Principal Engineer

The City of La Cañada Flintridge is inviting applications for the position of Principal Engineer in the Public Works Department. This position will be part of an engaged, focused, and enthusiastic team and will provide complex and responsible support to the Director of Public Works by managing and leading the staff and operations of the Engineering Division within the Public Works Department.

Under the general direction of the Director of Public Works, the Principal Engineer manages and leads the staff and operations of the Engineering Division including planning, budgeting, design, and construction of the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and special projects; review and approval of various permit applications, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

The Principal Engineer will also participate in the development of policies and strategies for division operations and manage the effective use of division resources to improve organizational productivity and customer service.

About the City

Nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, just north of the cities of Pasadena and Glendale, the City of La Cañada Flintridge is a low-density, residential community which enjoys a rural character and a small-town atmosphere while maintaining close proximity to the downtown Los Angeles urban center. Commercial development in the City is almost exclusively limited to the frontage along Foothill Boulevard, the main surface thoroughfare. The City of La Cañada Flintridge is home to Descanso Gardens, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, five municipal parks, an extensive trails system, and more.

The City has a population of approximately 20,000 people within its 8.6 square miles. The City was incorporated as a general-law city on December 8, 1976, with a Council/Manager form of government. Some city services are provided under contract with the County of Los Angeles or other private entities. In-house staff provides general administration, public works, and planning services to the community.

• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, work plans, policies, and priorities for the division.
• Recommends within division policy, appropriate service and staffing levels.
• Participates in the development, administration, and oversight of the division budget; determines funding needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; ensures compliance with budgeted funding.
• Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve and continuously monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned programs, service delivery methods, and procedures; assesses and monitors workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement and makes recommendations to the Director of Public Works.
• Participates in the selection of, trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned staff; provides or coordinates staff training; works with them to enhance their productivity; recommends and implements discipline and termination procedures, when required.
• Performs project management responsibilities; develops logical and efficient project budget and schedule; establishes priorities; monitors and manages task completion; anticipates and avoids problems; works collaboratively and cooperatively with team members and user groups to ensure project accountability.
• Develops and manages Requests for Proposals (RFP) for professional and/or contracted services; prepares scope of work and any technical specifications; evaluates proposals and recommends award; negotiates contracts; administers contracts to ensure compliance with City requirements and Federal and State procedures and guidelines.
• Acts as project manager and construction manager for a variety of CIP and special projects including project planning, design, construction, and close-out; monitors work progress on site according to safety regulations, and to ensure completion of projects on time and within budget and in accordance with project specifications.
• Reviews and approves plans, specifications and estimates for construction of CIP and special projects prepared by consultants for various public works projects to ensure conformance with standards and regulations; reviews and approves plans prepared by consultants for private development projects.
• Administers federal, state and local grant funds appropriated to projects and prepares required reports and invoices to corresponding agency per their guidelines.
• Develops project budget estimates, bid packages, bids and awards construction contracts, negotiates change orders, and reviews and approves contractor’s monthly progress payments.
• Supervises and participates in the review and approval of various permits submitted by private developers and businesses.
• Conducts a variety of organizational and operational studies and investigations; recommends and implements, upon approval, modifications to assigned programs, policies, and procedures; prepares and presents staff and agenda reports and other necessary correspondence related to assigned activities and services.
• Serves as liaison for assigned functions with other City departments, divisions, and outside agencies; provides staff support to commissions, committees, and task forces, as required.
• Provides highly complex staff assistance to the Director of Public Works; prepares and presents staff reports and other written materials; supervises the establishment and maintenance of working and official division files; ensures the proper documentation of operations and activities.
• Acts as Director of Public Works in the absence of the director, as assigned.
• Reviews the work of staff and consultants to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Represents the City in meetings with members of other public and private organizations, community groups, contractors, and the public; attends City Council and Commission meetings as required.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of engineering.
• Monitors changes in regulations and technology that may affect operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
• Answers questions and provides information to the public; investigates and responds to complaints and inquiries from citizens, other departments, and agencies.
• Ensures staff observe and comply with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.

Knowledge of:

• Organization and management practices as applied to the development, analysis, and evaluation of programs, policies, and operational needs of the assigned area of responsibility.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment review and evaluation, discipline, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Principles and practices of leadership.
• Administrative principles, practices, and methods including goal setting, program development, implementation and evaluation, policy and procedure development, quality control, and work standards.
• Principles and techniques for working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork is conducted smoothly.
• Principles and practices of budget development and administration.
• Principles and practices of contract administration and management.
• General principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area.
• Advanced principles and practices of engineering, land use development, and project management.
• Advanced civil engineering principles, practices, and methods related to the planning, design, and construction of public works projects and/or private development projects.
• Principles and practices of construction management, including engineering, surveying, and inspection methods and materials.
• Methods and techniques of preparing technical and administrative reports, and general business correspondence.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility.
• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service, by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and programs, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Select and supervise staff, provide training and development opportunities, ensure work is performed effectively, and evaluate performance in an objective and positive manner.
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, practices, policies, procedures, and work standards.
• Provide administrative, management, and professional leadership for the Engineering Division.
• Prepare and administer complex budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost-effective manner.
• Perform complex engineering work in the planning, design, and construction of the City’s CIP projects.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in project management, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of department goals.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Supervise the establishment of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Effectively represent the division and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, documentation, and other written materials.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

Special Conditions and Licenses

You must possess mobility to:

• Work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer.
• Work in the field with changing site conditions; possess the strength, stamina, and mobility to perform light to medium physical work including fieldwork which includes but is not limited to walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards, with exposure to hazardous materials in some site locations, exposure to inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, fumes.
• Sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; to reach twist, turn, kneel, and bend, to climb and descend ladders.
• Operate a motor vehicle and to visit various City and meeting sites.
• Stand and walk between work areas
• Occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.
• Lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects up to 10 pounds.

You must possess:

• Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen.
• Vision to inspect site conditions and work in progress.
• Hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone.
• Finger dexterity to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment, to be maintained throughout employment.
• Possession of a valid registration as a Professional Engineer issued by the State of California, to be maintained throughout employment.

Education:

• Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in civil engineering, or a related field.

Experience:

• Six (6) years of responsible municipal public works or civil engineering project or program management experience, including three (3) years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity.

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