Senior Engineer - Program Management

City of Vancouver•Vancouver, BC

6d•CA$117,909 - CA$147,377

About The Position

This Senior Engineer position is responsible for leading the Program Management team within the Sewers & Drainage Design Branch. The Program Management team oversees sewer utility programs that support system performance, environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and public stewardship, and plays a key role in coordinating program outcomes, operational insights, governance activities, and early project scoping to support informed decision‑making and future infrastructure planning. Within this team, the Senior Engineer provides senior technical, regulatory, and managerial leadership, establishing program direction, governance frameworks, and performance expectations within the broader Sewer Utility Management portfolio. The role is accountable for the overall effectiveness and integration of sewer utility programs delivered through engineers, project management, and program coordination staff, and ensures alignment with asset management priorities and capital project delivery.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering with a Professional Engineering designation
A minimum of six years’ related experience in the municipal infrastructure industry, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
Registration or eligibility to register as a Professional Engineer in British Columbia
Considerable knowledge and application of project/program management principles
Considerable knowledge of project and program management software (e.g. Excel, MS Project, etc.)
Understanding of municipal sewer infrastructure and private plumbing systems
Considerable knowledge of Engineering operations, policies and procedures
Ability to write effectively, organize and maintain project documentation, prepare status reports and summaries
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with experience working with the public, private contractors, consultant and staff across all city departments
Ability to work under pressure handling multiple tasks with frequent interruptions and changing priorities within tight time frames
Ability to speak effectively in public through formal and informal meetings and presentations
Supervisory experience managing engineers and technicians including recruitment, selection, coaching, mentoring and performance management
Organizational and prioritization skills

Nice To Haves

Program management training is an asset

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for program governance, safety, and risk management related to sewer utility programs, promoting effective risk controls, safe work practice and continuous improvement.
Lead strategic integration of sewer utility program priorities, risks, performance insights, and emerging issues into asset management, capital planning, and investment decision-making processes.
Provide oversight of program and branch financial performance, including budget development, expenditure monitoring, forecasting, and reporting to support effective stewardship of operating and capital resources.
Provide strategic oversight of the Branch's sewer utility program portfolio, establishing priorities, governance processes, resource allocation, and performance expectations to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, corporate objectives, and long-term infrastructure planning.
Oversee the Sewer and Watercourse Bylaw and associated policies, ensuring ongoing alignment regulatory requirements, organizational objectives, and industry standards.
Establish and oversee program and branch performance management frameworks, including accountability for performance metrics, dashboards, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives to support strategic planning and decision-making.
Acts as Deputy Sewage Control Manager (as appointed by the GVS&DD Board), with accountability for administering the GVS&DD Sewer Use Bylaw within the City, including oversight of Waste Discharge Permits, enforcement approaches, and regulatory coordination.
Represent the sewer utility at a senior level with internal and external partners, including Metro Vancouver, on matters related to regulatory compliance, source control, inflow and infiltration, and regional collaboration initiatives.
Provide strategic and operational leadership for sewer utility programs related to inflow and infiltration (I&I), pollution prevention, source control, and sewer system investigations, ensuring achievement of program objectives and alignment with branch priorities.
Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team, including Engineers, Project Managers, and Program Coordinators, providing direction, oversight, and accountability for performance management, labour and employee relations, disciplinary matters, conflict resolution, and professional development.
Oversee public and stakeholder stewardship and outreach programs, including accountability for the effectiveness and alignment of the City’s Adopt a Catch Basin and Yellow Fish marking programs with City messaging, and ensuring appropriate responsiveness to public, media, and regulatory issues.
Engage with senior City leadership as required to provide updates, briefings, and recommendations on program performance, risks, and emerging issues.
Champion continuous improvement and operational optimization across program governance, processes, and delivery practices.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.