County Engineer

County Engineer

The County Engineer serves as the Superintendent of the Rock Island County Public Works Department and is responsible for the direction, coordination, and management of programming, preliminary engineering, plan preparation, construction supervision, and traffic and maintenance activities of County highway facilities so as to continually improve highway safety, capacity, and serviceability.

The County Engineer, subject to the general supervision of the County Board and to the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department of Transportation, administers the County Highway Department which constructs and maintains 202 miles of County Highways 363 miles of Township Roads and 33 bridges in Rock Island County. This position is also accountable for the proper maintenance of approximately six (6) miles of levee along the Rock River and Canoe Creek.

Organizational Relationships:

• Responsible to the Public Works Committee of the County Board for successful performance of assigned duties.
• Works proactively with other County Department heads, County Public Works Committee, County Board members, Illinois Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration, and other officials to maintain and improve County public works facilities.

Staff:

• Supervises Public Works Department employees to ensure successful performance and completion of assigned responsibilities.
• Assists and advises other County personnel, as necessary to assure successful completion of assigned duties and responsibilities.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plans, organizes, directs, coordinates, and controls activities of a staff of professional and technical employees engaged in highway design and construction activities, including employee development, establishment of performance objectives, and conduct of employee performance evaluations.
• Directs planning, implementation, and coordination of routine maintenance involving highway and bridge related facilities on the County Highway System.
• Supervises all Public Works Department activities, both technical and administrative, to ensure cost effective operations and accomplishment of County objectives.
• Responsible for preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates for all road, bridge, and culvert projects built by the County or by one or more of the Road Districts and supervises construction of those projects.
• Advises County Road District Highway Commissioners, when requested in writing, and directs as otherwise provided for in the Illinois Compiled Statutes as to the best method of construction, repair, and maintenance of district roads.
• Advises Committee Chairperson, County Board Chairman, agencies of the State, and private interest groups of the priority assessment of various improvement projects in the County.
• Informs Committee Chairperson and County Board Chairman of highway needs in the County to ensure proper evaluation, priority assessment, and allocation of improvement funds.
• Formulates planning, implementation, and coordination of all maintenance and construction pertaining to approximately six (6) miles of levees along the Rock River and Canoe Creek in accordance with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Standards.
• Supervises emergency situations as they may arise.
• Approves bi-weekly payroll work register and monthly claims for Public Works Department and submits to County Treasurer or County Auditor as appropriate.
• Prepares written and oral reports for County Public Works Committee, County Board, and other agencies as required.
• Assists County Board Chairman with the preparation of the annual budget for the Department.
• Attends meetings as necessary related to work of the Department.

Methods of Accountability:

• Through oral and written reports to the County Public Works Committee, County Board Chairman, Federal, State, and other entities as required.
• Through working within established budget for the department.
• Through successful implementation of approved highway programs and maintenance and operation of a safe, efficient, and economical highway system.
• Through compliance with federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations governing highway and levee facilities.
• Through compliance with County policies, procedures, and expectations.

Standards of Performance:

• High level organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work in an environment with frequent interruptions.
• Strong verbal and writing skills for effective internal and external communication.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering as related to design, plan preparation, construction and maintenance for a variety of highway and bridge projects.
• Maintains interpersonal relationships which encourage openness, candor and trust, both internally and outside the County.
• Maintains positive relationships with elected officials, County Board members, and outside entities.
• Accepts some inconveniences for working non-regular hours as department needs require and to meet County goals.
• General office procedures knowledge.

Job Performance:

• Timeliness, adequacy and accuracy of reports and records.
• Ensures physical safety of County highway facility users through implementation of approved highway program and maintenance and operation of County highway facilities.
• Maintains compliance with appropriate federal, state, and local standards, guidelines and regulations governing highway and levee facilities.
• Effective management of department including meeting established budgetary requirements and assignment of duties and responsibilities to employees based upon department needs.
• Effective communication of department, County, and other oversight agency standards and policies.
• Maintains confidentiality of all sensitive information.

Mental and Physical Requirements:

• Ability to perform management and assigned duties with frequent interruptions and time pressures.
• Ability to maintain a high level of visual attention and mental concentration for significant periods of time.
• Ability to read, analyze and interpret engineering data and highly technical information, professional journals, and government regulations.
• Ability to analyze and resolve difficult problems and problems of a highly technical nature.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to manipulate, lift, carry, and use engineering equipment and tools and items of up 75 pounds when necessary.
• Ability to move about extensively on grass, asphalt, concrete, or interior floor surfaces to visually inspect projects.
• Ability to work in a seated position for extended periods of time.
• Ability to reach, squat, bend at the waist, and carry items periodically when performing regular duties.

Working Environment and Conditions:

• Performs some duties in a well-ventilated, well-lighted and temperature-controlled office environment. Noise level is at a minimum.
• Is required to perform out-of-doors assignments when performing inspections and other aspects of position responsibilities.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to the risk of fumes, dust, and dangers from working in and around construction sites and maintenance equipment.

Education, Training, and Experience:

• Requires a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
• Requires three to five years experience in civil and highway engineering or construction and maintenance.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois and any other requirements of the Illinois Department of Transportation for County Engineers per Section 5-201 of the most recent State of Illinois Compiled Statutes.
• Requires a valid driver's license.