SENIOR CIVIL ENGINEER
Job Specifications

Class Code:	EE3
Analyst: GLD

Date Originated:	1/80
Date Revised:	8/82; 8/83; 6/87; 5/90; 11/90; 3/91; 6/91; 8/95; 11/97; 4/01;5/02

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DEFINITION

Under general direction, plan, direct, coordinate, schedule, review and evaluate the work of a section of the Public Works Department or Planning Department; review and analyze technical and engineering issues; and perform other duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Positions in this classification work directly for an Assistant Director, and are typically responsible for managing a section in the Public Works or Planning Departments. This classification is the first full supervisory and management level classification in the professional and technical engineering series. Incumbents supervise a staff of engineers, paraprofessional engineers, engineering aides, maintenance staff and other support staff. In addition to supervising the work of staff, incumbents perform the most difficult and complex engineering work, or serve as the technical expert in reviewing and analyzing engineering issues.

TYPICAL TASKS

All Assignments:

• Plan, organize, train, evaluate, and supervise the work of subordinate staff; assist subordinate engineering staff with difficult engineering problems; plan, organize and direct office and field engineering staff in connection with the construction and improvement of public works projects; gather and compile data; develop policies and procedures to meet changing requirements and implement as approved; may perform the most difficult and complex engineering work; coordinate preparation of bid packages for County projects; prepare and supervise the preparation of construction estimates for inclusion in the budget; develop proposed section budget; coordinate section activities with other sections, County departments and other agencies; serve as a staff resource to boards, committees, commissions and task forces as required; maintain liaison with the State, other cities and private organizations; meet with subdividers and engineers to resolve particularly difficult problems; provide technical assistance to staff and the public; attend and participate in conferences and meetings; may input, access and analyze data using a computer.

Planning Department (Registered Civil Engineer):

• Review and approve complex soil reports prepared by geotechnical engineers for the evaluation of the technical suitability of residential, commercial and subdivision sites; discuss projects and provide technical direction to Resource Planners regarding all technical issues relating to grading plans, retaining walls, site stability and fishery enhancement structures; review structural design and calculations of private bridges; review and evaluate all engineering issues of mining operations within the County; advise project planners on issues such as hydrology, site stability and development for the planner to make the appropriate recommendations related to the denial or approval of an application.
• Public Works (Registered Civil Engineers): Approve engineering drawings; direct and oversee the preparation of engineering designs, plans and specifications for the construction of public works improvement projects including roads, sanitation systems, storm drains, refuse disposal sites, bike paths and street maintenance; review improvement plans prepared by private firms for accuracy, design and completeness and conformance to laws and County design criteria; supervises the review and approval of various permit applications.
• Public Works Construction Section: conduct field inspections of both County and private construction projects; coordinate with public and private agencies regarding projects about to start or under construction; review and consult with staff regarding award of contracts, contract change orders, progress payments and project close out.
• Public Works Solid Waste Section: Oversee landfill and transfer station programs, the development and implementation of annual permit compliance plan, and solid waste capital projects, including project development and engineering design, bid procurement, construction quality assurance, fiscal management and permitting; manage solid waste and recycling collection, franchise agreements for incorporated areas, and landfill and transfer station gate data and revenue collection.
• Public Works Water and Waste Water Section: Plan, organize and manage the operation and maintenance of the County's sanitation facilities; directs, through subordinate supervisors, the work of a staff engaged in a wide variety of activities connected with sanitation operations and maintenance; insures that all sanitation facilities comply with State and Federal laws and regulations.
• Public Works Flood Control Section: Plan, organize, and manage the flood control activities for a storm drain maintenance district(s) and a flood control and water conservation district(s). Administer and coordinate various advisory and regulatory committees.
• All Public Works Positions: may act for an Assistant Director of Public Works as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS

Knowledge of:

All assignments:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Current Federal, State and local laws, rules and regulations relating to the specific program assignment.

Some knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of supervision and training.
• Principles of public administration, including organization, management and budgeting.
• Application of data processing to Public Works or Planning programs.

For Civil and Construction Engineering:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to public agencies.
• Strengths, properties and uses of materials in engineering construction.

Working knowledge of:

• Methods of design, and/or construction and inspection for public works or planning projects including streets, storm drains and sanitation systems, structures and bike paths.
• Principles of traffic engineering and methods for properly regulating vehicular and pedestrian traffic flows (may be required for some positions).
• Hydrology and hydraulic design engineering.

Some knowledge of:

• Wastewater engineering (may be required for some positions).

Solid Waste Assignment:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Landfill and solid waste engineering relative to operating landfill and transfer stations.

Some knowledge of:

• Strengths, properties and uses of materials in engineering construction.

Water and Waste Water Assignment:

Thorough knowledge of:

• The methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in the operation, maintenance and repair of wastewater collection, treatment and transmission facilities.
• Safety practices observed in sanitation operations.
• Governmental regulations related to the treatment and distribution of drinking water and the treatment and disposal of domestic wastewater.

Flood Control Assignment:

Thorough knowledge of:

• Watershed management
• Flood control activities, including flood modeling
• Governmental regulations and permit processing for flood control improvement projects and routine maintenance activities.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, supervise, train and evaluate the work of professional and technical staff.
• Schedule work, determine priorities and make decisions to resolve difficult problems.
• Analyze technical and administrative problems and develop and implement solutions.
• Coordinate section activities with other sections and departments.
• Understand, interpret, explain and apply applicable laws, rules and regulations.
• Supervise the preparation of engineering designs, plans and specifications in the construction and modification of public works facilities, for some positions.
• Plan, organize and administer an extensive sanitation maintenance operation for some positions.
• Supervise the inspection and monitoring of contractor compliance with approved engineering plans and specifications in the construction and modification of public works facilities.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Effectively apply traffic engineering principles in establishing and maintaining safe and efficient vehicular and traffic flow patterns (may be required for some positions).
• Effectively manage and administer a flood control program including project and maintenance regulatory permitting (maybe required for some positions)
• Perform difficult and complex engineering work.
• Prepare clear and concise administrative and technical reports.
• Speak effectively before groups.
• Prepare budgets.
• Learn to input, access and analyze data using a computer.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain these would be: Equivalent to graduation from an accredited college with a major in civil, traffic, environmental or sanitary engineering; or biological, chemical, physical or soil science; or a related field. AND: Five years of increasingly responsible engineering experience which demonstrates possession and application of the knowledge and abilities listed above. A Master's Degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field may be substituted for one year of the required engineering experience.

Special Requirements/Conditions:

• License: Possession of a valid California class C driver license.
• Certificate: For some assignments: Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers. Traffic Engineering assignments: In addition to registration as a Civil Engineer, possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Traffic Engineer issued by the California Board of Registration for Professional Engineers is desirable.
• Special Working Conditions: Exposure to variable temperatures and weather conditions; high levels of noise; dust; strong, unpleasant odors; heights, such as on bridges; working alone in isolated areas; the possibility of contact with potentially hostile people; cramped work spaces; and, bodily injuries. Some positions may be required to occasionally lift manhole covers, soil samples and environmental process equipment. Potential exists for exposure to toxic materials such as landfill gas, sewer gas and discarded household or commercial chemicals.
• Other Special Requirements: Availability to work irregular hours, including responding to emergency calls.

Bargaining Unit: 11
EEOC Job Category: 02
Occupational Grouping: 24
Workers' Comp Code: 0053