Title: City Engineer
Department: Department of Public Works
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Director of Public Works
Union Status: Non-Union
Benefit Status: Yes
Summary
Directs Division initiatives, manages capital construction projects, long-term planning and prioritization. Evaluates bids and estimates. Negotiates contracts, permits and inspects work. Manages day to day operations of the Engineering Division. Manages capital infrastructure projects. Develops policies, standards and ordinances. Develops and manages project and division budgets. Prioritizes projects. Complies with federal and state permitting agencies. Collaborates with the DPW management team including the Operations Manager, Facilities Manager and Deputy Director of Administration & Finance to achieve department goals and objectives.
Essential Functions
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
- Directs Division initiatives; manages capital construction projects, long-term planning and prioritization. Evaluates bids and estimates; negotiates contracts; permits and inspects private utility or developers’ work.
- Manages daily operations of the Engineering Division including conducting performance reviews, delegating work, understanding union contracts, and managing and approving payroll.
- Manages budget for the division; tracks project budgets, prepares funding requests, prepares grant and loan applications; prepares procurement documents; reviews and approves invoices; and submits reimbursement requests.
- Participates in water and sewer rate setting as a member of the Water and Sewer Rate Advisory Committee.
- Coordinates with municipal, consultant, and contractor crews to plan, design, and construct water, sewer, roadway and drainage projects.
- Manages, supervises, trains, and disciplines staff.
- Participates in local and regional collaboratives, such as Mystic River Watershed
- Coordinates and permits construction work by private utilities.
- Delegates and directs highly technical and specialized work.
- Communicates with and assists residents and responds to resident concerns; distributes public notifications.
- Presents to the public, City Boards and professional organizations.
- Reviews submissions by private developers for Planning Board and Conservation Commission; coordinates approvals on new developments with other departments.
- Collaborates and coordinates with entities, such as MWRA, MADOT, MBTA, EPA, MADEP on construction execution and funding.
- Develops new standards, policies, and ordinances. Organizes office systems for management of existing plans, reports and data. Ensures best practices are being followed. Review as-builds, tie cards, and Geographic Information Systems data updates.
- Performs other duties as necessary.
Supervision
Supervision Scope: Performs varied and responsible engineering functions requiring expert working knowledge of civil engineering. Directs and manages the Division’s operations and technical staff and exercises independent judgment and initiative, particularly in situations not clearly defined by precedent or established procedures.
Supervision Received: Works under the broad and general supervision of the Director of Public Works receiving general suggestions, while establishing department rules, regulations and policies. Duties require the ability to plan and perform operations and complete tasks independently.
Supervision Given: Manages projects and directs, evaluates, hires, trains, and disciplines 10 staff. Staff is union and non-union. The ten positions: Deputy City Engineer, Staff Engineer, Construction Inspector/Engineer, Administrative Clerk, Water and Sewer Billing Administrator, 2 Interns, and 3 Sr. Volunteers.
Recommended Minimum Qualifications
Education, Training and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering with 5-7 years working in a municipal environment plus 10+ years' experience in engineering, planning, studying, designing and constructing water, sewer, roadway and storm water projects is required or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Advanced degree is preferred.
Special Requirements:
- Professional Engineering Registration in Civil Engineering is required.
- Valid Driver’s License is required.
- Construction Administration.
- Knowledge of Public procurement laws.
- Project Management and budgeting.
Education, Training and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering plus 10+ years’ professional experience in engineering, planning, studying, designing and constructing water, sewer, roadway and storm water projects is required or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Municipal experience preferred. Advanced degree is preferred.
Special Requirements:
- Professional Engineering Registration in Civil or Environmental Engineering is required.
- Valid Driver’s License is required.
- Construction Administration.
- Knowledge of Public procurement laws.
- Project Management and budgeting.
Knowledge: Knowledge and experience in project management, budgeting. Knowledge of federal and state regulations; knowledge of payroll laws and rules; knowledge of public procurement laws. Knowledge of grant writing, and knowledge for securing outside funding. Expert knowledge of civil engineering principals and the materials, methods, practices and equipment for surveying, designing, construction, maintenance and repair of roadways and water, sewer, and drainage systems. Expert knowledge of traffic engineering principals, and site design for private developers. Knowledge to manage the Engineering Division operations. Knowledge of budgeting and financial record keeping.
Ability: Ability to interact appropriately and tactfully with the public; ability to apply understanding of state and federal laws and regulations; ability to maintain detailed records; ability to delegate and direct highly technical and specialized work. Ability to manage and supervise union and non-union staff. Ability to explain Department policies, procedures and projects to staff, residents, the general public, the City Boards and professional organizations. Ability to prioritize. Ability to develop new policies, standards and ordinances. Ability to attend and present at meetings to the public, at City Board and Commission meetings; and ability to advise municipal boards. Ability to work independently; ability to create detailed timetables and meet deadlines. The ability to collaborate and appreciate other’s viewpoints.
Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills, organizational and customer service skills. Demonstrated experience providing customer service to contractors, consultants, local civic groups, watershed groups, and the public using tact, proper judgment, courtesy, respect and discretion. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse constituencies and ensure a culturally relevant and sensitive approach. Accomplished in demonstrating adaptability, and able to present and accept a diverse perspective. Excellent skills for managing and supervising, training, disciplining and evaluating staff. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent computer skills including with MS Office applications, data entry, graphic, report generation, spreadsheet formatting and design, internet, financial software, file sharing, remote meetings, GIS reader, MinuteTraq, and MUNIS. Intermediate skills for data base sorting and design, statistical applications, GIS data entry/management; AutoCAD, and HydroCAD
Job Environment
- Work is performed frequently in outdoors weather conditions, frequently in places with fumes or airborne particles, and where there is moderate to loud noise levels. Work is occasionally performed in high, precarious places; near moving mechanical parts where there is risk of electrical shock. Occasionally works with explosives and near or with vibrating equipment.
- Work is subject to fluctuations, and administrative deadlines. Employee routinely attends evening and weekend meetings.
- Operates computer, printer, telephone, copier, facsimile machine and all other standard office equipment.
- The employee has frequent contact with the public, contractors, consultants, local civic groups and watershed groups. Communications are by phone, by email and in person.
- The employee has access to department confidential information.
- Errors could result in delay of or loss of service, monetary loss, damages to buildings and/or equipment and legal ramifications.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described 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 functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to communicate, talk and hear; and must be able to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is required frequently to sit, and occasionally to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel crouch or crawl, and taste or smell. Infrequently, the employee is required to work with or near vibrating equipment. The employee must lift and/or move objects weighing up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 30 pounds. Vision and hearing at or correctable to normal ranges to read documents and analyze data. Close, distance, color, peripheral vision and depth perception are necessary for safe operation of equipment and to analyze situations. This position requires the ability to operate a keyboard at efficient speed, drive automobiles; and operate survey level, a GPS unit, and standard office equipment, effectively.
The City of Melrose, MA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diverse candidates encouraged to apply.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $119,350.00 - $137,092.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Application Question(s):
- Please describe your experience working in a municipal or public-sector engineering environment, including the number of years.
- Do you hold a valid Professional Engineering (PE) License in Civil or Environmental Engineering? A PE license is required for this role.
Education:
Experience:
- Civil engineering: 10 years (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Required)
Work Location: In person
