Town Engineer

Town of Duxbury•Duxbury, MA

31d

About The Position

The Town Engineer provides professional engineering expertise and essential technical support across all divisions of the Department of Public Works (DPW), as well as supplemental support to other Town departments, boards, and committees. Work includes planning, design, review, inspection, administration, and coordination of municipal infrastructure projects.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering field required.
Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible civil engineering experience, preferably in municipal public works, infrastructure, or related public-sector engineering.
Experience with the planning, design, review, and construction oversight of public infrastructure projects such as roadways, drainage systems, water utilities, sidewalks, and stormwater facilities.
A combination of education, experience, and training can be considered if it is demonstrated that the required knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved.
Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of civil engineering principles and practices as applied to municipal public works infrastructure. Knowledge of drainage design, stormwater management, MS4 regulations, and environmental permitting. Knowledge of construction methods, materials, inspection practices, and project administration. Familiarity with Massachusetts procurement laws, public bidding requirements, and contract administration. Working knowledge of capital planning, asset management, and grant-funded infrastructure projects.
Abilities: Ability to analyze complex engineering problems and develop practical, cost-effective solutions. Ability to interpret and review engineering plans, specifications, and technical reports. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize work effectively. Ability to communicate technical information clearly to non-technical audiences. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a municipal environment. Ability to exercise sound professional judgment in regulatory, operational, and public-facing matters.
Skills: Skill in engineering analysis, technical writing, and preparation of reports, plans, and specifications. Skill in construction inspection and quality control. Skill in using engineering and office software, including CAD, GIS, and Microsoft Office applications. Skill in interpersonal communication, customer service, and conflict resolution.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, and municipal boards preferred.
Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is required, or the ability to obtain Massachusetts licensure within a specified timeframe.

Responsibilities

Responsible for providing engineering support to all DPW divisions, including the Water Department.
Prepare and review RFPs, technical specifications, bid documents, and project scopes.
Provide general engineering consultation for infrastructure improvement projects to improve project accuracy, reduce change orders, and minimize construction inefficiencies.
Design small-scale drainage improvement projects and oversee in-house construction where feasible.
Review plans to mitigate flooding and improve stormwater management.
Serve as Acting DPW Director when necessary to ensure continuity of operations. Provide leadership support for capital planning, budgeting, and interdepartmental coordination. Support succession planning and organizational development within the DPW.
Perform construction inspection and project administration for DPW infrastructure projects, including drainage improvements, water main replacements, sidewalks, and paving.
Ensure contractor compliance with Town standards, plans, and specifications.
Enhance quality control while reducing inspection costs associated with outside consultants.
Review engineering plans and issue DPW comments for internal projects and external applications before boards such as the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals.
Coordinate closely with Planning, Conservation, and other Town departments. Supplement (but not replace) peer review analyses conducted by Planning Department engineering consultants.
Identify and pursue applicable state and federal infrastructure grants, assist with grant writing by preparing technical analyses, cost estimates, and conceptual designs, and coordinate grant-funded projects and ensure compliance with grant requirements.
Provide engineering expertise and technical presentations to Town boards and committees as needed, including but not limited to the Selectboard, Planning Board, Highway Safety Advisory Committee, and Coastal Resiliency Task Force.
Assist with short- and long-term DPW organizational initiatives, including: Revising the Street Opening Permit process, developing engineering standards and typical construction details, standardizing procedures, documentation, and policies across DPW divisions, implementing a DPW work order system, improving record-keeping, asset management, and GIS integration and evaluating plow routes and developing GIS-based snow and ice management maps