by the city council and provides administrative direction to the organization and oversees the City of Eugene’s 1,500 employees and $840 million annual budget. Services and programs are administered through six departments: Central Services; Police; Eugene Springfield Fire; Library, Recreation, and Cultural Services; Planning and Development; and Public Works.

Central Services

The Central Services department provides subject matter expertise and leadership to other departments and the public. Central Services is composed of the City Manager's Office, the City Prosecutor's Office, Facility Management, Finance, Employee Resource Center, Municipal Court, and Information Services. For more information, see their website.

Eugene Police

The Eugene Police department provides law enforcement, community safety, and crisis response services to the City of Eugene. In addition to patrol, criminal investigations, and community safety, Eugene Police contracts with White Bird Clinic to provide crisis assistance and housing support through Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets (CAHOOTS). The 9-1-1 communications division also provides 9-1-1 call answering throughout much of Lane County. Eugene Police is made up of Patrol Operations, Operations Support, Investigations, Office of the Chief, Finance and Administration, and 9-1-1 Communications. For more information, see their website.

Eugene Springfield Fire Department

Eugene Springfield Fire is a shared service with the cities of Eugene and Springfield. This department provides emergency fire and medical services to residents in Eugene, Springfield, and some outlying areas. Eugene Springfield Fire is composed of Operations, Strategic Services, Fire Marshal's Office, and Administrative Services Bureau. For more information, see their website.

Library, Recreation, & Cultural Services

The mission of this department is to broaden community access to lifelong learning, recreation, and unique cultural experiences. Divisions within this department operate the City of Eugene’s public pools, gathering spots, libraries, and recreational programs. This department includes Administration, Library Services, Recreation, and Cultural Services. For more information, see their website.

Planning and Development

The Planning and Development department enhances Eugene’s quality of life by influencing its growth and development. This department also improves the livability of Eugene by providing parking services. The Planning and Development Department is made up of Administration and Parking Services; Building and Permit Services; Community Development; and Planning. For more information, see their website.

Public Works

Public Works develops, operates, and maintains the infrastructure that helps Eugene grow and maintain a high quality of living. Public Works is responsible for the maintenance and development of parks and the municipal airport. Public Works includes Administrative, Airport, Engineering, Maintenance, Parks and Open Spaces, and Wastewater. For more information, see their website.

Working for the City of Eugene

The City of Eugene encourages our employees to bring their true selves to work with the knowledge that they are valued and protected. We embrace all of the identities and cultural legacies that our employees represent and strive to be an inclusionary and safe place to work. At the City, we learn and grow best as a team of individuals: unafraid to use our unique voices to propel us to meet our goals as we serve our community today and into the future.

As an organization we are focusing on six Core Competencies for employees:

Trust & Confidence – Making our intent and actions transparent and honest while fostering healthy, inclusive relationships; actively listening and maintaining open communications; delivering on our promises; investing in others’ success; and engaging each other and the community.

Creative Work Environment – Exploring meaningful new ideas and relationships to foster innovation and encourage collaboration and creativity. Challenging the standard method of doing business in a positive environment.

Now & Later Perspective – Looking beyond day-to-day challenges to better anticipate the future and adjust to change.

Respectful &Inclusive Work Environment – Seeking out a wide range of voices and making each other feel respected and included.

Self-Awareness & Emotional Intelligence – Learning to recognize and understand our own emotions and the emotions of others and recognizing our individual strengths and weakness to raise self-awareness so we can perform better.

Wellbeing - We take care of ourselves and each other.