Director of Engineering and Public Works - Temporary five year term

City of Terrace; Terrace; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Terrace is seeking a Director of Engineering and Public Works to provide strategic leadership for planning, development, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and renewal of municipal infrastructure. This role oversees engineering, transportation, water distribution, sewer, drainage, solid waste, fleet, facilities, and related services, ensuring asset management and regulatory compliance.

The Director reports to the Executive Director and leads a team including an Engineering

Qualifications

• Minimum ten years of progressively responsible related experience, preferably including municipal infrastructure/public works.
• P.Eng. designation or Civil Engineering Technology diploma with A.Sc.T. designation preferred.
• Experience in budget development and management.
• Ability to supervise in a unionized environment and at a senior management level.
• Knowledge of Local Government Act, Community Charter, Land Title Act and related regulations.
• Exceptional communication skills and leadership ability.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all engineering and public works functions with input from managers.
• Manage operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of roads, water, sewer, drainage, solid waste, fleet and facilities.
• Recommend service levels, performance measures, maintenance programs, and standards.
• Coordinate planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning and close-out of capital projects.
• Represent the department with provincial/federal agencies and external organizations to ensure compliance with legislation.
• Oversee risk management related to municipal infrastructure, public safety, and environment.
• Hire, direct and supervise staff, manage collective agreements, and administer staff actions.
• Prepare reports and recommendations on land acquisitions and asset management.
• Attend council/committee meetings as technical advisor for the Engineering and Public Works Department.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Budgeting

BC Driver's Licence

Supervision (unionized env)

Education

P.Eng. designation or A.Sc.T. designation

Job description

FUNCTION:

The Director of Engineering and Public Works provides strategic leadership, direction, and oversight for the planning, development, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and renewal of municipal infrastructure and public works services.

The Director is responsible for ensuring the sustainable delivery of engineering, transportation, water distribution, sanitary sewer, drainage, solid waste, fleet, facilities, and related municipal services. The position leads the infrastructure planning for these assets and the department's capital works program while ensuring compliance with applicable legislation, asset management principles, service level objectives, environmental requirements, and Council priorities.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

Reporting to: Executive Director

Direct Reports: Engineer Manager, Public Works Manager, Public Works Clerk, and Departmental Services Clerk

AUTHORITY:

Under the direction of the City Manager:

1. The Director of Engineering and Public Works is authorized to take any reasonable action necessary to carry out the responsibilities assigned to them, provided such action demonstrates sound judgment, and does not deviate from prescribed municipal policy, municipal bylaws, or approved municipal practice and procedure.
2. The Director of Engineering and Public Works may delegate portions of their authority and responsibility to members of the Engineering and Public Works Department but may not delegate or relinquish overall responsibility and accountability for the performance of his/her function.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Oversees all engineering and public works functions with input from the Engineering Manager and Public Works Manager.
2. Oversees the operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of municipal roads, water systems, sanitary sewer systems, storm drainage systems, solid waste services, fleet assets, facilities, and related municipal infrastructure.
3. Recommends establishment of service levels, performance measures, maintenance programs, and operational standards for municipal services.
4. Oversees and co-ordinates municipal infrastructure studies, asset condition assessments, service level assessments, energy studies, long term projects, and related works.
5. Oversees and coordinates the planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and close-out of the department's capital projects.
6. Liaise and communicate with representatives of provincial and federal ministries, Crown corporations, government agencies, utilities, and other external organizations on matters pertaining to the Engineering and Public Works Department. To ensure all works completed by the Engineering and Public Works Department are done in compliance with applicable legislation.
7. To oversee risk management initiatives related to municipal infrastructure, public safety, environmental protection, and service continuity.
8. To hire, plan, direct, coordinate, administer and supervise the day-to-day activities of staff working directly under their jurisdiction, and to take or recommend disciplinary, termination, promotion, demotion, transfer, or other employment actions in accordance with applicable legislation, collective agreements, municipal policies, and delegated authority. To ensure that employees under their jurisdiction are delegated adequate authority to carry out their responsibilities, but that appropriate limitations on their authority are clearly understood.
9. To approve staff training, attendance at seminars, conferences, etc. of staff working directly under their jurisdiction.
10. o act as the designated Department Head for Step 2 of the grievance procedure for employees under their jurisdiction, in accordance with Article 20 of the Collective Agreement. To develop and recommend for approval the bylaws, policies and procedures required to regulate the operations of the Engineering and Public Works Department.
11. To prepare reports and make recommendations on the acquisition of land for roads, municipal assets, easements or rights-of-way.
12. To attend various internal committees and report on same.
13. To ensure that programs, policies, practices, and procedures pertaining to the Engineering and Public Works Department are observed and carried out as intended.
14. To oversee and submit the annual capital and operating budgets for the Engineering and Public Works Department.
15. To approve financial and operating transactions, for the Engineering and Public Works Department within delegated authority and applicable municipal policies.
16. To monitor departmental expenditures and revenues and ensure effective financial stewardship of municipal resources.
17. To oversee and seek out applications for cost and revenue sharing grants available to the Engineering and Public Works Department, in conjunction with the Finance Department.
18. To represent the municipality before the public in matters pertaining to the Engineering and Public Works Department, and to attend the public, as required, for the purpose of answering inquiries and discussing complaints with respect to matters coming within his/her jurisdiction.
19. To attend various council and committee meetings as required, as technical advisor, representing the Engineering and Public Works Department.
20. To prepare reports and maintain such records and information as may be necessary to perform this function.
21. Act as an alternate Approving Officer, if appointed by Council pursuant to the Land Title Act, in accordance with the statutory responsibilities and authorities of that office. Where the Director is exercising a statutory decision-making function, including as an Approving Officer, that function shall be exercised in accordance with the applicable legislation and any requirements governing the independence of that statutory authority.. To carry out additional related tasks and functions, as assigned by the Executive Director.

QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE:

1. Minimum ten years of progressively responsible related experience, preferably including at least five years in a municipal environment.
2. Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation or Civil Engineering Technology diploma with A.Sc.T. designation is preferred. Candidates with other relevant post-secondary education and significant senior leadership experience in municipal infrastructure, public works, engineering, utilities, asset management, or related operational environments may also be considered
3. Experience in budget development and management
4. Ability to supervise in a unionized environment and at a senior management level
5. Working knowledge of the Local Government Act, Community Charter, Land Title Act, and other legislation and regulations relevant to municipal engineering, infrastructure and public works.
6. Exceptional communication skills
7. Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, mentor, coach and contribute
8. Valid BC Driver's Licence

The above statement is a general description of the principal functions of the job identified and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the job.

The City of Terrace is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and equitable workplace that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals.