City Engineer

City of Plant City (FL); Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Plant City (FL) seeks a City Engineer to lead the Engineering Department, directing planning, design, and maintenance of public infrastructure, stormwater systems, and capital improvement programs. You will oversee budgets, staff, consultants, review development plans, ensure compliance with FEMA, NFIP, and state regulations, and represent the City in meetings.

Ideal candidates have a Civil Engineering degree, 7–10 years of municipal engineering experience, and strong leadership and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering required.
• 7–10 years of municipal/public sector engineering experience.
• Five years of supervisory or management experience.
• PE registration in Florida or reciprocity with 3-month timeline.
• CFM or CPM certifications preferred.
• NIMS training within 1 year of employment.
• Experience with stormwater, NFIP/FEMA programs, and CIP delivery.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Department Head for the Engineering department.
• Plan, organize, supervise, train, and evaluate staff; manage budgets.
• Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets, forecasts, and justifications.
• Oversee expenditures to ensure alignment with budgets and grant requirements.
• Review engineering plans, specs, estimates, and construction documents for compliance.
• Prepare scopes, RFPs, and evaluate consultant proposals; select vendors.
• Coordinate CIP development, funding strategies, and multi-year financial planning.
• Provide executive oversight of public infrastructure systems and maintenance.
• Lead stormwater, floodplain management, and infrastructure master plans.

Skills

Staff supervision

Budget management

Project management

Communication skills

Regulatory compliance

Stormwater management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Job description

The City Engineer serves as the City’s chief engineering official and Department Head, providing leadership, management, and professional expertise for all municipal engineering functions, including infrastructure, stormwater, floodplain management, development review, and capital improvement programs. Reporting to an Assistant City Manager, the City Engineer oversees regulatory compliance, manages consultants and contractors, directs the planning, design, and maintenance of public infrastructure, and is responsible for the preparation, administration, and oversight of the department’s operating and capital budgets.

This position plays a central role in reviewing and approving private and public development plans, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local engineering standards related to stormwater, transportation, utilities, floodplain management, and site development. The City Engineer provides technical guidance, supports capital improvement and long-range planning initiatives, collaborates with City leadership, departments, and external partners, and represents the City in presentations to the City Council, Planning and Zoning Board, and other advisory boards. The ideal candidate combines strong technical knowledge, leadership, and communication skills to advance safe, sustainable, and high-quality development throughout the community. Work is reviewed through oral and written reports, discussion, and results obtained.

• Serve as Department Head for the Engineering department, providing strategic leadership, vision, and direction consistent with City goals, policies, and long-range plans.
• Plan, organize, assign, supervise, train, and evaluate departmental staff; administer hiring, discipline, and performance management in accordance with City policies.
• Develop, prepare, and manage the Engineering Department’s annual operating and capital budgets, including expenditure forecasting, revenue projections, and budget justifications.
• Oversee and monitor departmental expenditures, ensuring compliance with adopted budgets, grant requirements, and City financial policies.
• Prepare budget-related reports, analyses, and presentations for the City Manager, Finance Department, and City Council.
• Coordinate budget development with long-range infrastructure planning and the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
• Identify and pursue external funding opportunities, including state, federal, and grant funding, to support infrastructure, stormwater, and capital projects.
• Direct the planning, design, permitting, and construction of City capital improvement projects, including stormwater systems, drainage infrastructure, roadways, sidewalks, bridges, and related public improvements.
• Review and approve engineering plans, specifications, cost estimates, and construction documents for compliance with City standards, regulatory requirements, and budget constraints.
• Prepare scopes of work, Requests for Proposals (RFPs), and Requests for Qualifications (RFQs); evaluate proposals and recommend consultant selection.
• Manage professional engineering consultants and construction contractors, including contract negotiation, performance monitoring, change orders, and project close-out.
• Ensure capital projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with applicable codes, standards, and best practices.
• Coordinate development and administration of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), including project prioritization, cost estimating, funding strategies, and multi-year financial planning.
• Provide executive-level oversight of the City’s public infrastructure systems, ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective operation and maintenance.
• Direct development and implementation of infrastructure master plans, asset management programs, and capital reinvestment strategies.
• Coordinate infrastructure condition assessments, lifecycle planning, and prioritization of rehabilitation and replacement projects.
• Work collaboratively with Streets & Stormwater, Utilities, Parks, and other departments to align infrastructure improvements with operational and service needs.
• Ensure infrastructure planning supports community growth, resilience, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Provide engineering oversight and technical support for City-owned facilities, including municipal buildings, public safety facilities, and park structures.
• Manage or oversee facility-related capital projects, renovations, and upgrades, ensuring compliance with building codes, ADA requirements, floodplain regulations, and sustainability standards.
• Review facility engineering plans and consultant deliverables.
• Coordinate with facilities and operations staff to identify infrastructure deficiencies, lifecycle needs, and capital improvement priorities.
• Administer and oversee the City’s stormwater management program, including planning, design, maintenance coordination, and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the City’s lead administrator for the NPDES MS4 permit, including program implementation, inspections, documentation, staff training, and annual reporting.
• Ensure stormwater best management practices (BMPs) are incorporated into City infrastructure projects and development activities.
• Serve as the City’s Floodplain Administrator for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
• Review floodplain development permits, elevation certificates, and construction plans for compliance with FEMA regulations and City codes.
• Administer and maintain the City’s Community Rating System (CRS) program; coordinate documentation, outreach activities, audits, and recertification efforts to maintain or improve the City’s CRS rating.
• Ensure flood risk reduction, mitigation, and resilience principles are incorporated into infrastructure and facility projects.
• Represent the City in meetings with federal, state, and regional agencies, including FEMA, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Water Management Districts, and regional planning organizations.
• Provide technical guidance to developers, contractors, consultants, City departments, and the public regarding engineering standards, stormwater design, and floodplain regulations.
• Monitor regulatory changes and recommend updates to City codes, standards, and policies as needed.
• Prepare staff reports, technical memoranda, agenda items, and presentations for City Council, boards, and committees.
• Respond to citizen concerns and service requests related to engineering, drainage, flooding, and infrastructure issues.
• Support emergency response, disaster recovery, and post-storm operations, including damage assessments and FEMA coordination.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty or responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities; education and/or experience; and, certificates or licenses required in order to fill the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of civil engineering principles and practices applicable to municipal infrastructure, including stormwater and drainage systems, roadways, sidewalks, public facilities, and related improvements.
• Working knowledge of land surveying principles and practices, including boundary surveys, topographic surveys, construction staking, elevation data, and interpretation of plats, legal descriptions, and right-of-way documents.
• Strong knowledge of municipal stormwater management, including Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requirements and NPDES MS4 permit administration.
• Knowledge of FEMA floodplain management, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and the Community Rating System (CRS), including floodplain development review.
• Knowledge of capital improvement planning, infrastructure asset management, lifecycle costing, and long-range infrastructure funding strategies.
• Knowledge of municipal budgeting and financial management, including preparation, administration, monitoring, and justification of operating and capital budgets.
• Ability to manage and oversee public sector procurement, consultant selection, contract administration, and construction contracting.
• Ability to plan, organize, and manage complex engineering and capital projects, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, schedules, and budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, and evaluate staff, and to manage professional consultants and contractors.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances related to engineering, stormwater, floodplain management, and public works.
• Ability to prepare clear technical reports, budget documents, and presentations for executive leadership, elected officials, and the public.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment, communicate effectively with technical and non-technical audiences, and establish effective working relationships with City officials, staff, regulatory agencies, and the public.
• Ability to respond to emergencies and participate in post-storm and disaster response, including damage assessments and coordination with FEMA.
• Ability to read and accurately interpret engineering plans and technical specifications.
• Ability to prepare clear technical documents and correspondence.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with internal staff, elected officials, consultants, and the public.

