Engineer 6 - DCL

Division-of-Administration; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Division of Administration, Office of Community Development, in Louisiana seeks an engineer to review infrastructure project applications funded by LCDBG and related programs, assess feasibility, and determine cost reasonableness for federally funded projects. The role requires a Louisiana PE license and experience evaluating water/sewer infrastructure for federal programs.

Responsibilities include coordinating with health and environmental agencies, reviewing plans and cost estimates, and

Qualifications

• Louisiana PE license required with either 2 years licensed experience or 6 years PE experience.
• Two years of licensed engineering experience evaluating public water or sewer infrastructure for federally funded programs.
• Master's or Doctorate degree substitutions for experience (1-2 years) and advanced degrees up to 2 years.
• Out-of-state licensed engineers may need Louisiana license prior to appointment.

Responsibilities

• Review applications for CDBG, CDBG-DR, EPA, and Recovery Housing Program funding for infrastructure and housing projects.
• Coordinate with state health and environmental agencies to evaluate water/sewer and street projects and assign severity scores.
• Review bid packages and ensure compliance with Public Bid Law, CDBG guidelines, and LDH/DOTD/DEQ requirements.
• Approve engineering solutions and provide feasibility, cost estimating, and technical assistance for OCD-funded projects.
• Review and approve engineering cost estimates and plans for CDBG projects and authorize public bidding at local level.
• Provide contract or task-order management for third-party engineering contractors.
• Conduct onsite inspections of Water Sector grants to ensure projects meet scope and standards.
• Address engineering issues during construction and ensure compliance with documents and standards.

Skills

Licensed professional engineer

Water infrastructure

Job description

The Division of Administration/Office of Community Development has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of TS-319.

The engineer position reviews all construction related documents ensuring compliance with federal, state and program requirements. This position also determines cost reasonableness on federal infrastructure projects and makes determinations on emergency project eligibility.

The vacancy has the following supplemental qualification:

Applicant must possess two years of licensed engineering experience in evaluating public water or sewer infrastructure applications and/or plans and specifications for federally funded programs.

The Division of Administration is the state government’s management arm and the hub of its financial operations. Division offices perform a wide variety of activities including the following:

• Overseeing the state’s capital construction program
• Working to provide state and federal grants for community development
• Development of the state budget
• Providing technology services
• Giving agencies guidance in the state purchasing and contracting process as they seek goods and services
• Administering a program that provides federal funds to help Louisiana residents recover from a series of devastating hurricanes

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice professional engineering plus one of the following:

• Two years of licensed engineering experience; or
• Six years of professional engineering experience.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTIONS:

• A master's degree in engineering will substitute for one year of professional engineering experience.
• A doctorate degree in engineering will substitute for two years of professional engineering experience.
• Advanced degrees will substitute for a maximum of two years of professional engineering experience.
• There is no substitution for licensed engineering experience.

NOTES:

• Engineering experience gained while licensed as a professional engineer will be accepted as licensed engineering experience.
• Engineering experience gained after earning an ABET-accredited degree and prior to earning a professional engineer's license (e.g., as an engineer intern applicant, engineer intern, or equivalent) will be accepted as professional level engineering experience.
• Applications will be accepted from persons licensed to practice professional engineering in states other than Louisiana. If one of those applicants is selected for the position, he/she will be required to obtain a Louisiana license prior to appointment. The hiring agency will verify that all licensing requirements are met.
• Louisiana Professional Engineer licenses are issued by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board. Licensing requirements may be viewed at www.lapels.com.

