Civil Engineer at City of Steamboat Springs, CO

About the Department

When joining the City of Steamboat Springs, you can expect to work for an organization with:

• A team that strives to make this the best place you’ve ever worked!
• A focus on supporting our employees’ mental, physical, and financial well-being
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that creates a welcoming city 
• A highly engaged workforce proudly serving our community with excellence and distinction
• A passion for strategically providing outstanding municipal services
• A promise to each other to support the work we all do for the city, community & Yampa Valley

Position Duties

Serves as an ambassador of the City of Steamboat Springs and upholds City values of Service, Teamwork, Integrity, Well-being, Respect and Compassion, while espousing safety at all times.

Serves as project engineer on all phases of Public Works capital improvement projects as assigned such as roadway, stormwater, water, and wastewater projects. Duties include but are not limited to preparation of construction plans or review of consultant work, development of specifications, preparation of bid documents, cost estimates, bid advertisement and evaluation, contracting and procurement support and negotiation, project management, project inspection, easement acquisition, utility coordination, and project close out.

Performs on-site construction inspections of City projects to ensure compliance with plans, permits, engineering standards and specifications, and applicable regulations.

Reviews building permits, development plans, and construction/civil plans and performs inspections for compliance with codes, regulations, and standards.  Provides reviews of technical information such as geotechnical reports, traffic studies, and drainage studies.

Responsible for preparing engineering designs, including all applicable calculations for roadways, drainage systems, and other civil disciplines as required.  Prepares written reports and oral presentations.

Serves as the departmental project representative with other City departments, outside agencies, special interest groups, and the public.  Leads project teams through various phases of the project development process.  These project development phases include schematic design, design development, construction documents, construction administration, and project close out.

Responsible for the management of local, state, and federal grants including grant writing, presentations to selection committees, state and federal grant compliance, reporting, and final documentation.

Coordinates the public involvement process and represent the department at various meetings, hearings, and planning committees.  Prepares and delivers presentations to the public, committees, and media.

Prepares and conducts briefings and presentations on projects and controversial issues to City officials and community groups.

Coordinates inter-department or inter-agency planning efforts and assists higher level staff in presenting recommendations to elected officials and advisory commissions.

Attends and facilitates planning meetings to determine objectives, program plans, and project scopes.

Plans and designs research and evaluation methods; gathers research, analyzes, and evaluates data; and prepares recommendations or alternatives for various designs, programs, issues, or policies.

Assists the City Engineer as the primary contact and manager of one or more of the programs that comprise the Engineering Division: Capital Project Delivery, Transportation Management, Development Review, Right-of-Way Management, Urban Renewal Authority, Stormwater Asset Management, and MS4 Permit Program & Water Quality.

Assists with departmental financial activities to maintain budget and schedule of project assignments, verify accuracy of product and service invoices and project accounting, authorize payments to contractors, consultants, and vendors, prepare and process change orders, and coordinate project closeout, budget reconciliation and evaluation, and annual budget preparation in accordance with City procedures.

Provides excellent customer service by appropriately responding to conflicts, evaluating and suggesting solutions, and coordinating resolution. 

Participates constructively and effectively with other City staff and the public, may represent the City at selected applicable meetings, and provide leadership with respect to implementing the department and city mission.  Proactively identifies and resolves potential conflicts.

Assists with management of the construction inspection program by reviewing construction site management plans, monitoring sites for compliance, issuing permits, work orders, and correction notices, resolving disputes, and other related duties.

Assists in managing and evaluating the City’s construction testing and inspecting program for public infrastructure.

Provides engineering support and project management services to other Public Works divisions including Streets, Transit, Airport, and other City departments as assigned.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES

Prepares feasibility studies and master plans.

Attends, leads, and makes presentations at public meetings (Boards, Commissions, City Council, etc.) as assigned.

Conducts technical or administrative projects as assigned.

Assists the City Engineer in identifying engineering needs and makes recommendations relating to policies and procedures to improve engineering effectiveness or efficiency.

Follows department and project budgets.

Examines work for exactness, neatness, and conformance to policies and procedures.

Determines applicable codes, regulations, and requirements for assigned projects.

Coordinates with other department’s staff as needed.

Develops and maintains contacts with consulting engineers, construction project engineers, City, County, State, and Federal agencies, professional and technical groups and the public regarding division activities and services.

Assists with maintaining the department’s Geographic Information System data including layer manipulation and attribute inputs.  Maintains spreadsheets to track work tasks and maintain record documentation of infrastructure construction.

Proactively seeks grant opportunities available for public infrastructure improvements including completion of technical aspects of grant applications, scheduling, and conducting meetings with various granting agencies, ensuring that project plans, contract language, and execution is in line with grant stipulations.

Composes, processes, and delivers departmental correspondence such as letters, presentations, resolutions, ordinances, or contracts that may be complex and/or confidential.

Manages and maintains various support software programs used in the delivery and work execution of the division such as permitting, documentation management, system modeling, and asset management.

Manages and maintains department file system.

Performs work in accordance with safety policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or closely related field; and
2. A minimum of six (6) years civil engineering experience.  Must have civil engineering knowledge, particularly as it relates to municipal applications; and
3. Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado, or ability to obtain one within six months.
4.  Any equivalent combination of education and experience. 

 
NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Considerable knowledge of civil engineering principles, practices, and methods as applicable in a municipal setting.  Thorough knowledge of applicable City policies and regulations affecting department activities.

Ability to interpret and implement applicable City policies, laws, and regulations affecting Department activities.

Excellent written and communication skills.  Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with employees, consultants, other governmental agency representatives, City officials, and the public.

Ability to read and interpret civil drawings, site plans, and specifications.

Makes accurate and effective engineering computations, estimates, and designs in the preparation of plans and specifications.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with officials, employees, consultants, contractors, and the public.

Knowledgeable in conducting engineering research and skill in compiling detailed reports.

Skill in the use of engineering field and office instruments.

Basic skills in using Computer Automated Drafting (CAD) and/or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programs as well as office software programs.

Proactive approach to problem solving.

Knowledge of planning and construction methods.

The ability to monitor projects, timelines, and expenditures.

Expert knowledge of the construction contract process and the ability to negotiate with contractors and consultants on design and construction issues.

Ability to handle a variety of demands and tasks and the flexibility to multitask while working in a fast-paced environment.

Knowledge of design standards and permitting processes.

Ability to travel as required for meetings, conferences, etc. throughout the state.

Ability to work remotely and manage projects, clients, and project team members.

Ability to interpret and implement applicable City policies, laws, and regulations affecting department activities.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Possess a valid Colorado Driver’s license or have the ability to obtain one within 30 days of employment.

Be physically capable of moving about construction work sites.

Other Qualifications

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Personal computer, including word processing, spreadsheet, email, and virtual meeting software; engineering calculator; surveying and measuring equipment; motor vehicle, and phone.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described 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 the essential functions.

Work is performed in field and office settings.   Considerable outdoor work is required in the inspection of various land developments, construction sites, or public works facilities.  Hand-eye coordination is necessary to operate testing instruments, computers, and various pieces of office equipment.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.   The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk or hear; and to negotiate construction sites that may include mud, snow, steep slopes, or other difficult terrain conditions.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of the job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions.  The employee occasionally works in precarious places, near moving mechanical parts, in trenches and confined spaces, is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, extremes of weather, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration.

The noise level is usually quiet to moderate in office settings and noisy in the field.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview and reference check; job related tests might be required.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.