Principal Civil Engineer

Note on Salary: Effective the first pay period of January 2025, this position will receive a 3% base salary increase.

Hiring Incentive Program: This position qualifies for the City's hiring incentive program of 10% of the top of the salary range, paid in three increments over a three-year period.

The City of Goleta is offering an exciting career opportunity to join the City as an Principal Civil Engineer. This vacancy is in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Division of Public Works, where engineers review development-related documents to assure compliance with established City standards and provide Public Works support to the Planning Department.

The Principal Civil Engineer will direct and implement the development of departmental goals and operating policies and procedures relative to the areas of the capital improvement program. Additionally, the Principal Civil Engineer will have knowledge of principles and practices of Civil Engineering and project management; preparation of grant reimbursement requests, particularly state and regional transportation funding procedures; CEQA and NEPA environmental review processes associated with the approval of public works projects; and principles of cost estimating, contract administration and budgeting.

Requires equivalent to a Bachelor's degree along with 5 years of increasingly responsible and varied professional engineering experience including a minimum of 2 years of experience in a supervisory capacity. Registration as a Civil Engineer in the State of California in good standing at the time of application is required.

The Public Works Department spans across the following key divisions: Administration, Engineering Services, Traffic and Transportation (street lighting, traffic signals, traffic engineering, etc.), Capital Improvement Program, Parks & Open Space Maintenance, Street Maintenance, Environmental Services/Solid Waste.

Definition & Class Characteristics

Under general direction, to plan, organize and manage the activities of an assigned Public Works Department engineering division which may include the areas of capital improvement program, traffic and transportation, land development engineering or others; perform difficult and responsible administrative, technical and civil engineering work; supervise the work of staff and contractors working on a variety of public projects; coordinate activities with other departments, governmental agencies, and other outside organizations; and to provide technical and administrative staff assistance.

This is the management level class in the professional engineering series. This classification manages an assigned engineering area or division within a major city department. Supervises supervisory, professional, paraprofessional and support level staff and contractors in completing the work activities of the division. The Principal Civil Engineer is distinguished from the Senior Engineer class by the greater degree of independence exercised in accomplishing the work, and by the level of the assignments which may involve multi-faceted issues and policy matters affecting the department and/or city-wide operations. Develops and administers the division budget. A Principal Civil Engineer typically reports to the Public Works Director, or the Deputy Public Works Director.

The following duties are typical for positions in this classification. Incumbents may not perform all listed job functions, nor are all listed duties necessarily performed by everyone in this class depending upon business need and changing business practices:

• Direct and implement the development of departmental goals and operating policies and procedures relative to the areas of capital improvement program, traffic and transportation, or land development engineering services.
• Provide general direction to engineering staff and coordinate all issues needing council approval or policy direction for the division. Assign work activities, projects and programs; monitor workflow review and evaluate projects, methods and procedures.
• Develop and administer the division budget; evaluate staffing needs, equipment, materials, and supplies with key management staff; monitor and approve expenditures.
• Develop and administer the capital improvement budget; review and recommend approval for all construction plans including cost estimates.
• Coordinate engineering activities with those of other departments, governmental agencies and other outside organizations; resolve problems and complaints.
• Direct the preparation of plans and specifications in accordance with established city standards; review and sign plans; review and approve plan revisions.
• Direct and participate in the plan check of improvement plans, grading plans, final maps and associated reports in accordance with city standards; approve plans and maps for city, review and approve plan revisions.
• Negotiate complex agreements. Prepare, review, and interpret agreements and contracts and prepare for signature. Supervise, troubleshoot, and perform quality control related to the work of consultants and contractors performing a variety of complex transportation and/or public works projects.
• Direct and participate in review of land development projects, preparation of development conditions, review of subdivision maps, site development plans, security agreements and conformance with development codes and requirements.
• Prepare, coordinate and review traffic studies and reports.
• Represent the city in land development proposals.
• Attend Planning Commission and City Council hearings for development and/or capital projects.
• Direct and participate in the preparation and evaluation of technical studies, fee studies, reports and analyses related to engineering services; analyze and evaluate study results and implement findings.
• Serve as a member of committees as assigned, including representing the city on regional committees.
• Select, train, motivate, supervise, develop, and maintain a high level of efficiency among assigned staff.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND TRAINING

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

• A bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or a related field.

Experience:

• Five years of increasingly responsible and varied professional engineering experience, including a minimum of two years of experience in a supervisory capacity.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of (may vary depending on assignment):

• Advanced principles and practices of engineering and administration as applied to the design and construction of city facilities and projects.
• Methods of preparing designs, plans, specifications, estimates, reports and Engineering.
• Manager recommendations relating to engineering projects.
• City policies and procedures governing engineering and traffic operations and land development.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations related to the engineering, development and construction of projects.
• Principles, practices, and techniques of public administration including budget and personnel administration.
• Principles of supervision, training, and evaluation.
• Principles and methodologies of establishing fees and assessments and spending costs to users, permittees, and property owners.

Ability to (may vary depending on assignment.):

• Plan, organize, motivate and direct the activities of assigned area of responsibility.
• Interpret applicable laws, rules and regulations.
• Develop and administer a division budget.
• Prepare and analyze technical reports, statements, contracts and legal documents.
• Supervise, train and evaluate professional and technical staff.
• Maintain effective work relationships with staff, other governmental agencies, contractors and the general public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing

License or Certificates:

• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Civil Engineer issued by the State of California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists.
• For the assignment to the area of traffic/transportation, possession of a valid license as a Traffic Engineer issued by the State of California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists is highly desirable, and may substitute for the state engineer registration above. In this case, the "Civil" will be dropped from the incumbent's working title. (i.e., Principal Engineer will be used)

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS/WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical and mental demands herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.

• Mental function: Includes reading, writing, mathematical computations, operating a computer, problem solving, managing multiple projects, calmly handling complaints and problems from irate citizens or contractors, and decision making under stressful conditions.
• Productivity: Incumbents must perform work in an efficient, effective and timely manner with minimal direction.
• Mobility: Incumbents require sufficient mobility to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. Incumbents may be required to perform light lifting and carrying, file documents in various locations and heights, and sit, stand, walk, remain seated, and work at a video display terminal for prolonged periods of time.
• Vision: Vision sufficient to read small print, computer screens, and printed documents, and to operate assigned equipment.
• Hearing: Incumbents are required to hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
• Environment: Normal office setting with some travel to attend meetings. Incumbents may be exposed to noise and/or dust.
• Other factors: Incumbents will be required to work extended hours including evenings and weekends. Incumbents may be required to travel outside City boundaries to attend meetings and to use a personal vehicle in the course of employment.