PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION ENGINEER - DISTRICT 9 (CIVIL ENGINEER VII)

Essential Functions

This position reports to the Region Five Engineer. Reporting to this position are the Engineers of Materials, Construction, and Local Roads and Streets, the Implementation Support Technician, and an Executive Secretary.

This position functions in a diverse geographical area which requires a wide variety of construction supervision and material inspection on state projects, and state, federally and Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funded local agency projects. This is politically sensitive and poses unusual problems of highway safety and effective movement of traffic through construction areas. These conditions create unusual problems in the effective scheduling of available manpower and other resources to ensure the timely and effective accomplishment of material inspection and construction supervision. The complexity of the district highway system requires an incumbent with a high level of technical competence in the project implementation area. This position serves as spokesperson to the public, legislators and various local governmental agencies regarding projects which at times can be controversial involving construction delays, detour issues, etc. The incumbent exercises significant discretion for the regular and daily implementation of policy and strategy as directed by executive staff. The Project Implementation Engineer is expected to exercise significant discretion for the regular and daily implementation of policy and strategy as directed by executive staff.

Typical problems encountered in this position include providing for the proper coordination of agencies and personnel that are involved in almost every project; maintaining continuous contact with the media, local agencies, abutting property owners, and the political directorate to inform them of construction progress and prognosis and ensure that temporary traffic control procedures and detour provisions ensure optimum safety to the traveling public and the effective movement of traffic through the construction area. This position plans, directs, and coordinates the implementation of projects each year, which requires additional overview with detailed construction supervision activities on projects performed by consultant personnel. The greatest challenge to this position is to ensure effective and timely project completion while optimizing traffic safety and minimizing the inconvenience of the traveling public.

The incumbent personally plans, implements, and evaluates programs to improve the management process, manpower utilization, staff quality, and the processes and procedures used to accomplish the district engineering objectives. This position directs the preparation and implementation of the engineering budget; develops and implements policies and procedures to supplement those of the central office; and meets with public officials, local agencies, affected private parties, utility and railroad officials, media representatives, and members of the political directorate, construction consulting engineers, and contractors in resolving complex and unique problems which involve cost, time delays, and the quality of finished highway improvements in the district. The incumbent establishes priorities for construction programs which directly affect construction supervision and material inspection activities. The incumbent provides staff advice on policies and procedures in the engineering area. In addition, the incumbent evaluates, approves, or rejects requests from staff concerning equipment, budget, manpower, and proposed organizational changes.

Essential Functions continued

The incumbent accomplishes accountabilities through the following staff:

Field Engineer who maintains liaison with local agencies to disseminate policies and procedures for MFT, TBP, and federal aid programs and to assist them in planning efforts.

Construction Engineer who, with a staff, is responsible for all functions necessary to ensure complete and accurate construction of a project including construction survey work, inspection of contractor's procedures, verification of contractor's procedures, equipment used, and quality of work.

District Materials Engineer who, with a staff, is responsible for material inspection and quality control to ensure complete and accurate inspection of materials used on construction projects including all embankment, foundation and line borings, determining and regulating the quality of aggregate and bituminous and concrete material used, testing and analyzing district material samples to ensure conformance to standards and specifications, and proper project documentation.

Local Roads and Streets Engineer who, with a staff, administers the planning, use, and expenditure of MFT and federal aid funds for all local governments in the district.

Implementation Support Technician coordinates the required documentation of Construction and Materials field and plant inspection, required sampling and testing, prepares and monitors section budget, maintain equipment inventory, and maintains personnel records.

Executive Secretary who performs secretarial and administrative services for the bureau including timekeeping, commodity purchases, and inventory.

The incumbent is given wide latitude in the management of the district engineering activities including the managing of subordinate personnel within their district as well as the purchasing of supplies, equipment, and services within budget limitations and the provisions of the State Procurement Act. The incumbent implements policies and procedures for staff operations within departmental guidelines. When necessary, the incumbent will refer conflicts between the engineering area and any other area to the Region Five Engineer for resolution. Such referrals would include a recommended course of action. The incumbent also seeks the Region Five Engineer's counsel on certain phases of engineering activities and asks them to choose between alternatives.

Within the district, the incumbent maintains contact with other bureau chiefs, their section heads and staffs in relation to equipment and supplies, budgetary and manpower needs, project control and monitoring of the contract support, construction, local roads and materials activities, and other work activities. The incumbent coordinates with the Equal Employment Opportunity Labor Compliance Officer to ensure the contractor follows Illinois Department of Transportation requirements. Outside the district organization, the incumbent is required to establish and maintain responsible and effective relationships with departmental offices/divisions, state and federal agencies, local governmental units, consultants, contractors, interested private organizations, and the public. Considerable travel is required of this position.

The effectiveness of this position is measured by the incumbent's ability to manage the Bureau of Project Implementation effectively and efficiently by accomplishing program goals and objectives; by the acceptance by local agencies and the public, as well as the central bureau and the Federal Highway Administration of all construction and materials activities required for highway projects. By maintaining good public relations and effectively informing the public, business interests, and local governmental agencies, by controlling all phases of construction costs, and by developing acceptable district engineering procedures.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Plans, organizes, directs, and controls the construction supervision and materials inspection functions of the district and state and federally funded local agency construction programs.

2. Provides for cooperation within the engineering area in the district through the establishment and maintenance of relationships that satisfactorily reconcile divergent viewpoints on specific issues arising from the new construction and materials inspection activities on specific highway improvements.

3. Provides recommendations to top management on the first level of the claim process when a contractor disagrees with district decisions on the contract.

4. Serves as spokesperson and provides close contact and communication with representatives of local governmental agencies, business interests, the media, the political directorate, and private citizens on construction scheduling and activities.

5. Provides top management with construction and materials information, solutions, costs, policies, and courses of action that contribute to the resolution of operating problems.

6. Ensures the proper and effective utilization of manpower through the selection, training, motivation, and evaluation of employees.

7. Ensures quality highways and streets through the proper inspection and testing of materials and construction.

8. Provides for the safety of the motoring public during construction and upon completion of the highway by using the latest standards, designs, and procedures.

9. Exercises significant discretion for the regular and daily implementation of policy and strategy as directed by executive staff.

10. Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.

11. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Current registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois.
• Ten years of experience in civil engineering including six years of supervising staff and managing engineering functions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of the laws controlling the activities administered.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the modern methods and practices of public works construction and maintenance operations.
• Ability to initiate, coordinate and direct large-scale engineering programs or research and planning activities of a difficult technical nature.
• Ability to promote, establish, and maintain harmonious relationships with staff and the public.

Conditions of Employment

• Requires a valid driver’s license.
• Requires considerable travel.
• Requires 24 hours per day, 7 days per week availability.
• Ability to successfully pass a background check.
• This position has been found to meet the requirements in section 4A-101 of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act requiring the occupant/employee to file a Statement of Economic Interest. The Illinois Governmental Ethics Act (5 ILCS 420/4A et seq.) requires certain state officials and employees to file annual Statements of Economic Interest with the Office of the Secretary of State that will be made available for examination and copying by the public. All employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interest are also required to file the Supplemental Statement of Economic Interest with the Executive Ethics Commission. (See Executive Order 15-09) Fines and penalties apply to untimely filings.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.
• The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.