PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ENGINEER

State of Illinois•Effingham, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is accountable for providing overall direction of the districts annual and multi-year programs and all activities associated with the preliminary engineering phase of projects such as development of project reports and contract plans, agreements with governmental agencies and utility companies, and the purchases of right of way. Essential FunctionsThis position reports to the Region Four Engineer. Reporting to this position are the Engineers of Studies and Plans, Programming, Land Acquisition, Project Support, Transportation Office Assistant and an Executive Secretary.This position functions in a transitional area, characterized by urban development, changing land use near the urbanized area and rural areas in the regions. These varied conditions pose a wide variety of problems in the selection of projects and identifying their proper scope. In circumstances where highway needs far exceed program dollars and where program priorities are constantly shifting, the optimum use of available state, federal, and local funds requires the cooperation and participation of local governments, area planning organizations, and the private developers. The bureau chief is expected to exercise significant discretion for the regular and daily implementation of policy and strategy as directed by executive staff.Typical problems encountered in this position include coordinating proposed district improvement with other agencies to optimize the use of available funds and minimize inconvenience to the traveling public; coordinating the activities of various district organizations in determining scope of work to provide cost effective projects; coordinating the activities of district organizations to ensure the development of effective and reasonable transportation plans; and developing methods and procedures for expediting the progress of projects through the various stages of project and design studies, plan preparation, and land acquisition. The greatest challenge to this position is to effectively coordinate the functions of programming, preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and plan preparation to ensure the individual projects meet established letting dates.The incumbent personally represents the district on various planning committees so as to become aware of the operations and budgetary implications of proposed transportation projects; coordinates various district organizations in developing district programs and selects individual projects to be included on these programs; reviews and approves models for allocating available program funds to various geographical areas in the district; and reevaluates the scope of projects being implemented so as to facilitate completion and to availability of funds and staff productivity.Essential Functions continuedThe incumbent accomplishes accountabilities through the following staff:Studies and Plans Engineer – who, with a staff, prepares project studies, plans, specifications, and conducts pavement and economic design studies, prepares plans and reports for bridge and hydraulic improvements.Programming Engineer – who, with a staff, develops and monitors annual and long-range improvement programs; prepares project estimates for lettings; conducts a wide variety of traffic studies supporting project selection and approval; coordinates the district transportation planning activities with the necessary federal, local, and metropolitan planning agencies.Project Support Engineer – who, with a staff, prepares plans through CADD operations; supervises the preparation of utility estimates; and negotiates and obtains approval of interagency, utility, and railroad participation agreements required for project implementation.Land Acquisition Engineer – who, with a staff, accomplishes all surveys; prepares plats and acquires the right-of-way necessary for project completions; and conducts the district relocation and property management activities.Transportation Office Assistant – who provides technical and administrative support services to the bureau.Executive Secretary – who performs secretarial and administrative services for the bureau including timekeeping, commodity purchases, and inventory.Though the incumbent works within general departmental and district planning policies and guidelines, considerable independent judgment is required in establishing programming priorities; determining local agency participation; structuring project scope of work; and effectively coordinating project and environmental studies, drainage studies, plan preparation, and acquisition right of way.The incumbent establishes and maintains a wide range of contacts with district and central office personnel in providing program management services and coordinating the performance of the preliminary engineering and land acquisition functions. In addition, the incumbent maintains a wide range of governmental and private contacts in planning and developing district improvement programs and in participating in area-wide transportation planning activities. Districtwide travel with occasional overnight stays is required of this position.The effectiveness of this position is measured by the optimum use of available program dollars; the cost effectiveness of the scope of work on projects; the timely and effective completion of project environmental and drainage studies; ensuring that plans are prepared in a timely manner and in accordance with appropriate engineering standards and principles; and the timely acquisition of right-of-way.

Requirements

Current registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois.
Ten years of experience in civil engineering.
Six years of supervising staff and managing engineering functions
Valid driver’s license.
Districtwide travel with occasional overnight stays.
Successful completion of a background check

Nice To Haves

Comprehensive knowledge of the laws controlling the activities administered.
Ability to promote, establish, and maintain harmonious relationships with staff and the public.
Strong oral and written communications skills
Comprehensive knowledge of the modern methods and practices of public works construction and maintenance operations.
Ability to initiate, coordinate and direct large scale engineering programs or research and planning activities of a difficult technical nature.

Responsibilities

Provides effective program management within the district.
Provides effective coordination of project studies, design, plan preparation, traffic studies, and land acquisition functions to meet established letting dates.
Participates in a wide range of area planning and programming activities designed to develop rational area transportation plans.
Ensures that the annual, short-range, and special district improvement programs will improve the safety and capacity of district highways and optimizes the use of available program dollars.
Ensures that improvement projects in process are continuously monitored and regional management is alerted to make the decisions necessary for timely project completion.
Provides close contact and communication with representatives of local government agencies, the federal government, metropolitan planning agencies, commercial and industrial interests, and private citizens on transportation planning activities.
Provides regional management with design, plan preparation and land acquisition information, solutions, costs, policies, and courses of action that provide timely project completion.
Structures local agency, utility, and railroad participation agreements to optimize use of available program dollars and facilitate program implementation.
Ensures the proper and effective utilization of manpower through the selection, training, motivation, and evaluation of employees. Trains, motivates, and evaluates subordinate personnel and ensures compliance with departmental policies, procedures, and safety rules.
Performs other duties as assigned. Exercises significant discretion for the regular and daily implementation of policy and strategy as directed by executive staff.
Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.

Benefits

Monday-Friday work schedule
Flexible work schedules in several program areas (flexible time, hybrid scheduling).
Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
Pension Plan
(12) Weeks paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
Deferred Compensation Program and other pre-tax benefit programs (Medical/Daycare)
Employees earn (12) paid Sick Days annually.
New Employees earn (10) paid Vacation Days their first year of service and can earn up to (25) paid Vacation Days annually.
Employees earn (3) paid Personal Days annually.
(13-14) paid holidays annually (based on start date)
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources