Public Works and Engineering Specialist

The City of Owen Sound; Owen Sound; On-site; CAD 44,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Extended health & dental

OMERS pension

Job summary

The City of Owen Sound is seeking a highly organized, customer-focused Public Works and Engineering Specialist to provide administrative and technical support across Engineering Services, Environmental Services, and Public Works Operations. You will be a key contact for residents, contractors, consultants and utility providers, contributing to planning, coordination, and delivery of municipal infrastructure programs and services.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology or related field; equivalents considered.
• Municipal administration, business administration or GIS backgrounds encouraged if relevant infrastructure experience.
• Minimum 1 year in municipal engineering infrastructure.
• Experience with contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies and public.
• Experience supporting capital projects, permit administration, contract administration or infrastructure operations is asset.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and administer engineering-related permits and approvals including encroachment permits and boulevard parking permits.
• Review submissions for completeness and coordinate circulation with departments, consultants and utilities.
• Maintain permit tracking systems and ensure timely processing and communication with applicants.
• Serve as primary contact for engineering-related inquiries via phone, email, online requests, and in-person visits.
• Assist with capital project administration, agreement tracking, documentation and reporting.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Customer service

Organizational

Analytical

Municipal engineering knowledge

Public works knowledge

Infrastructure operations

Reading drawings/plans/permits

Use of municipal software systems

Education

Diploma in Civil Engineering Technology

Environmental/Construction/Environmental Engineering Technology background

Municipal Administration / Business Administration / GIS background

Tools

Microsoft Office

Municipal software systems

Job description

PublicWorksandEngineeringSpecialist

JobType:Full-timePermanent

JobPosting#:2026-36

ClosingDate:November24,2026

Group:CUPE1189-00

Department:PublicWorksandEngineering

Location:OwenSound,ON

TheCityofOwenSoundisseekingahighlyorganizedandcustomer-focusedprofessionaltojoinourteamasPublicWorksandEngineeringSpecialist.ReportingtotheManagerofPublicWorksandEngineering,thispositionprovidesadministrativeandtechnicalsupportacrossEngineeringServices,EnvironmentalServices,andPublicWorksOperations,servingasakeypointofcontactforresidents,contractors,consultants,developers,andutilityproviders.

Thisroleoffersanopportunitytocontributetotheplanning,coordination,anddeliveryofmunicipalinfrastructureprogramsandservicesthatsupportourgrowingcommunity.

Thispostingisforanexistingvacancy.

WhatYou’llDo

EngineeringServices

• Coordinateandadministerengineering-relatedpermitsandapprovals,includingTemporaryEncroachmentPermits,MunicipalConsentApplications,BoulevardParkingPermits,utilitycorridorpermits,andotherright-of-wayapprovals.
• Reviewsubmissionsforcompletenessandcoordinatecirculationwithinternaldepartments,consultants,utilities,andexternalstakeholders.
• Maintainpermittrackingsystemsandensuretimelyprocessingandcommunicationwithapplicants.
• Serveastheprimarypointofcontactforengineering-relatedinquiriesreceivedthroughphone,email,onlinerequests,andin-personvisits.
• Respondtoquestionsregardingmunicipalinfrastructure,constructionactivities,engineeringstandards,developmentservicingrequirements,andrelatedmunicipalservices.
• Assistwithcapitalprojectadministration,agreementtracking,projectdocumentation,reporting,andcorrespondence.
• Preparenotices,agreements,reports,forms,andotherdocumentationsupportingengineeringprojectsandpermitadministration.

EnvironmentalServicesSupport

• SupportprogramsandinitiativesrelatedtoEnvironmentalServices.
• Assistwiththeadministrationandcoordinationofconsultantandcontractoractivitiesrelatedtolandfillmonitoring,leachatehaulinganddisposal,leafandyardwasteoperations,environmentalmonitoringprograms,andwastediversioninitiatives.
• Trackcontractordeliverablesandmaintainprojectandcontractrecords.
• Assistwithregulatoryreporting,compliancedocumentation,recordmanagement,andcustomerservicerequests.
• ProvideongoingadministrativesupporttosupportoperationalcontinuitywithinEnvironmentalServices.

PublicWorksOperationalSupport

• Supportinfrastructuremanagementandconditionassessmentprograms.
• Assistwithtrafficsignreflectivityassessments,sidewalkconditioninspections,roadscanninginitiatives,assetinventoryupdates,roadoccupancynotifications,andseasonalmaintenanceprograms.
• Coordinateservicerequests,workordertracking,contractorcommunications,andoperationalreporting.
• Maintainprograminformationandperformancedatatosupportservicedeliveryandlong-termplanning.

