CHIEF SHOP PLANS & STEEL FABRICATION UN

Job Responsibilities

This position is accountable for managing, directing, and controlling the activities of the Shop Plans and Steel Fabrication Unit to develop, evaluate, and ensure departmental policy compliance in the field and shop plan review of pre-stressed concrete, steel and aluminum structural components, and other ancillary items for bridge construction. This position bears ultimate responsibility for development, preparation, and approval/disapproval for fabrication of all types of bridges and traffic structures. This includes the development, management, and inspection of fabrication, welding, painting, and non-destructive testing of all structural steel bridge and overhead sign structure components.

Bridge program:                                    $800 million annually
Inspection projects managed:              400 reviewed; 124 inspected annually

This position reports to the Bridge Design Section Chief. Reporting to this position are the Shop Plans and Traffic Structures Group Engineer and Fabrication Inspection Group Technician.

This position operates in an environment that develops and manages the department’s structural steel inspection procedures which are designed to preclude structural failure to premature maintenance requirements caused by use of inferior materials, substandard painting practices, or improper fabrication processes. Such inspections are required to ensure the safety of the motoring public and to prevent costly construction delays, structural repairs, or early paint system failure. The Shop Plans and Steel Fabrication Unit provides the technical expertise required to review and approve shop plans involving fabrication of all structural materials, perform on-site inspections and approve all welding and fabrication projects and related procedures, perform on-site testing of all painted structural components, and resolve all questions and/or disagreements involving interpretation of contractual documents pertaining to shop plan approval and material fabrication. This position ensures compliance with state and federal structural inspection and testing regulations by providing the managerial and technical expertise required to ensure adherence to current regulations.

Job Responsibilities Continued

The most significant challenge to this position is providing and keeping abreast of the technical and managerial expertise required to address and resolve unique problems relevant to bridge fabrication, erection, damaged structural components, welding, painting, and non-destructive testing. The resolution of such problems is often complicated because of the diverse opinions held by structural steel fabricators and contractors in the interpretation of different industry codes for metallurgy, welding, painting, inspection, and erection. Typical problems include identifying potential or actual problems early and maintaining optimum utilization of subordinate personnel. The incumbent develops and recommends policies, establishes procedures, and manages shop plan reviews and shop inspections. The incumbent arranges for shop inspection of fabrication for local public agency (LPA) bridge projects when agreed to with the LPA during the project development, with consideration and determination of adequate inspection staff resources. The incumbent manages, directs, and identifies qualification criteria for specialized testing equipment with respect to all technical aspects of fabrication, critical weldments, and non-destructive testing and structural steel. Since the incumbent is responsible for continually evaluating, investigating, and making recommendations concerning inspection and testing procedures, s/he keeps abreast of current technology in the field. The incumbent acts as the department’s spokesperson on national or departmental research projects relative to structural steel fabrication and welding. At times, the incumbent augments their inspection force with outside inspection agencies. The incumbent prepares inspection contracts and recommends award of the structural steel inspection contract.

The incumbent accomplishes accountabilities through the following staff:

Shop Plans and Traffic Structures Group Engineer who is responsible for developing, evaluating, and ensuring compliance with departmental policies governing preparation and review of shop plans for pre-stressed concrete, steel and aluminum structural components, and other ancillary items for bridge construction. The incumbent is responsible for the preparation of designs and special or standard details; evaluation of field inspections; in-depth investigations for traffic structures; and the preparation, review, and update of all sections and standard plans in the department’s Sign Structures Manual.

Fabrication Inspection Group Technician who is responsible for developing and managing field and shop inspection of fabrication, welding, painting, and non-destructive bridge and overhead sign structure component testing.

Job Responsibilities Continued

The incumbent has broad latitude in rendering judgments and decisions on the activities of the Shop Plans and Steel Fabrication Unit. The incumbent is constrained by departmental policies and procedures. Problems of a very sensitive nature are resolved in conjunction with the Bridge Design Section Chief. 

The incumbent has internal contact with the staff of the district offices and central Bureaus of Construction, Materials, and Operations. The incumbent maintains continual external contact with fabricators to resolve problems and approve fabrication procedures. The incumbent has frequent contact with material suppliers pertinent to material substitution requests and with contractors concerning interpretation of applicable contract specifications and possible considerations of alternative methods or materials. Occasional statewide and out-of-state travel with overnight stays is required.

The effectiveness of this position is measured by the incumbent's ability to manage, plan, and coordinate timely review of shop drawings and inspections of fabrication to ensure that bridge and structure components are manufactured and transported to the project in accordance with departmental specifications and within the intent of all contract documents. Effectiveness will also be measured by the technical expertise displayed by the incumbent in rendering judgments and decisions resolving problems encountered by this highly technical field.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Formulates and recommends policies, establishes procedures, and sets priorities for shop plan approval and shop inspections of state bridge and structure fabrication. Arranges for shop inspection of fabrication for LPA bridge projects when agreed to with the LPA during the project development, with consideration and determination of adequate inspection staff resources.
2. Plans, directs, schedules, trains, and supervises subordinates to accomplish departmental goals charged to the Shop Plans and Steel Fabrication Unit.
3. Approves or rejects fabricators’ requests for material substitution, deviation from the contract documents, proposed method of repair of mis-fabrication of components, and use of new fabrication and welding processes.
4. Provides technical expertise to other agencies relative to methods of fabrication, welding, non-destructive testing, specifications, field erection problems, damaged material, material acceptance, and payment for contractual work revisions.
5. Acts on state and national advisory committees with respect to technical research projects on fabrication and welding.
6. Keeps abreast of all technical advancements in methods of structural fabrication, welding, and nondestructive testing.
7. Prepares proposals and contracts for consultant inspection services and recommends award of the contracts for such services.
8. Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Position Requirements

• Current registration as a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
• Eight (8) years of experience in civil engineering including three (3) years supervising staff and managing engineering functions
• Valid driver's license
• Occasional statewide and out-of-state travel with overnight stays

Position Desirables

• Current registration as a Licensed Structural Engineer in the state of Illinois
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative work relationships
• Effective oral and written communication skills