Manager-Utility Engineering

Sound Transit•Seattle, WA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Provides technical and strategic guidance for utility engineering activities that are necessary to support the agency’s needs for capital projects and operations. Serves as the subject matter expert and is responsible for the oversight, development, and implementation of utility engineering technical criteria, policies and procedures necessary to support design, construction, and operational needs. Manages staff and/or consultants to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. Coordinates assigned activities with other disciplines and departments as necessary.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
Five years of experience in the area of utility coordination, preferably on large-scale rail or transit related projects; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Three years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.
Advanced understanding of principles and practices of civil engineering and utility design.
Strong understanding of Federal, State, and Local codes and regulations.
Understanding of supervision techniques and principles.
Understanding of contract procurement and management principles, and able to prepare scope-of-work and independent cost estimate for consultant staff argumentation.
Ability to effectively manage, prioritize and delegate workload among assigned staff.
Ability to work independently and demonstrate effective time management and organization skills.
Ability to collaborate with others and establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to manage stakeholders and facilitate consensus.
Excellent oral and written communication skills to convey detailed technical information concisely and accurately to others.
Negotiation and mediation techniques.
Supervisory and team leadership expertise.
Ability to utilize computer software programs to complete assigned work and prepare reports.
Ability to prepare, review, interpret, analyze, and modify complex engineering plans, drawings, specifications, contract documents, and engineering reports for conformance to professional standards and approved budgets.
Ability to interpret and administer policies and procedures sufficient to discuss, resolve, and explain them to staff and other constituencies.

Nice To Haves

Professional Civil Engineer License issued by the State of Washington.
Familiarity with Western Washington utility agencies and companies
Familiarity with local agency permitting processes.
Advanced understanding of project management techniques and principles.
Experience with progressive design-build or other alternative delivery methods.
Ability to apply advanced project management and program development techniques and principles.

Responsibilities

Leads the development and implementation of utility processes and strategies aimed at streamlining conflict resolution, reducing the frequency of utility conflicts and relocations, expediting permitting timelines, and ensuring adherence to project cost, schedule, and budget baselines.
Plans, directs, manages, and oversees the work of assigned staff and consultants providing utility engineering support for capital projects and operational needs.
Supervises, coaches, trains, and motivates staff; provides staff development opportunities and manages employee relations.
Develops and maintains agency utility engineering standards, policies, and procedures, including exploration methods, agreements, easements, letters of concurrence, utility base mapping, as-built maintenance, and third-party reviews.
Oversees and owns Sound Transit’s utility-related technical requirements and criteria, including design criteria, standard specifications, and drawings.
Ensures processes, policies, and practices are consistently and effectively applied.
Provides utility engineering expertise throughout planning, design, and construction phases of capital projects to ensure compliance with agency, utility, and AHJ requirements.
Supports project delivery through scope development, cost estimating, scheduling, negotiations, relocation strategies, conflict resolution, and easement coordination.
Serves as a subject matter expert and responds to inquiries from the public, contractors, consultants, and staff on utility engineering issues.
Collaborates with Construction, Engineering, Operations, and other teams to continuously validate and improve requirements based on industry’s best practices.
Assists in negotiations and establishment of agreements with property owners, third parties, contractors, and consultants.
Administers utility engineering contracts and monitors consultant and contractor performance to ensure compliance.
Participates in procurement processes for consultant agreements and construction contracts.
Stays current on emerging trends and developments in utility engineering, incorporating innovations and best practices into agency standards.
Attends and participates in professional groups, committees, boards, and commissions; prepares and delivers reports, presentations, and correspondence as needed.
Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.
It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Two choices of medical plans
Dental plan
Vision plan
Comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner
Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
401a – 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit
457b – up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution)
25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service
Additional paid time off for director level and up
12 paid holidays
Up to 2 paid floating holidays per year
Up to 2 paid volunteer days per year
12 weeks of parental leave for new parents
Pet Insurance
ORCA Card at no cost for full-time employees
Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
Opportunities for professional development
Recognition from your colleagues