CIVIL ENGINEER IV - SENIOR SQUAD ENGINEER - IPR#46298

Job Responsibilities

This position is accountable for supervising the activities of engineers and technicians engaged in the preparation of design reports, plans, and specifications for various highway improvement projects and serves as Project Manager for larger, more complex in-house and consultant prepared projects.

Subordinate Staff: 4-10 Direct
Number of In-House Projects: 5-50 Annually ($2-$100 million)
Projects by Consultants: 1-10 Annually (Fee Value $1-$15 million)

This position reports to the Project Engineer. Both civil engineering and engineering technician subordinate personal report to this position, as well as additional subordinates in the winter months, temporary personnel, and coop students. Performance and/or discipline issues will be referred to the Project Engineer for further consideration.
 

The incumbent of this position performs in an environment of fluctuating and accelerated deadlines where priorities can change daily. This person also performs in an area that is sensitive to errors which could result in inaccuracies in plan preparation and/or cost estimating. Such errors could adversely impact the department’s ability to meet scheduled letting dates or other deadlines. The information compiled by this position must be sufficiently documented in the individual project reports to obtain design approval. To accomplish the accountabilities of this position, the incumbent must possess a thorough knowledge of highway design principles, state and district design standards and plan preparation guidelines as well as an understanding of programming functions, land acquisition processes, materials, construction, and traffic operations. A working knowledge of computer aided drafting and design guidelines (including 3D CADD) is desirable.
 

Typical problems that this position may need to resolve include the interpretation and implementation of design policies and procedures and assisting subordinates in managing workloads and changing priorities with the goal of developing highway designs that will provide a safe, efficient and cost-effective facilities with minimum adverse social and environmental impacts.

Functions performed by this position include guiding subordinates in researching, collecting and verification of information; layout and design of various roadway elements such as horizontal and vertical alignments; typical sections, drainage features, entrances, sidewalks, and auxiliary lanes; estimating quantities and costs; preparing and reviewing plan sheets; and developing special provisions and general notes. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating or supervising the coordination of public involvement activities. This includes organizing and carrying out public meetings including the necessary ancillary activities and coordinating other meetings with property owners as may be appropriate. In addition, this position is responsible for completing design reports and solving difficult engineering problems.

(Job Responsibilities continued)

This position also serves as a project manager in the preparation of complex, large sized in-house projects as well as consultant led projects and is responsible for negotiating agreements, management consultants and their project schedules, invoicing, consultant evaluations and other contract related activities and/or supervising his or her staff in these functions.

The greatest challenges of the position include guiding the preparation of design reports and plans that are complete and accurate and prioritizing his/her squad’s workload so that established and accelerated deadlines for design approval and letting dates are met. The incumbent is responsible for the evaluation of his or her subordinate staff with guidance from the Project Engineer.

In accomplishing the objectives of this position, the incumbent must operate within the limits of prescribed department standards and specifications, including but not limited to the Bureau of Design and Environment Manual, the Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, the district Engineering Manual, state highway standards, department and district policies, the Computer Aided Design, Drafting, Modeling and Deliverables Manual, and state and federal regulations. Problems relating to alternative approaches to highway design and or deviation from the established scope of work or design policy should be referred to the Project Engineer for further consideration. The incumbent is required to advise the Project Engineer of final recommendations or decisions that may become publicly or ecologically controversial.

Internal contacts include all other sections within the Bureau of Program Development, as well as the Bureaus of Project Implementation and Operations for the purpose of obtaining or providing information relative to specific design projects. Principal contacts outside the department are local, county and state officials and agencies, the Bureaus of Design and Environment, Bridges and Structures, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) representatives, and the general public affected by the proposed designs. Travel to attend seminars and training sessions may be required.

The effectiveness of the position can best be measured by the quality and quantity of work accomplished by the incumbent’s squad and consulting engineers, and the clarity, completeness and accuracy of reports, plans and quantities.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Prepares project reports and plans to ensure the proper design of various roadway improvement projects.
2. Accountable for the team’s accurate preparation of project reports and contract plans that meet required standards and specifications within the prescribed timeframe.
3. Responsible for instructing and coordinating the work of subordinate staff members on project report and plan preparation, and department procedures.
4. Responsible for supervising coordination with internal departments and outside agencies and engineering consultants including the preparation of meeting goals, agendas and exhibits to be used for project related meetings
5. Completes other duties or special assignments in support of the overall mission of the Studies and Plans Unit as assigned by the Project Engineer and within the agreed upon time frame.
6. Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
7. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Position Requirements

• Current registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
• Four years of experience in civil engineering
• Valid driver’s license.

Position Desirables

• Ten years of experience in the preparation of design reports and in designing and preparing plans and specifications for highway improvement projects.
• Four years of experience in mentoring peers including but not limited to engineering or technician trainees, temporary personnel (winter assignment) or coops.
• Ability to supervise a staff of engineers and technicians in the development of design reports and contract plans.
• Ability to maintain cooperative relationships with departmental and industry staff.
• Strong oral and/or written communication skills.