Assistant County Engineer

Benton County•Mn 56329, MN

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

Benton County is seeking a motivated and innovative engineering professional to join our leadership team as Assistant County Engineer. This position plays a vital role in managing the County's highways, bridges, and drainage infrastructure while helping lead operations across multiple public works divisions. We are looking for a collaborative leader who combines technical expertise with strong management and mentoring skills to supervise staff, oversee projects and programs, support strategic decision-making, and help deliver high-quality infrastructure and public services that benefit our communities. Licensed and non-licensed, Minnesota Professional Civil Engineers are encouraged to apply. This role involves providing leadership, administrative, managerial, and professional-level engineering support to the County Engineer/Public Works Director in managing the County highway system, ditch system, and bridges. It assists in overseeing operations across multiple divisions, including engineering, design, construction, right-of-way, communications, budgeting, permitting, and the execution of county policies and programs related to highways and bridges. The position works under the direction of the County Engineer/Public Works Director and within the policy and fiscal guidelines established by the County Board of Commissioners. It directs and supervises the operations of department divisions, including engineering, design, construction, right-of-way, communications, budgeting, and permits. The role executes county policies and programs while supervising engineering technicians and interns. This position is responsible, directly or through designated supervisors, for assigning work, reviewing performance, evaluating staff, conducting training, making personnel recommendations, and administering disciplinary actions. It also serves as a coach and mentor to key staff within the areas of supervision.

Requirements

Completion of an approved two (2) year highway/civil engineering technology, drafting, or land surveying program; and
Two (2) years of civil engineering experience or relevant work experience, with
One (1) year of experience in a supervisory or leadership role; OR
Equivalent combination of education/training/experience.
Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota; and
Must successfully complete a background check.
Obtain and maintain certifications and licensures.
Ability to obtain and maintain, upon hire or within two (2) years of hire:
Ability to secure the following necessary Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) design, construction, erosion control, and bridge safety inspection certifications for in-service bridges.
Ability to obtain and maintain, upon hire or within three (3) years of hire:
Must possess and maintain the required Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) technical certifications necessary to obtain MnDOT Bridge Inspection Team Leader certification, including:
Meeting one (1) of the four (4) qualification methods outlined in the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) to serve as a Bridge Inspection Team Leader;
Completion and maintenance of Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/National Highway Institute (NHI) prerequisite training for Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges, including the NHI courses Prerequisite Assessment for Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges and Introduction to Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges;
Completion and maintenance of National Highway Institute (NHI) training for Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges and qualification to serve as a MnDOT-certified Bridge Safety Inspector;
Successful completion and maintenance of the MnDOT Bridge Inspection Field Proficiency Test and qualification to serve as a MnDOT-certified Bridge Inspection Team Leader.
Extensive knowledge of Civil Engineering laws, rules, and best practices.
Extensive working knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations relating to highway, bridge, and ditch systems designs, construction, and maintenance, and land acquisition.
Extensive working knowledge of federal and county-state aid funding programs and methods of obtaining project approvals.
Knowledge of the Public Works/Highway Department at Benton County and policies and ordinances.
Extensive knowledge and skill with Auto CADD systems, hardware, and software.
Considerable skill in public works construction management.
Ability to read, understand, and interpret maps, plats, surveys, construction documents, specifications, etc.
Ability to perform mathematical computations and apply extensive analytical skills to select, evaluate, and interpret data from multiple sources, including the interpretation of applicable guidelines, policies, and procedures.
Knowledge of personnel management policies and best practices.
Considerable knowledge of Highway administration, personnel administration, management techniques, and organizational development.
Ability to present technical information to non-technical audiences.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and have strong positive public relations skills.
Ability to manage conflict situations.
Ability to work independently, multitask, and prioritize tasks.
Proven leadership skills for the management and supervision of Public Works/Highway Department activities.
Ability to handle all assignments and problems independently, except those requiring policy or procedural change.
Ability to develop and implement Department goals and objectives; plan, coordinate, direct, and evaluate the work of others; develop and implement Department policies and procedures; and supervise personnel in a manner conducive to efficient performance and high morale.
Ability to apply professional/managerial principles and judgment within overall goals/directions established by senior management.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others to carry out organization programs on matters requiring cooperation, explanation, and persuasion.
Skill in maintaining communication and relationships within and outside the department, outside agencies, and the general public.
Ability to travel within your daily work assignment.
Ability to travel within Minnesota, including extended overnight stays.
Ability to work extended, evening, and weekend hours as needed.
Performs the physical/mental demands of the work environment requirements for this position.
Must comply with organizational and departmental policies.
Attendance during regularly scheduled work hours and outside regular hours, as necessary.
Effective and respectful communication and interactions with other employees, supervisors, individuals from other organizations, and citizen customers.
Must comply with data practices policies and standards related to private data. Access to private data is limited strictly to what is necessary to perform assigned job duties. While accessing such data, the employee must take reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access by individuals without a work-related need. Once the work-related purpose has been met, private data must be properly secured and stored in accordance with county policies and Minnesota Statutes.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field; and
Two (2) years of additional experience in a supervisor or leadership role.
Prior experience in project management, highway design, or bridge safety inspection.