WhatWe’reLookingFor

Education&Experience

• DiplomainCivilEngineeringTechnology,ConstructionEngineeringTechnology,EnvironmentalEngineeringTechnology,orarelatedfield.Equivalentcombinationsofeducationanddirectlyrelatedmunicipalexperiencemaybeconsidered.
• CandidateswithMunicipalAdministration,BusinessAdministration,orGISbackgroundsareencouragedtoapplyiftheypossessrelevantmunicipalinfrastructureexperience.
• Minimumone(1)yearofexperienceinamunicipal,engineering,infrastructure,construction,orrelatedenvironment.
• Experienceworkingwithcontractors,consultants,regulatoryagencies,andthepublic.
• Experiencesupportingcapitalprojects,permitadministration,contractadministration,projectcoordination,orinfrastructureoperationsisconsideredanasset

Skills&Competencies

• Stronginterpersonal,communication,customerservice,organizational,andanalyticalskills.
• Knowledgeofmunicipalengineering,publicworks,environmentalservices,andinfrastructureoperations.
• Abilitytointerpretengineeringdrawings,plans,permits,technicalreports,andmunicipalstandards.
• Strongprojectcoordinationandpermitadministrationskills.
• Abilitytomanagemultipleprioritiesandmeetdeadlinesinafast-pacedenvironment.
• ProficiencywithMicrosoftOfficeapplicationsandmunicipalsoftwaresystems.
• Abilitytoexercisesoundjudgment,diplomacy,andprofessionalismwheninteractingwiththepublic,consultants,contractors,andCitystaff.
• Abilitytoworkindependentlywhilecontributingeffectivelywithinacollaborativeteamenvironment.

Assets

• AMCTOMunicipalAdministrationProgramcoursework.
• OACETTmembershiporeligibilityformembership.
• Experiencerelatedtoassetmanagement,municipalpermitadministration,projectadministration,orcontractadministration.
• OntarioTrafficManual(OTM)Book7TrafficControlcertification.
• Knowledgeofmunicipalinfrastructuresystems,includingroads,waterdistribution,wastewatercollection,stormwatermanagement,andrelatedpublicworksassets.

OtherRequirements

• ValidOntarioClassGdriver'slicenceingoodstanding.
• Abilitytoworkbothinanofficeenvironmentandoccasionallyinthefield.
• DemonstratedcommitmenttoworkplacehealthandsafetyandcompliancewithapplicablelegislationandCitypolicies.

Compensation&Benefits

• Wage:$31.90-$37.53hourly,35hoursperweek.
• Benefits:Comprehensiveemployer-paidExtendedHealth&Dentalplan,andOMERSdefinedbenefitpensionplan.

WhyJoinUs?

Joinadynamicmunicipalteamthatplaysavitalroleinmaintainingandimprovingtheinfrastructurethatsupportsourcommunityeveryday.You'llhavetheopportunitytoworkonadiverserangeofengineering,environmental,andpublicworksinitiativeswhiledevelopingyourskillsinacollaborativeandsupportiveenvironment.

WhyOwenSound?

OwenSoundofferstheperfectbalanceofprofessionalopportunityandqualityoflife.LocatedontheshoresofGeorgianBay,ourcommunityfeaturesavibrantartsandculturescene,exceptionaloutdoorrecreation,andawelcomingsmall-cityatmosphere.

EqualOpportunityEmployerStatement:

TheCityofOwenSoundvaluesdiversityandiscommittedtoprovidinganinclusiveworkplace.WewillaccommodatetheneedsofapplicantsinaccordancewiththeHumanRightsCodeandtheAccessibilityfor OntarianswithDisabilitiesActthroughoutthehiringprocess.

TheCityofOwenSoundiscommittedtoafair,transparent,andpeople-centredrecruitmentprocess.Whilemoderntoolsmayassistinadministrativetasks,allhiringdecisionsaremadebypeople,andeveryapplicationisreviewedbyamemberofourHumanResourcesteam.

Wedonotuseautomateddecision-makingorartificialintelligencetoolstoscreenoutoreliminateapplicants.Anytechnologyusedinthehiringprocessisdesignedsolelytosupportefficiency-nottoreplacehumanjudgmentorevaluateapplicantsuitability.

PrivacyStatement:

Wethankallapplicantsfortheirinterest;onlythoseselectedforaninterviewwillbecontacted.PersonalinformationiscollectedundertheauthorityoftheMunicipalActforthepurposeofcandidateselection.ItwillbemaintainedinaccordancewiththeMunicipalFreedomofInformationandProtectionofPrivacyAct.