Director of Engineering

City of Everett; Everett (MA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Everett is seeking a Director of Engineering to supervise the design, construction, development, and maintenance of City infrastructure.

Directs field and office engineering teams, coordinates with other departments and contractors, and ensures compliance with state and local standards.

Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering with 7–10 years of experience and at least 3 years in a supervisory role; a PE license is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and 7–10 years of progressive professional experience.
• At least 3 years supervisory experience.
• Massachusetts PE licensure preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct engineering field and office activities.
• Supervise engineers and consultants on municipal projects.
• Prepare specifications and cost estimates for public works.
• Approve plans and manage bids and takings.
• Represent the City in contract discussions with developers.
• Oversee department budget and records.

Skills

Civil engineering

Leadership

Project management

CAD

Budgeting

Public works

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

PE licensure preferred

Tools

CAD

MS Office

GIS

Job description

Department: Department of Public Works / Engineering Department

Grade: N/A

Salary: $130,000-$150,000 annual

Hours: 35 hours a week

Shift: 8 AM-5 PM Monday-Thursday, with one evening until 7:30 PM

Position Type: Non-union, Full-time, Exempt

About the City of Everett

Home to more than 50,000 residents, Everett is known for its rich culture, diverse population, and robust sense of community. Everett is proud to build on its strong industrial heritage and close neighborhood connections as a modern, vibrant and welcoming place for residents, businesses, and visitors alike. This is a city full of energy, character and community that is on the move and seeking employees that are innovative and dedicated to serving a diverse and engaged public constituency.

About the Role

Under the direction of the Director of City Services, the Director of Engineering performs professional civil engineering work in the field or office, supervising the design, construction, development, and maintenance of City infrastructure. Supervises engineering personnel (including engineering consultants) involved in such activities. Performs other related work as required.

The Director of Engineering is responsible for organizing and coordinating all engineering-related work from all City departments, other government agencies, or contractors. Work requires the use of considerable judgment, initiative, and professional knowledge and involves responsibility for making technical decisions on engineering problems.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes and directs engineering field and office activities.
• Responsible for planning, consulting, implementing, and supervising engineering staff and engineers in the design of public projects in various areas, including streets, water mains, sidewalks, sewers, playgrounds, athletic fields, and other municipal structures.
• Responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of engineering methods and procedures.
• Assists in the preparation of specifications and plans for civil engineering projects and municipal construction work. Sets up bids, including criteria for and parameters of the project. Estimates cost of engineering projects.
• Approves plans, specifications, and construction procedures for streets and utilities to be installed by developers of private lands. Writes legal descriptions for street acceptance and “takings.” Assists in preparation of deeds for city property.
• Represents the City in discussions and agreements involving construction work to be done by private contractors. Monitors the performance of private contractors to ensure compliance with terms of municipal contracts. Interacts with other City departments, engineers, architects, and county and state agencies.
• Prepares and recommends department budget; administer approved funds. Maintains all department records. Reviews and approves designers’ and contractors’ payment requests for work completed.
• Reviews, monitors, directs, approves and maintains various reports and records prepared by engineering personnel in their daily activity. Reviews existing and approves new engineering documents to be maintained by the department.
• Designs drainage and sewerage, utilities, and site planning to reflect local zoning and subdivision ordinances in compliance with Massachusetts Stormwater Management Standards.
• Performs technical report writing following engineering design calculations regarding soils, hydrology, hydraulics, and permitting criteria.
• Schedules and provides overall supervision and training of department staff. Interviews and selects departmental personnel; recommends other personnel action.
• Serves as a member of the Traffic Commission. Attends other board or commission meetings to address engineering-related topics upon request.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Minimum Entrance Qualifications

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field and seven (7) to ten (10) years’ experience in progressively responsible professional civil engineering work with three (3) years supervisory engineering experience, or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements

• Current, valid registration as a professional engineer (PE) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at time of appointment preferred.
• Possession of a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator’s License or the equivalent valid operator’s license issued by another state.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge

Expert knowledge of civil engineering principles, practices, and tools and application to public infrastructure. Knowledge of construction standards and building codes. Knowledge of principles of surveying, soil testing, due diligence review, and site assessment. Thorough understanding of materials, methods, and tools involved in constructing or repairing buildings, bridges, roads, and other related structures. Experience with public utility projects. Thorough understanding of safety regulations related to assigned projects. Knowledge of principles, methodology, practices of research and data collection. Knowledge of standard computer programs and applications used in an office setting, such as Microsoft Office suite. Proficient in computer-assisted design (CAD) and other design, data recording, and analysis software.

Ability and Skills

Ability to establish department goals and objectives. Ability to be both creative and analytical when identifying and solving complex problems. Ability to develop relevant and realistic plans, programs, and recommendations. Ability to supervise a diverse team of employees to produce a common outcome. Ability to read and interpret detailed plans and specifications. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department staff, other municipal departments, organizations, and contractors. Ability to adhere to policies and procedures, communicate in-person, via phone, email and in writing and make impartial decisions. Ability to explain complex information in a manner that can be understood by all. Ability to facilitate in-person and virtual public participation activities.

Expert project management skills including multi-year projects involving multiple vendors and stakeholders. Extremely detail-oriented and accurate. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to manage projects effectively and meet firm deadlines. Bilingual or multilingual proficiency, particularly in Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole, is a plus.

Physical Demands & Working Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Primary functions require sufficient physical ability to work in both an office and field environment. Work frequently requires prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working at a computer. Employee must be able to travel independently to various project sites in the City. When in the field, work requires some agility and physical strength, such as moving independently in or about construction sites or over rough terrain. Field work involves exposure to outdoor elements. Work may require lifting objects up to 20 lbs and stretching and reaching to retrieve materials.

• The City of Everett is an Equal Opportunity / Affinitive Action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, or any other protected category. Women, people of color, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.