CIVIL ENGINEER IV - AREA PERMIT ENGINEER

Job Responsibilities

This position is accountable for protecting the district's right-of-way investment and improving the safety and efficiency of traffic movement in an assigned geographic area on the district's highway system which may be suburban, urban, or rural in environment, through the investigation, evaluation and preparation of access, private, utility, and roadway closure permits.

This position reports to the Traffic Permit Engineer. A Junior Area Permit Engineer or an Area Permit Technician may report to this position.

This position performs activities associated with the evaluation of permit applications and the preparation of permits in a complex area of rapid development and population growth, changing land use, high traffic volumes, progressively intensified commercial and industrial development, declining availability of right-of-way, complicated networks of utility facilities, a growing awareness of the environmental impact of land development. and a large number of governmental units. The variety of topographic conditions, the existence of unstable subsoil conditions and the presence of wide areas of man-made fills complicates the task of properly evaluating permit applications and providing adequate inspection of permit construction.

Typical challenges of this position include developing alternative access plans from the proposals of major commercial and industrial developers; reviewing and recommending changes to existing access in proposed construction improvements; ensuring compatibility of access to the district's highway system; and applying technical skill in the evaluation of permit applications. To address these challenges, the incumbent must understand rural and urban design standards, highway capacity criteria, traffic signal operation, construction standards and specifications, drainage principles and practices, pavement marking, signing, and temporary traffic controls. Candidate must also be able to anticipate the operational and maintenance consequences of permit issues. The greatest challenge to this position is the development of reasonable and safe access to land adjacent to state highways while maintaining the integrity of the district's right-of-way in highly developed urban areas where state highways are inadequate to address the needs of increasing traffic volumes. To accomplish this task, it is necessary to develop appropriate roadway widening designs to be constructed by the property developers at no cost to the state.

The incumbent's responsibility includes the final acceptance of work and the highway right-of-way restoration. The incumbent maintains accurate and detailed records of "as built" permit work. The position reviews and issues permit to railroad companies to allow for repairs to their crossings of state highways. The incumbent may assist in the review and preparation of highway permits throughout the district, depending on unit needs. The incumbent monitors all state highways to ensure permits have been issued for any work within the rights-of-way.

Job Responsibilities Continued

The incumbent may accomplish accountabilities through the following staff:

Junior Area Permit Engineer -who is accountable for the evaluation of permit applications and the preparation of permits.

Area Permit Technician -who is accountable for the review and processing of permit applications.

The incumbent independently conducts the evaluation and preparation of a permit by working with applicants, local agencies, and contractors to ensure that land use proposals are compatible with permit policies and departmental design guidelines. The incumbent reviews the permit applications, inspects the proposed
locations and, if necessary, develops alternate schemes for means of access which are then discussed with
the applicant and/or engineer or architect and recommends acceptance or rejection of the application. After issuance of the permit, the incumbent inspects the permit construction work and ensures that construction is being carried out in accordance with Department Policies and approved plans. The incumbent represents the department and may be called upon to make complex, on-the-spot decisions regarding construction in progress. These decisions require good independent judgment.

The most significant contacts outside the department occur as the incumbent meets with municipal officials and private parties to coordinate access decisions which will maintain the capacity and improve the safety and efficiency of the traffic flow on highways within the district. Communication with the public requires that the incumbent maintain a liaison with other district bureaus relative to geometric design and future highway improvements.

The incumbent is also responsible for verifying and driving all oversize/overweight moves assigned by the Traffic Permit Engineer from the Central Permit Office within a designated time frame to ensure the moves can be accommodated or the incumbent must suggest additional requirements of the mover to accommodate the route.

The incumbent's effectiveness is measured by the accuracy of permit design, the quality of construction, and the safety and efficiency of the highway operation during and after construction of the permit work.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Provides for the safety, efficiency, and capacity of the state's highway system when recommending approval of permit applications and during permit construction.
2. Provides detailed technical evaluation of permit applications.
3. Inspects and supervises the construction of all issued permits to ensure compliance with the specifications and a quality product.
4. Provides timely completion of all required permit documents and correspondence.
5. Trains, motivates, and evaluates subordinate personnel, if assigned.
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.

Position Requirements

• Current registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois.
• Four years of experience in civil engineering with two years in construction and highway design including responsibility for project oversight.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to work outdoors and traverse uneven terrain.
• Districtwide travel for site visits, occasional statewide overnight travel to attend conferences, trainings, or meetings.
• Successful completion of a background screening.

Position Desirables

• Knowledge of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and the application of temporary traffic control in work zones.
• Ability to make independent judgment decisions within departmental permit policy guidelines.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.