Principal Civil Engineer

Representative Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Coordinates the organization, staffing, and operational activities for assigned engineering services and activities including staff responsible for professional and technical civil engineering work in the design, investigation, inspection, and construction project management of streets, storm drainage facilities, landscape, lighting, sanitary sewer facilities, parks, water production and distribution facilities, buildings and other projects.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities relating to assigned services and activities; recommends and implements resulting policies and procedures.
• Identifies opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures; identifies resource needs; reviews with appropriate management staff; implements improvements.
• Directs, coordinates, and reviews the work plan for assigned engineering services and activities; assigns work activities and projects; monitors work flow; reviews and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems.
• Participates in the selection and evaluation of assigned engineering personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; participates in the implementation of discipline and termination procedures.
• Participates in the development and administration of assigned program budget; forecasts funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitors and approves expenditures; recommends adjustments as necessary.
• Oversees project planning, design and preparation of specifications, drawings and contract documents for a variety of engineering projects; evaluates compliance with laws, ordinances, and acceptable engineering standards and determines appropriate corrections or improvements; serves as contract administrator for capital projects.
• Oversees selection, negotiation, and administration of consultant contracts for delivery of large and/or extremely complex projects; prepares and evaluates requests for proposals; reviews plans prepared by consulting/engineering firms and evaluates their performance; advises regarding construction contract modifications and negotiates contract changes.
• Initiates and oversees engineering planning studies to identify public works, wastewater and water utility facility needs; revises design and construction standards to improve methods, procedures and practices.
• Oversees and serves as a resident engineer for large and/or extremely complex projects during construction; conducts or supervises field inspections of construction sites to monitor progress and ensure conformance to engineering plans, specifications, and construction and safety standards; meets with contractors to resolve items of non-compliance; negotiates change orders; makes corrections or revisions to plans and prepares conditions of approval; approves pay estimates; prepares project close-out documents.
• Oversees and participates in reviewing environmental assessments, environmental impact reports, tract and parcel maps, variances and conditional use permits to ensure compliance with appropriate engineering regulations.
• Oversees preparation of and provides complex engineering reports, correspondence, staff reports, ordinances, and resolutions to the City Engineer, City Council, committees, City departments, outside agencies, and the public; develops and reports statistics; makes presentations on engineering activities as necessary.
• Oversees state and federal funding for transportation projects; initiates and conducts engineering planning studies to identify public works facility needs.
• Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints in an efficient and timely manner.
• Provides staff assistance to the Director, Public Works; participates on a variety of committees; prepares and presents staff reports and other correspondence as appropriate and necessary.
• Coordinates assigned engineering activities with those of other divisions and outside agencies and organizations; negotiates permits with outside agencies, resolves conflicts, and oversees assigned section permit requirements.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; maintains awareness of new trends and developments in the field of civil engineering; incorporates new developments as appropriate into programs.
• Performs related duties as required.

Qualifications

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of an engineering program.
• Modern and complex principles and practices of civil engineering.
• Principles and practices of project management and administration.
• Methods and techniques of contract negotiations and administration and consultant oversight.
• Principles and practices of oversight of federally funded projects.
• Principles and practices of project budget preparation and control.
• Methods, materials, and techniques used in the design and construction of civil engineering projects.
• Mechanics and properties of materials.
• Methods and techniques of engineering plan review and analysis.
• Methods and techniques of conducting site and field investigation.
• Principles and practices of field surveying including topographic and construction surveying.
• Drafting methods, techniques, and equipment including those used in computer aided drafting.
• Engineering maps and records.
• Municipal engineering laws, ordinances, codes, specifications and plans.
• Principles of municipal budget preparation and control.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet applications, and specialized engineering software programs.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping.
• Principles of business letter writing and report preparation.
• Occupational health and safety standards.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local codes, laws, and regulations.

Ability to:

• Coordinate and direct assigned engineering programs.
• Supervise, direct, and coordinate the work of lower-level staff.
• Select, supervise, train, and evaluate staff.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, policies and procedures for providing assigned engineering services and activities.
• Understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.
• Understand, interpret, and apply general and specific administrative and departmental policies and procedures as well as applicable federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations.
• Participate in the preparation and administration of assigned budgets.
• Plan and organize work to meet changing priorities and deadlines.
• Effectively represent the City to outside individuals and agencies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the unit.
• Work cooperatively with other departments, City officials, and outside agencies.
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, City staff, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.
• Perform complex professional engineering work including project design, survey and analysis.
• Direct, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the work of professional staff, consultants and contractors.
• Manage complex construction projects and negotiate contract issues effectively and to determine conformance with contract documents.
• Meet the public in situations requiring diplomacy and tact.
• Deal constructively with conflict and develop effective resolutions.
• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Adapt to changing technologies and learn functionality of new equipment and systems.
• Interpret and apply relevant related laws, ordinances, rules, policies and regulations.
• Negotiate contracts, agreements, and costs with consultants, outside agencies, contractors, and property owners.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience Guidelines 

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:  A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or related field.

Experience:  Six years of increasingly responsible professional engineering experience including two years of administrative and/or lead supervisory experience.

License or Certificate:  Possession of a valid California driver’s license at a level appropriate to the equipment operated.  Possession of a State of California Certificate of Registration as a Professional Engineer.Physical Demands and Working Environment

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Environment:  Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with some travel to different sites including construction sites; occasional exposure to outside weather conditions; work and/or walk on various types of surfaces including slippery or uneven surfaces and rough terrain; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends and may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings.

Physical:  Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.