POSITION DESCRIPTION TITLE: County Road Engineer Scope of Responsibility: The County Engineer has the primary function and responsibility to administer the countywide highway planning, design, construction, and maintenance programs including road and bridge maintenance, design and construction engineering and other functions such as road vacations, land acquisitions and right of way determinations. The work product is reviewed by the Board of County Commissioners and the Director of Public Works for adequacy of professional judgment, compliance with policies and achievement of results consistent with objectives. Operates with appreciable latitude for independent action and decisions commensurate with demonstrated ability. Decisions could have a major impact on public safety and trust, legal liabilities, cost and employee motivation. Supervisory Responsibility: Under general direction of the Public Work Director, directly supervises the engineering functions and staff in accordance with the organizations policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; and discipline. Essential Functions: Normal duties would include but would not be limited to the following: Responsible for meeting the statutory requirement for the County Engineer established by WAC Title 136 and RCW 36.80. Responsible for the preparation of thorough and timely technical advice, analyses and reports which can serve as the basis for sound decisions by public officials in their responsibility to assure that expenditures of funds are for optimum benefit and service to the community. Accountable for the proper operation, maintenance, repair and construction of the County s roads and bridges; storm drainage; other services such as road vacations, land acquisitions, right of way determinations, as appropriate; maintenance and preservation of the County s records related to road facilities. Close working relationships required with all County departments. Requires resolving conflicts and otherwise maintaining harmonious relationships in dealing through the organization and with the public for purposes of ensuring that departmental efforts are effectively directed toward achieving the common County goals. Responsible for applying thorough and extensive knowledge of modern engineering design, systems, methods, practices and equipment utilized in construction, maintenance and design, and of sound management and administrative principles and techniques. County Road Engineer Position Description Page 1 of 5
Appear for schedule work with regular, reliable and punctual attendance. Establish and maintain cooperative, effective, and productive working relationships using tact, patience and courtesy. Effectively plan and organize work and complete tasks within prescribed timeframes. Typical Duties: Monitor and control performance of the department in conformance with objectives, plans, schedules and budgets; monitor variances and implement necessary corrective action. Review highway and bridge plans, locations, contracts, and cost estimates for technical and legal accuracy, and approving acceptable proposals or making corrective recommendations. Direct the administration of construction contracts in progress, monitor progress reports; approve change orders; authorize progress payments; and recommend acceptance of final project to the Board of County Commissioners. Manage the resources of several sections through acceptable methods of planning, forecasting, review, feedback and control. Provide leadership and direction in the administration of operations; delegate authority to technical personnel commensurate with assigned responsibility; ensure proper performance. Train and educate staff on criteria and standards of division. Provide engineering guidance to staff. Assist in developing recruitment and selection processes for technical level positions. Conduct performance evaluations and develop performance measures and standards. Recommend promotional and disciplinary action; approves leave requests and overtime; provide adequate coverage during staff absences. Direct or prepare the plan and scope of, and evaluate outside consulting of other engineering studies. Financial forecasting (timber revenues, gas tax, etc.); assist the Director with final development and justification of department wide budget and submit for approval by the Board of County Commissioners. Administer an efficient and effective system to purchase, secure and utilize departmental supplies and equipment. Provide advice to and coordinate with officials and the public on engineering and technical matters and procedures in a wide field of public works subjects necessary to the operation of the County; analyze and report impact of proposed plans and developments on County's capacities and abilities to service; assist in development, revision and administration of comprehensive planning and zoning ordinances and subdivision ordinances. Attend meetings of the Board of County Commissioners and other agencies to report progress of improvements and to provide other engineering data needed in County planning and development programs. May provide testimony before courts, commissions and other legislative counsels. Assure that citizen complaints relating to any departmental activity are investigated and resolved; handle personally if appropriate. County Road Engineer Position Description Page 2 of 5
Take action to resolve departmental operational and administrative conflicts and problems; decide alternate courses of action; interpret policies; and otherwise make the decisions that have not been delegated. Monitor and evaluate the progress of delegated matters. May serve on various state committees as appropriate to departmental operations. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work period, or otherwise to balance the workload. Minimum Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and ability required. BS degree in Civil Engineering Washington State Professional Engineer s License Experience to sufficiently demonstrate thorough administrative competency and extensive knowledge of modern engineering principles and practices as applied to municipal public works design, construction, maintenance and operations, or any combination of education and experience to demonstrate competency. Knowledge of the field of assignment sufficient to perform thoroughly and accurately the full scope of responsibility. Valid Washington State Driver s License. Preferred Qualifications: Management experience in a local government Public Works agency. Two to six years experience in a supervisory capacity. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of: Principles and practices of public administration, organization, project and personnel management. Principles and practices of civil engineering specifically related to all phases of project development, planning, design, construction and maintenance of public works projects. Skill in: Use of independent judgment and effective decision making in the application of a wide variety of laws, policies and procedures and in effective problem solving The use of systems software, spreadsheet software and computers at the proficient level. County Road Engineer Position Description Page 3 of 5
Ability to: Evaluate, assign and train employees. Effectively administer disciplinary action. Interpret and apply federal, state, and county regulations and legislation. Manage the work of engineering technicians and staff and to effectively manage monies and materials. Provide acceptable alternative solutions and to provide reliable advice regarding difficult engineering problems. Research and develop plans, goals, objectives and oversee implementation. Establish and maintain effective working relations with elected officials, county staff, and other groups and individuals. Speak convincingly before community and professional groups. Analyze current needs for equipment, space, personnel and other resources in order to project resource levels needed to accomplish overall county programs. Understand and analyze county revenues, expenditures, and needs to develop overall departmental programs. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with County officials and employees at all levels of the organization, and the general public. Effectively persuade, inform, educate, train, solicit information, motivate and direct a wide variety of individuals or groups. Effectively assign, evaluate, and supervise professional, technical and administrative staff, including subordinate supervisors. Communicate effectively verbally and in writing with a wide range of people from diverse social, cultural, ethnic, educational, and economic backgrounds. Effectively coordinate, perform and complete multiple duties and assignments concurrently and in a timely manner. Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine a proper course of action; use appropriate independent judgment to make decisions of a technical, management and/or administrative nature in support of Department/County goals and objectives. Maintain regular, predictable, and punctual attendance during regularly scheduled work hours at assigned worksite. Respond to emergent situations on a 24 hour basis. Meet the travel requirements of the position, if any. Physically perform the essential job functions of the classification. Physical Demands: The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions. The physical activities include the use of finger dexterity to use and operate a personal computer and related engineering tools and equipment; County Road Engineer Position Description Page 4 of 5
reading and analyzing complex engineering reports, documents, specifications, and plans; communicating both orally and in writing with professional and technically skilled staff, developers, contractors, public and private officials; use of eye sight to inspect engineering documents and field work; prolonged sitting at a desk or while attending meetings; driving to various work sites locations; and working along side hazardous road conditions. Lifting items weighing less than 40 pounds is done on a less frequent basis. Incumbent may experience prolonged periods of sitting or standing and be subjected to normal office noise and interruptions. Acknowledgements: The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned including work in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods or otherwise to balance the workload. THIS POSITION DESCRIPTION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT. Employee Signature Date Effective Date: 7/26/13 EEO Code: 1 Department: Public Works Dates Amended: 0 Union: None Division: Engineering FLSA Exempt: YES Grade: N/A Pos #: PWD007ENG 001 County Road Engineer Position Description Page 5 of 5