Education and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field; Master’s degree preferred.

• Seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional engineering experience in a municipal orpublic sector environment.

• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory or management experience, including oversight of staff, budgets, consultants, and capital projects.

• Demonstrated experience with stormwater systems, NPDES compliance, floodplain management, FEMAprograms, and infrastructure project delivery.

Certificates and Licenses

• Registration as a Professional Engineer within the State of Florida or meet registration qualifications through reciprocity and obtain registration within three (3) months.
• Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) preferred or ability to obtain within a specified timeframe.
• Certified Public Manager (CPM) certification preferred.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida driver’s license and must be insurable by the City’s current insurance provider.
• National Incident Management System (NIMS) training will be required according to the job duties and responsibilities within one (1) year of employment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Oversees and directs employees in the Engineering department.

Code:

Constant = 2/3 or more of the time

Frequent = from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time

Occasional = up to 1/3 of the time

N/A = Not applicable

Physical Skills

• Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over) X
• Moderate lifting (15 to 44 lbs.) X
• Light lifting (under 15 lbs.) X
• Heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over) X
• Moderate carrying (14 to 44 lbs.) X
• Light carrying (under 15 lbs.) X
• Reaching above shoulder X
• Use of fingers X
• Both hands required X
• Climbing (use of legs and arms) X
• Climbing (legs only) X
• Good near vision X
• Good distant vision X
• Both eyes required X
• Depth perception X
• Distinguishing basic colors X
• Distinguishing shades of colors X
• Good hearing (with or without hearing aid) X
• Straight pulling X
• Pulling hand over hand X
• Pushing X
• Walking X
• Standing X
• Crawling X
• Kneeling XBending X
• Balancing X
• Stooping X
• Jumping X
• Running X
• Throwing X
• Driving (cars, small vans, pick-ups, etc.) X
• Driving & operating (heavy equip., trucks, etc.) X
• Other

Environmental Conditions

• Work Inside
• Work Outside
• In the Heat
• In the Cold
• In High Humidity
• In Dampness or Chilliness
• In Dry Conditions
• In or with Noisy Conditions
• In Darkness
• In or with Dusty Conditions
• With Silica, Asbestos, etc.
• With Fumes or Gases
• With Smoke or Flames
• With Chemicals
• With Solvents
• With Grease or Oils
• With Radiant Energy
• With Electrical Energy
• On Slippery Surfaces
• On Uneven Surfaces
• In or With Moving Objects
• In or With Ladders/Scaffolding
• At Heights above Ground Level
• Below Ground Level
• In Water
• With Explosives
• With Poor Ventilation
• With Odors
• With Unusual Fatigue Factors
• Other Relevant Information: X