Chief Dam Safety Engineer

IDC Executive Search / Energy Only; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

IDC Executive Search / Energy Only is looking for a Dam Safety Engineer based in the United States. The successful candidate will oversee dam safety policies, participate in inspections, and ensure compliance with safety regulations.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree in Civil or Environmental Engineering and a PE license, along with at least 10 years of relevant experience. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential to inspire support and ensure high-quality engineering analyses.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in dam safety or related engineering.
• Proven leadership skills and ability to inspire a diverse team.
• Strong understanding of structural, geotechnical, hydrologic, and hydraulic engineering.

Responsibilities

• Oversee implementation of dam safety policies and procedures.
• Participate in FERC dam safety inspections.
• Ensure oversight during dam rehabilitation and construction projects.
• Support risk rankings for capital planning.

Skills

Knowledge of dam safety regulations

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Analytical problem-solving

Understanding of engineering concepts

Knowledge of dam instrumentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or environmental engineering

Professional Engineer (PE) license

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

• Stay abreast of evolving regulations, guidelines, and industry best practices related to dam safety and environmental compliance. Ensure that all dam operations and maintenance activities adhere to relevant regulatory requirements and permit conditions.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of dam safety policies, procedures, and guidelines in alignment with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in/designate Associate CDSEs and DSEs to participate in FERC dam safety inspections, Comprehensive Assessments, and Periodic Inspections. Ensuring the review of all associated reports and STIDs.
• Oversee the dam safety surveillance and performance monitoring program, ensuring that instrumentation, visual inspections, and data trending are sufficient to detect developing failure modes.
• Ensure that Dam Safety Surveillance Monitoring Reports (DSSMRs) clearly identify performance trends, anomalies, and recommended actions.
• Assist Operations staff in the understanding and application of safe operational practices to preserve dam and public safety.
• Support development of dam safety risk rankings to inform capital planning, asset management strategies, and long-term investment decisions.
• Assist the Operations Team in the identification of and evaluation of solutions to maintenance deficiencies.
• Collaborate with Associate CDSEs, DSEs, project consultants, the Operations Team, and state and federal regulatory representatives to ensure that all dam safety engineering analyses and reports are of high quality and are completed on time.
• Ensure appropriate dam safety oversight during design, construction, and commissioning of dam rehabilitation and modification projects. Verify that construction activities do not introduce unacceptable interim risks to dam or public safety.
• Collaborate with external auditors on periodic reviews of the Owners Dam Safety Program.
• Champion a strong company-wide culture of dam and public safety through leadership engagement, training, and clear accountability.
• Ensure dam safety and public safety expectations are clearly understood by Operations, Engineering, and Project teams.
• Ensure the integrity, accessibility, and long-term retention of dam safety records, analyses, and as-built documentation across the portfolio.
• Guide continuous improvement of dam safety data management systems and documentation practices.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and technical support to the Civil Engineering team. Fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous learning within the department.

What skills and experience you’ll need:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license/certification with a minimum of 10 years of experience.
• Strong knowledge of dam safety regulations, guidelines, and industry standards (e.g., FERC, State).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with internal stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and external partners.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team of professionals.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Fundamental understanding of structural, geotechnical, hydrologic, and hydraulic engineering concepts and application, and construction management.
• Knowledge of dam instrumentation including various types of piezometers, inclinometers, etc.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to climb/traverse the slopes of dams, some of which may exceed 100 feet.
• Comfortability with entry into confined spaces such as dam galleries for inspections.