Supervising Civil Engineer

JOB DESCRIPTION

The City of San Luis Obispo has an opening for a Supervising Civil Engineer in the Community Development Department. The eligibility list established for this position may also be used for the Public Works Department.

If you are selected for interviews, they will take place in person on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, so please hold that date.

Please note: The City of San Luis Obispo is currently offering a lump-sum incentive for most positions which may be valued up to $5,000 and in addition the City is also honoring service credit towards vacation accrual for completed public sector years of service. For those who are out of the county of San Luis Obispo, up to a $5,000 relocation assistance may be available.

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

The ideal Supervising Civil Engineer possesses a background in municipal engineering, particularly in development projects, and excels as a problem solver. They should demonstrate proficiency in effective communication and management, along with robust technical capabilities to lead a competent engineering team. Desirable qualifications include expertise in reviewing development public improvement plans, subdivision plans, planning applications, and building permits. Additionally, experience in grading and drainage design, post-construction stormwater, and floodplain management is preferred. The candidate should adeptly serve as a liaison with external agencies and internal departments within the city, while providing exceptional customer service to both residents and developers. Moreover, they should exhibit competence in managing consultants and coordinating teams effectively.

JOB SUMMARY:

Performs professional engineering work in support of the review of private development and/or City projects, ensuring that federal, state and City laws, ordinances and guidelines and engineering standards are fulfilled; supervises a work team and/or manages a section engaged in professional engineering and technical support; performs related work as assigned.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

This multi-position class is the highest level in the City's professional engineering series. Employees in this class provide specialized engineering support and direction to a variety of private and public projects. Responsibilities include acting as a section head with responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, conducting and reviewing the work of staff engaged in the preparation of plans, specifications, designs, estimates, schedules, inspections and project management activities for construction, maintenance and land development programs. This class is distinguished from the Deputy Public Works Director/Deputy Community Development Director in that the latter has overall managerial accountability for a comprehensive division comprised of development review, transportation planning, traffic engineering, transit systems and parking. It further differs from Deputy Director of Public Works/City Engineer by the latter's overall managerial responsibility for a comprehensive division comprised of capital project design and construction and the maintenance of parks, streets, facilities, and urban forest.

SUPERVISION

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

This class receives general direction from the Director or Deputy Director of Community Development within a framework of established policies and procedures.

Project or day-to-day direction is provided to professional or technical staff.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Evaluates plans and specifications for a variety of private development and/or City projects; directs and reviews the work of City or contract professional and technical staff and coordinates their work with that of other city departments, outside agencies, contractors and consultants.

• Directs and reviews the preparation or examination of engineering plans, specifications, designs, cost estimates and legal descriptions for a variety of construction and maintenance projects; may serve as project manager or resident engineer on capital improvement projects and environmental studies.

• Develops and monitors systems and procedures for contract administration to ensure compliance with technical and legal requirements.

• Provides engineering services and consultation to a variety of field and office personnel; personally performs difficult engineering work and contract administration; prepares and initiates a variety of project-related studies and reports.

• Applies for and insures the proper use of grant funding including preparation of required paperwork and following grant guidelines.

• Prepares contract specifications and plans for public works projects; inspects and evaluates ongoing public works projects to ensure compliance with plans and specifications; conducts surveys to obtain field data for compliance purposes.

• Prepares requests for and recommends the selection of consultants; monitors consultant and contractor work; researches new materials and techniques; monitors new developments in civil engineering.

• Prepares and directs the preparation of a variety of written correspondence, reports, procedures, ordinances and other materials.

• Directs the maintenance of working and departmental automated and manual files.

• Monitors changes in laws, regulations and technology that may affect departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.

• Participates on a variety of interdisciplinary committees and commissions and represents the City on engineering issues to a variety of community and stakeholder groups.

• Communicates orally, in writing or through graphic representations and statistical summaries with colleagues, managers, employees, the public, organized employee groups and representatives of various organizations.

• May serve as the Deputy Public Works/Deputy Community Development Director on a relief or as-assigned basis or act as hearing officer for claims.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of civil engineering design and construction.

• Principles and practices of civil engineering design and construction as they relate to the review and approval of private development projects.

• Principles and practices of cost estimating, contract administration, project management and project evaluation.

• Principles and practices of cost estimation and contract administration in a public agency setting.

• Principles and practices of Construction Management including plan and specification interpretation, claims avoidance and resolution and public contract legal requirements.

• Legal guidelines for civil engineering.

• Computer applications related to the work.

• Basic project management and supervisory principles and practices.

• Basic budgetary principles and practices.

• Recent developments, current literature and informational resources regarding municipal development and capital improvement projects.

• Standard office practices and procedures, including the use of standard office equipment.

• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups and various business, professional, regulatory and legislative organizations.

• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.

Ability to:

• Examine and evaluate plans, designs, cost estimates, legal descriptions, maps and specifications for a variety of City private and public development projects.

• Direct the work of professional and technical staff and/or contractors on a project or day-to-day basis.

• Examine plans, calculations and specifications for public works construction, alteration and repair projects to ensure compliance with engineering standards and specifications.

• Prepare clear and concise reports, ordinances, correspondence, policies, procedures and other written materials.

• Interpret, apply and explain complex laws, codes, regulations and ordinances.

• Use tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines.

• Represent the City and the Department in various public meetings related to municipal infrastructure issues.

• Establish and maintain effective working relations with those contacted in the course of work.

• Work in a team atmosphere and participate on a variety of departmental and City-wide committees to enhance the provision of all City services.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in civil or structural engineering or a field related to the work

and

Five years of professional experience in development review and/or the design and construction and management of civil engineering projects including at least one year of supervisory experience.

Depending upon assignment, surveying and mapping experience may be required. For the current vacancy in the Community Development Department, surveying and mapping experience is desirable, not required.

Possession of an appropriate graduate degree is desirable.

POSSESSION AND MAINTENANCE OF:

• A valid California class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.

• A California registration as a Professional Civil Engineer.

• California registration as a Professional Land Surveyor is desirable.