Principal Engineer- Water/Wastewater

City of Encinitas • Full-time • Encinitas, California (CA), USA • $11.64m - $18.06m / year • 1w ago

The Utilities Department Principal Engineer plays a key role in leading the engineering staff that provides operation support to the water and wastewater maintenance and operation staff, oversees the water and wastewater capital improvement projects from project scoping and design through construction, including the management of different contractors to ensure projects are delivered on time and on budget, and reviews engineering applications, ensuring compliance with all engineering standards, plans, and policies.

Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned service areas, programs, and operations; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
Provides engineering support to the Water and Wastewater maintenance and operation crews.
Evaluates anomalies in the Water and Wastewater system and provides engineering solutions.
Spearheads the coordination and development of a long-term Capital Improvement Plan.
Under direction from the Department Director, assumes a range of engineering duties requiring the use of independent judgment, initiative, and project management.
Supervises and participates in the preparation of special engineering studies and reports.
Oversees and administers daily operations of Capital Improvement Projects and assigned areas in compliance with guidelines, requirements, and regulations; oversees the submittal of required reports; and develops and oversees the execution of planned project schedules.
Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommends, within division and departmental policy, appropriate service and staffing levels.
Plans, directs, coordinates, and evaluates the work plan for assigned staff; prioritizes and assigns work activities, projects, and programs; reviews and evaluates work products, methods, and procedures; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems.
Supervises, mentors, trains, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides and/or oversees the coordination of staff training; works with employees to correct deficiencies; makes disciplinary and termination recommendations.
Manages and oversees the management of available funding from local, state, and federal sources, including TransNet and development impact fees.
Participates in the development and administration of assigned grant funding, division operating and/ or project budgets; monitors and approves expenditures; provides quality assurance reviews of project cost estimates and project budgetary forecasts; participates in forecasting of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; and recommends budgetary adjustments as may be necessary to execute assigned projects.
Oversees safety programs for assigned sections and work groups; assists with action planning for safety programs; and responds to workers' compensation issues.
Supports the City Engineer at all levels of administration, including public relations, process development, process improvement and internal and external meetings.
Conducts and/or assigns a variety of organizational and operational studies; recommends modifications to assigned engineering programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.
Serves as Project Manager on assigned projects as may be necessary to manage workload or due to the complexity of issues or public sentiment surrounding a project. Associated tasks may include: managing and administering contracts for assigned projects; reviewing project documents; developing Coastal Development Permit applications; presenting at Planning Commission; overseeing construction; reporting to Council and managing public outreach.
Serves as the liaison with other departments, divisions, sections, and outside agencies; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues.
Responds to and resolves citizen complaints as needed; investigates and analyzes related complex issues.
Represents the Department, City, and/or Division by attending meetings, public events, and speaking engagements; conducts and attends staff meetings, committee meetings, and/or other related meetings.
Attends City Council/Board Meetings as primary staff representative or as presenting staff member, prepares and presents reports for the City Council and or various Commissions.
Performs other duties of a similar nature or level of complexity.

Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering, or a closely related field, with PE registration in CA, plus five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in civil engineering, including two years of professional supervisory or management responsibility experience. A Master's degree in a related field is desirable.