Utility Engineer

City of North Port; North Port (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of North Port seeks a Utilities Engineer to provide high-level engineering and managerial support to the Utilities Engineering Division. The role involves planning, budgeting, design, permitting, and oversight of capital projects for water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems.

You will lead asset management programs, coordinate with operations and regulatory agencies, and supervise staff and consultants to ensure cost-effective, compliant improvements across City utilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Civil/Environmental Engineering required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Ten years of civil/environmental/water/wastewater engineering experience required.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level engineering and management support to division managers.
• Plan, budget, design, permit, and manage capital and non-capital projects.
• Develop asset management plans for water, wastewater, and reclaimed water systems.
• Coordinate with operations, maintenance, and regulatory agencies.
• Supervise staff and manage consulting engineers and bid processes.
• Prepare reports, specifications, and permit documentation.

Skills

Engineering knowledge

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Technical communication

Team leadership

Report writing

Public presentations

Mathematical analysis

Interdepartmental coordination

Software literacy (Word, PowerPoint)

Education

Bachelor of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

AutoCAD

Smartsheet

Project management software

Microsoft Office

Job description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Responsible professional administrative and technical position providing high level engineering and management support to the Utilities Engineering Division Manager and Assistant Director in administrative and engineering aspects of the Utilities Department, including asset management. The Utilities Engineer may have direct or indirect supervision responsibilities. Position reports to Utilities Engineering Division Manager.

• Provides support to the Utilities Engineering Division Manager and the Assistant Director in the development and management of the engineering and construction of the City's utility systems.
• Organizes, manages, directs and performs the planning, budgeting, engineering, design, permitting, construction, and related functions for capital and non-capital projects for the utilities Department.
• Evaluates and makes engineering recommendations for specific system expansion projects, process control changes and general system improvements with emphasis on longevity and cost effectiveness.
• Manages the engineering support for the asset management program for water, wastewater, and reclaimed water infrastructure, including both linear and vertical assets in the city’s utility system.
• Leads risk, criticality, and condition assessment programs to plan for repair and replacement of infrastructure.
• Provides engineering advise for establishing and managing Asset Management Plans (AMPs) for the City’s assets.
• Collaborate with teams that support asset management, including but not limited to various operations and maintenance departments and programs.
• Serve as an internal technical resource to the asset management program team.
• Participate in the preparation of the Department’s budget and capital improvement programs.
• Develops capital improvement plan to implement system improvements with consideration for cost-control and cost-reduction methods.
• Oversees the preparation of all bid specifications, documentation and permits for all construction and capital improvements, including the preparation of the Request for Bids (RFB) and calculation of liquidated damages.
• Construction administration and management for capital improvement projects.
• Conduct field meetings and inspections of utility construction, as needed.
• Coordinating with regulatory agencies for project approvals during design and compliance during construction.
• Provides engineering recommendations for the permitting of the water treatment plant and the wastewater treatment plant facilities such as consumptive use permitting and operating permits.
• Represents the department in Staff Development Review meetings and reviewing of all plans of developers, as needed.
• Supervises. assigns, and schedules work assignments to direct and indirect reports in the engineering division.
• Manages the work of consulting engineers. Prepares Requests for Letters of Interest (RLI), review of Letters of Interest (LOI), and evaluation and ranking of consultants in the NPU engineering library for projects related to Capital improvements. Prepares Request for Proposals (RFP) for selection of consulting firms for design projects and studies.
• Meets with developers, realtors, builders, etc. to coordinate and explain utility requirements and standards regarding future developments within the City.
• Makes recommendations to the Utilities Engineering Division Manager for engineering and contract services.
• Contributes to the creation of departmental presentations and may present for Commission meetings, other formal conferences, regulatory agencies, etc.
• Coordinates with and attends meetings with FDOT on their programs that are within the City limits.
• Responsible for preparing and NPU approving permits in FDOT rights of way.
• Preparation of a monthly status report, attendance, and participation in monthly coordination meetings at Sarasota County with all local utility partners (TECO, Sarasota County, Sunshine 811, Frontier, FDOT, etc.)
• Assists in the preparation and supervision of emergency operations and development of procedures to ensure the safe operation of the water/wastewater systems, to include meeting all OSHA requirements.
• Assists in establishing and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures.
• Responsible for updating Standard Specifications and Standard Details utilizing AutoCAD on an as needed basis.
• Assists the Utilities Engineering Division Manager in the creation and review of City ordinances, resolutions, reports and presentations.
• Directs the Engineering Department in the absence of the Utilities Engineering Division Manager.

(These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job related marginal duties as required.)

• Knowledge of utility engineering and construction practices and water and wastewater utilities procedures.
• Knowledge of rules and regulations regarding utilities programs.
• Knowledge of rules and regulations with particular reference to federal and state utility regulations.
• Knowledge of civil/environmental engineering practices as it relates to water and wastewater construction and operations.
• Knowledge and practice of project and construction management.
• Skilled in the use of small office equipment, including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.
• Ability to apply mathematics to engineering work.
• Ability to organize and communicate effectively and be an organized team player.
• Ability to prepare complex reports and statements.
• Ability to prepare specifications and permitting for water and wastewater projects.
• Ability to create public presentations and present in a professional setting.
• Ability to analyze work methods and procedures.
• Ability to communicate, interpret and explain ordinances, policies, etc. to the public.
• Ability to express ideas effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to work in a team environment and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees and the public.
• Ability to plan, schedule, coordinate and review the work of subordinates in a manner conductive to full performance and high morale.
• Ability to utilize computer hardware and software effectively (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, AutoCAD, Smartsheet or other Project Management Software).

Education and Experience

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering, or related field is required.
• Master’s degree is preferred.
• Ten (10) years of work experience in civil/environmental/water/wastewater engineering.

(A comparable amount of relevant training, education and/or experience may be substituted for the above qualifications.)

Licenses and Certifications

• Must possess a valid Florida Driver's License.
• Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Florida or ability to obtain within six (6) months.

Emergency Response Responsibility

Every City employee has emergency response responsibilities, though not every position will require routine assignments during an emergency event. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official job description. Assignments in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature, with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically and operationally challenging conditions.

Vets Preference Statement

The City of North Port, FL is an Aff. Action/ADA/Veterans’ Preference and Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply.