Assistant Public Works Director/Deputy County Engineer

Benton County•Mn 56329, MN

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

Benton County is seeking a dynamic and experienced engineering professional to join our leadership team and to serve as Assistant Public Works Director/Deputy County Engineer. This leadership position provides strategic, administrative, and technical oversight for the County’s Public Works Department, including engineering, design, construction, maintenance, right-of-way, permitting, and related operational functions. Working closely with the County Engineer/Public Works Director, this position helps direct department-wide operations, develop and implement long-range infrastructure and capital improvement strategies, and ensure effective delivery of transportation and public works services. The role provides leadership in planning, budgeting, program management, and policy implementation while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and County standards. This is a highly visible leadership role requiring strong civil engineering expertise, advanced management capabilities, and the ability to guide complex infrastructure programs that support the County’s long-term goals and community needs. We are seeking a collaborative and results-driven leader who combines strong civil engineering expertise with proven management and mentoring skills. The ideal candidate will provide effective leadership across multiple public works functions, support strategic decision-making, oversee key projects and programs, and help deliver high-quality infrastructure and public services that benefit Benton County residents and communities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related field
Registration and current licensure as a professional highway or civil engineer in the State of Minnesota and/or the ability to obtain and maintain, within six (6) months to one (1) year of hire
Possess the ability to sign in-house design plans
Five (5) years of civil engineering experience or relevant work experience
Three (3) years of experience in a supervisory or leadership role
Equivalent combination of education/training/experience
To hold a current or obtain a professional engineer’s license within one (1) year of hire
Must possess a valid driver's license and be able to drive in the state of Minnesota
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 working knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of civil and highway engineering laws, rules, and best practices, surveying, and highway maintenance.
Extensive working knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations as they apply to the diverse activities of the engineering and maintenance divisions, including highway, bridge, and ditch system designs, construction, and maintenance, as well as 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, with the ability to prepare engineering plans, drawings, and technical reports as required.
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 convey clearly and present concisely complex and controversial issues to decision makers and the general public.
Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and have strong positive public relations skills.
Ability to manage conflict situations and bring diverse opinions to a resolution or consensus.
Ability to work independently, multitask, and prioritize tasks.
Proven leadership skills for the management and supervision of Public Works/Highway Department activities. Skill in achieving desired results through team concepts.
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. Skill in analyzing, preparing, and managing comprehensive department budgets and capital improvement plans.
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.
Work is performed both in the office and in the field.
Headaches, eyestrain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other related occupational hazards reflect the most common potential for injury within the office.
Occasional fieldwork may require bending, climbing, walking in uneven terrain, and performing tasks in the field. Ability to push, pull, lift, or carry up to 50 pounds as needed.
Work typically involves minimal to moderate physical activity and does not involve heavy or prolonged lifting.
Environmental conditions include heat, cold, wetness, toxic chemicals, dust, noise, odors, exposure to bloodborne pathogens, insect-borne illnesses, and other related occupational hazards associated with field work.
Performs duties in confined and secure spaces.
This position may be intermittently exposed to offensive language, threats, and mental effort and stress.
This position may encounter upset contractors, vendors, or members of the public and must be able to remain professional and effective when handling disruptive behavior, including the use of profanity.
Confront and engage with the public and other individuals to ensure compliance with civil engineering standards and applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations, including directing individuals to leave when necessary.
This position is under continuous mental effort and stress.
This position continuously performs work under high attention to detail and deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Current professional engineer's license.
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. Reviews design plans and potential right-of-way conflicts with the Right-of-Way Agent.
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.