Engineering Manager

City of Las Cruces; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Las Cruces is seeking a civil engineering professional to lead the Project Development Section within Public Works. The role requires coordinating staff, managing design projects, and ensuring compliance with regulations while delivering timely project outcomes.

The position emphasizes budgeting, consultant coordination, stakeholder communication, public meetings, and reporting. A strong background in civil engineering and public works project management with supervisory experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering and six years of public works project management experience.
• Two years of supervisory experience included.
• Valid driver's license and NM PE registration required.

Responsibilities

• Manages staff through delegation and supervision; ensures staffing, training, and performance evaluation.
• Leads regular staff meetings to review work, set priorities, and resolve issues.
• Develops and monitors department budget; prepares cost estimates for projects.
• Prepares documentation for hiring engineers/consultants and coordinates design contracts.
• Prepares and certifies design plans, coordinates with stakeholders, and generates status reports.
• Prepares City Council action forms and resolutions; coordinates agency agreements.
• Collects data for reports and ensures regulatory compliance.
• Organizes public meetings; provides updates to staff and the public on project status.
• Maintains records and seeks process improvements; pursues grants as applicable.
• Responds to complaints and issues per policy.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Budgeting

Contractor oversight

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

Job description

Manages the overall operations and staff in the Project Development Section of the City's Public Works Department.

WORK SITUATION FACTORS

Position involves competing demands, performing multiple tasks, working to deadlines, occasional work beyond normal business hours, and responding to customer issues. Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity of services. Position is subject to drug testing in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and City of Las Cruces policies.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

Position requires the ability to lift and carry items weighing up to forty (40) pounds; ability to work near traffic and in confined spaces and walk over even and uneven surfaces at construction sites.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Position functions primarily in an office environment with no notable environmental hazards or factors; outside work involves exposure to all weather and traffic conditions, construction equipment, noise, debris, and dust.

FIRST CONSIDERATION MAY BE GIVEN TO CURRENT CITY OF LAS CRUCES EMPLOYEES WHO MEET ALL THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.

Meeting or exceeding the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the process.

Position will be advertised as continuous until filled, with periodic review of applications.

Full-Time; Regular; Exempt

This position is graded at AD30

• Manages staff through appropriate delegation and work supervision; ensures appropriate staffing needs; trains, cross-trains, counsels, coaches, and instructs employees as required; monitors work and evaluates performance; ensures staff adhere to policies and procedures in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Meets regularly with staff to review work in progress, discuss and resolve administrative, workload, and technical issues, and to prioritize and assign tasks and projects; evaluates and analyzes functions, resources, processes, and procedures to identify issues and recommend changes for improvement; interprets applicable rules and regulations within scope of authority to provide leadership and guidance in developing, implementing, and administering policies and procedures.
• Develops and monitors department budget, approves budget expenditures; prepares the preliminary budget for upcoming design projects; proposes and recommends budget changes for project and resource needs; prepares engineering cost estimates for projects; maintains records of project costs.
• Prepares documentation for the hiring of engineering consultants; coordinates and administers design contracts to ensure compliance with City policies, procedures, and regulations; approves consultant payments.
• Prepares and certifies design project plans, specifications, contract documents, and reports; coordinates with stakeholders regarding the status of projects; generates project status reports and schedules.
• Prepares City Council action forms and resolutions on projects and reports requiring Council approval; prepares agreements with various agencies for Council approval.
• Collects and analyzes data to prepare and present various special and recurring reports to provide accurate and timely information related to assigned functions and duties; develops and presents information in clear and easily used formats; maintains regulatory compliance by keeping current on industry trends, regulations, and issues; identifies areas of concern for management for review and potential action.
• Organizes, prepares, and conducts public meetings on various design projects; attends meetings as a representative of the department and section; provides updates to City staff and the public on the status of projects.
• Reviews, maintains, and updates records in various formats, mediums, and automated systems to ensure data integrity and adherence to internal controls, practices, and policies; evaluates programs, services, and activities to ensure customer and staff needs are met; demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality seamless services.
• Prepares applications for grants offered by the State and coordinates projects with outside agencies and local utility companies.
• Responds to and resolves various complaints, issues, inquiries, and problems as authorized and in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering AND six (6) years of experience in public works project management and administration, which includes two (2) years of supervisory experience. A combination of education, experience, and training may be applied in accordance with City of Las Cruces policy.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

Valid driver's license is required. Current NM Registration as a Professional Engineer is required. If applicable, position requires an acceptable driving record in accordance with City policy.

Extensive knowledge of: principles and practices of civil engineering, project management and administration, roadway and architectural construction and design, and utility construction and design to include street lighting, traffic signals, storm drainage systems, water/wastewater systems and natural gas systems; applicability of engineering regulations and principles related to public work projects; occupational and environmental safety and health hazards, and safety practices; principles and practices of administrative management, including personnel rules, effective employee supervision, training, and development; principles of record keeping and records management; safe and effective use and maintenance of related tools and equipment; methods and standards for preparing business correspondence; business English, spelling, and grammar; financial theories and applications specific to accounting, budgeting, and financial projections; City organization, operations, policies and procedures to effectively perform the required functions and duties of the position.

Ability to: formulate solutions that meet project objectives and demonstrate effective engineering judgment; perform a variety of duties and responsibilities timely and with accuracy to meet deadlines and to ensure achievement of goals and objectives; read, understand, interpret, and ensure compliance with a variety of specifications, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations governing related activities, programs, and functions; evaluate the work of contractors and consultants to ensure compliance with project plans, specifications and applicable laws, ordinances, and policies; conduct field inspections; communicate effectively, orally and in writing; firmly and impartially supervise, coach, lead, and direct the activities of staff; establish effective working relationships; safely and effectively operate associated tools, equipment, and motor vehicles; operate a personal computer and various software applications; safely operate a motor vehicle and navigate across even and uneven surfaces; use initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines to successfully meet established goals and objectives.

Skills in: using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines; reading, interpreting, understanding, and applying policies, procedures, and applicable rules and regulations; evaluating issues, and developing plans for the improvement of the quality of services for clients, and for cost effective management of allocated resources; analyzing and interpreting issues, evaluating alternatives, and making logical recommendations based on findings; working effectively with a diverse cultural community; reading and interpreting rules and regulations, and effectively advising department staff on program and facility issues.