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties

Project Development

• Review applications submitted to the Office of Community Development (OCD) for CDBG, CDBG-DR, EPA, and Recovery Housing Program (RHP) funding from statewide units of local government for infrastructure and housing projects, including public facilities projects such as streets, community center buildings, potable water systems, new and existing sewer collection systems, and new and existing sewage treatment facilities. Review applications for various rating factors and to make a determination as to whether the project will meet Public Bid Law requirements, CDBG guidelines and minimum design standards and legal requirements as established by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and will completely remedy any state code violations. Approximately 150 LCDBG Program applications are received during each funding cycle, which encompasses a two-year period, from local jurisdictions statewide eligible to participate. Applications received for CDBG-DR programs vary depending on funding allocation and current programming.
• Coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate the severity of water system, sewer collection system, sewage treatment facility, and street projects considering existing field conditions, violation of state and federal laws, and unsafe practices. Assign a project severity score, which is incorporated into the overall rating criteria used to select applicants for funding.
• Review bid packages to make a determination as to whether the project will meet Public Bid Law requirements, CDBG guidelines and minimum design standards and legal requirements as established by the Louisiana Office of Community Development.
• Review and approve proposed engineering solutions to existing problems submitted with new applications to determine the feasibility of the proposed solutions and to determine whether the proposed solutions are reasonable and appropriate. Advise internal program staff with respect to project feasibility and design, cost estimating, and project development. Provide technical assistance as needed to subrecipients and grantees with active CDBG funded projects throughout the project life cycle.
• Review and approve engineering cost estimates submitted with new applications for reasonableness of cost projections. Review engineering cost estimates through the project life cycle at key milestone submittals.
• Review and approve plans, specifications, and final cost estimates submitted for CDBG projects for needs and appropriateness as defined and accepted by the Office of Community Development and issue authorization for the public bidding process which will be conducted at the local level.
• Review and assist in determining funding eligibility for applications, amendments, requests for payments and emergency and/or urgent projects, applications for engineering feasibility, appropriateness of proposed solutions, and reasonableness of estimated costs.
• Review architectural and engineering fees associated with projects funded through OCD including basic engineering, inspections, topographic surveying, boundary and property surveying, geotechnical engineering, construction layout and staking, testing, sanitary sewer evaluation, surveys, etc.
• Provide contract and/or task order management for third-party contractors engaged by OCD for engineering support.

Construction Contract Administration

• Review and approve the qualifications of construction inspectors to be hired by private engineering firms for projects funded by OCD and by other funding sources, as needed.
• Coordinate with construction inspectors, as needed. Review and approve change orders on ongoing construction projects resulting from unknown conditions that arise during construction. The review will be conducted for necessity, appropriateness and reasonableness of costs; i.e., approving program and budget, quality standards, ERR compliance, technical requirements, industry standards, program requirements, policies of Office of Community Development, regulatory requirements, and terms of the construction contract.
• Investigate any engineering problems, on a case-by-case basis, that may arise during the construction phase of a project and assist project engineers in promulgating solutions. Conduct on-site inspections of OCD funded construction projects to ensure performance by engineers and contractors including reviewing for supervision by contractor, quality of materials used and proper installation and operation of equipment.
• Ensure that the architect/engineer enforces compliance with the construction documents, quality standards, and construction industry standards.

Special Projects Administration

• Investigate complaints received from the public regarding the improper construction or operation of OCD funded projects, specifically water and wastewater systems constructed with LCDBG funds. Investigate complaints received from the public regarding improper construction of OCD funded projects, including individual and multifamily housing.
• Formulate strategic policy and planning analysis with respect to engineering relating to OCD programming. Review and make modifications as necessary.
• Provide engineering assistance to the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Directors, Directors and staff of the Office of Community Development regarding accepted engineering practices and the planning and construction of assigned projects.
• Represent the Office of Community Development and provide information regarding OCD programming to federal, state, and local government officials, state legislators, and others. Respond to current issues, changes in federal and/or state laws, and potential impacts to OCD programming.

Water Sector

• Conduct onsite inspections of Water Sector grants to ensure that the project has been built according to the project scope. Complete site inspection forms and take site photos.
• Consult with the design engineer and/or grantee regarding discrepancies that arise from the site inspection to assure that the project will be completed according to the application.

Position-Specific Details

Appointment Type

This vacancy will be filled by a new hire or by promotion of a current permanent status classified employee.

Louisiana is a "State as a Model Employer" for People with Disabilities.

For further information about this posting, please contact:

Erica R. Gay

HR Specialist

Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources

Email: [e-mail]