Senior Civil Engineer

City of Chico•Chico, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

This recruitment is to fill two vacancies within the Public Works - Engineering Division. The Senior Civil Engineer position is a management-level role requiring a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering disciplines. Depending on the focus, experience should emphasize wastewater collection and treatment systems, storm drainage infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and utility operations, or the planning, design, and construction support of public works infrastructure projects like streets, transportation systems, utilities, and drainage facilities. The role involves supervising engineering and technical staff, managing consultants, coordinating with operations personnel, and overseeing capital improvement and maintenance projects. This position is covered by the Chico Management Employees (CME) labor group. Under general direction, the Senior Civil Engineer plans, schedules, supervises, and reviews the work of staff and consultants performing engineering planning, design, and construction work for Public Works projects and facilities. This includes performing and reviewing technical calculations, developing construction documents (plans, specifications, estimates), ensuring compliance with laws and City policies, and coordinating with other departments and agencies. The role provides complex staff assistance to departmental management and is responsible for organizing and overseeing day-to-day engineering activities, capital improvement project planning and development, and administration of federal, state, and local funds. The position requires independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines.

Requirements

Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.
Principles and practices of leadership.
Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
Principles and practices of project budget development, administration, and accountability.
Principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to the planning, design, cost estimating, construction, installation, and inspection of a wide variety of public works, miscellaneous buildings and structures, and transportation systems.
Civil and structural engineering principles, concepts, standards, and practices associated with public works programs and private development projects.
Principles and practices of project management.
Physical design, economic, environmental, and other factors which impact project planning and implementation.
Methods, materials, and techniques used in the construction of public works projects.
Principles of advanced mathematics.
Land surveying principles.
Practices and principles of hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and soil mechanics.
Principles and practices of environmental impact assessment and related regulatory processes.
Contract management practices in a public agency setting.
Practices of researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting effective staff reports.
Principles of water supply, pumping, storage, and distribution, as well as wastewater, collection, treatment, and disposal.
Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related engineering best practices.
Principles and practices of technical report and business correspondence preparation.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
Principles and procedures of recordkeeping.
City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
Ability to assist in developing and implementing goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
Ability to select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.
Ability to understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
Ability to identify problems, research and analyze relevant information, and develop and present recommendations and justification for solutions.
Ability to research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
Ability to manage and monitor projects to ensure they are on-time and within budget.
Ability to perform complex engineering calculations and estimates, and develop plans, designs, and specifications related to civil and structural engineering construction projects.
Ability to conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations and prepare effective technical staff reports.
Ability to reconcile conflicting engineering design requirements.
Ability to evaluate project risks and provide mitigation measures.
Ability to manage the design of multiple engineering projects with varying complexity, size and scale, length, and/or stages of completeness.
Ability to effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with individuals governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, and regulatory organizations.
Ability to respond to complaints or inquiries from citizens, staff, and outside organizations.
Ability to interpret and explain project design criteria including blueprints, plans, and specifications.
Ability to prepare and present clear, concise, and logical written and oral reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, legal descriptions, and other written materials.
Ability to maintain accurate logs, records, and written records of work performed.
Ability to use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
Ability to independently organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
Ability to effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
Ability to establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Possession of a valid California Driver’s License, to be maintained throughout employment.
Possession of a valid registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) issued by the State of California, to be maintained throughout employment.
Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering or a related field.
Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional civil engineering experience, including one (1) year in a lead or supervisory capacity.

Nice To Haves

Emphasis on wastewater collection and treatment systems, storm drainage infrastructure, regulatory compliance, and utility operations.
Experience supervising engineering and technical staff, managing consultants, coordinating with operations personnel, and overseeing capital improvement and maintenance projects related to sewer and stormwater systems.
Focus on the planning, design, and construction support of public works infrastructure projects.
Experience supervising engineering and technical staff, managing consultants, and leading the design and delivery of capital improvement projects, including streets, transportation systems, utilities, and drainage facilities.

Responsibilities

Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, and reviews the work of staff, consultants, and interns performing engineering planning, design, and construction work of public works projects and facilities.
Trains staff in work procedures; evaluates employee performance, counsels employees, and effectively recommends initial disciplinary action; assists in selection and promotion.
Participates in the development of goals, objectives, policies, and procedures for assigned services and programs; recommends and implements policies and procedures including standard operating procedures for assigned operations.
Monitors activities of the Engineering work unit; identifies opportunities for improving service delivery and procedures; provides recommendations concerning process changes; reviews with appropriate management staff; implements improvements.
Coordinates assigned services and operations with other divisions and outside agencies.
Participates in project budget preparation; identifies resource needs; prepares detailed cost estimates with appropriate justifications; monitors expenditures.
Provides staff assistance to management; prepares and presents staff reports and other written materials; supervises the establishment and maintenance of reports, records, and files; ensures the proper documentation of operations and activities.
Answers questions and provides information to the public; investigates and responds to complaints and inquiries from citizens, other departments, and outside agencies; recommends corrective actions to resolve issues.
Serves as project manager as assigned; plans, schedules, conducts, or coordinates detailed phases of the engineering work; develops project budgets; conducts project site visits and field exploration; oversees project planning, design, construction, and implementation; ensures projects meet mandated engineering standards, budgeted funds, best practices, and City goals and objectives.
Supervises and gives technical advice, guidance, and direction to an engineering team concerning project feasibility, design, or construction; provides support for design-related questions or necessary revisions throughout the project.
Reviews and designs project plans and specifications involving hydrology, traffic and soils reports and calculations, as well as grading plans, sewer plans, water and wastewater facility plans, streets plans, traffic studies, transportation facilities, and other documents, including plans, parcel and tract maps, and studies; reviews drawings and details of construction and implementation plans; prepares conditions for approval.
Plans, coordinates, and reviews project work performed by private consultants; reviews change orders for errors and omissions and incorporates changes into future designs.
Develops and manages requests for proposals for professional and/or contracted services; prepares scope of work and any technical specifications; evaluates proposals and recommends award; negotiates contracts; administers contracts to ensure compliance with City specifications and service quality.
Performs engineering calculations for stormwater, water, sewer, pavement, or other areas of expertise; reviews plans, design drawings, calculations, and specifications of staff and consultant engineers for conformity with City standards, policies, regulations, and ordinances.
Manages, coordinates, reviews, and recommends final master plan reports for adoption by the City Council.
Prepares and presents technical reports and other necessary correspondence related to assigned activities and services.
Maintains files, databases, and records related to engineering design and construction projects; prepares a variety of written reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
Represents the City in meetings with members of other public and private organizations, community groups, contractors, developers, and the public.
Ensures staff observe and comply with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
Performs other duties as assigned.