Responsibilities

Manage the planning, design, and construction of the County’s highway projects.
Plan, develop, coordinate, and direct engineering staff in the preliminary and detailed design of federal, state, and local county highway improvement projects.
Coordinate the preparation of reports, letters, or other documents concerning the design or pending construction of highway improvement projects.
Coordinate projects with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Army Corps of Engineers, State Historical Society, Cities, Townships, and other affected governmental units.
Evaluate the progress of staff and the results obtained and recommend changes to achieve overall design and project goals.
Manage right-of-way acquisition in accordance with federal and state statutes and coordinate property purchases as needed.
Establish design priorities based on public input, County Board input, and current design and construction practices.
Perform engineering computations and review design data, specifications, engineering estimates, and final plans for submittal to the County Engineer and appropriate State review agencies.
Prepare, review, submit, and obtain permits.
Prepare funding agreements for improvement projects that involve other government units; research and prepare federal and state applications for funding.
Coordinate the preparation of material for presentations concerning future or pending construction projects and conduct public meetings.
Manage the County’s bridge inspection program.
Manage field inspection on procedures and field bridge inspection reports.
Review bridges in the field with bridge inspection personnel to determine specific ratings or maintenance problems.
Investigate bridge maintenance issues, determine appropriate repair options, and perform or verify new posting calculations.
Prepare correspondence and reports for local and state officials regarding the condition of specific structures.
Supervise engineering staff, including assigning work, providing direction and scheduling, delivering training and mentoring, making hiring and termination recommendations, conducting performance evaluations, implementing performance improvement plans, and administering disciplinary actions.
Manage the County’s construction projects.
Review construction projects with inspectors to resolve design or construction problems with contractors, utilities, or property owners.
Prepare change orders, supplemental agreements, and other contract documents.
Review and coordinate the preparation of reports, correspondence, and other documents for impact related to project design and construction and the contract specifications.
Prepare and conduct preconstruction conferences for County and County State aid projects.
Review partial payment information for accuracy and completeness.
Review construction and documentation procedures to ensure contract compliance.
Inform County Engineer of major construction problems or conflicts that involve failing materials or major contract compliance problems.
Investigate construction compliance problems and determine action to take.
Manage and prepare construction special provisions, contracts, and bidding proposals, and award contracts.
Manage and perform survey, drafting, and design work, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
Manage and approve county permits and the Gopher One Call System.
Manage MPCAs Municipal Stormwater Sewer Systems requirements.
Assist the County Engineer/Public Works Director in the management of the county ditch drainage system.
Coordinate and implement special projects.
Prepare and report all CSAH needs to MnDOT State Aid.
Assist in developing, administering, and maintaining the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for the engineering department and assist with the development of the annual budget, goals, priorities, and procedures for the department.
Manage the pavement and asset management system for the County Road and bridge system.
Develop, implement, and maintain a countywide pavement management system.
Collect and analyze data on existing systems, research pavement management procedures, and develop a system to prioritize maintenance and construction projects.
Coordinate the development of computer software programs for data organization and retrieval, coordinate consultant testing of County roadways, and recommend projects for inclusion in the County’s five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
Attend training and education to maintain professional competence and keep abreast of new developments, trends, and technology in the engineering/public works field.
Develop and maintain respectful and cooperative working relationships.
Act as Department Head in the absence of the County Engineer/Public Works Director.
Regular and reliable attendance according to the department’s work schedule.
Must attend a minimum of 18 hours of FHWA-approved bridge inspection refresher training, seminars, and NHI courses every 60 months to maintain the certification as a Bridge Inspection Team Leader.
Attend and successfully complete at least three (3) MnDOT one-day bridge inspection refresher seminars every 60 months.
Successfully complete the 18-hour NHI course (Bridge Inspection Refresher Training) during each 60-month period.
Successfully complete a minimum of 18 hours of FHWA-approved bridge inspection refresher training during each 60-month period.
Attend training as needed.
Represent the department to a variety of officials, organizations, contractors, and the general public.
Assist in the development and presentation of information at public meetings and hearings.
Serve as the County Engineer, as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned or apparent.