County Engineer

Position involves responsible administrative and professional engineering in directing the maintenance and construction of the county road and bridge system. Duties include establishing project priorities, assuring adherence to all standards and regulations, eliciting the cooperation of participating groups and individuals, and supervising the subordinate personnel. Work is performed under the direction of the County Administrator as approved by the Board of Commissioners with wide latitude for independent judgement and action subject to established policy and governmental regulations. Work is reviewed and evaluated in progress and upon completion. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

ROAD AND BRIDGE

• The County Engineer will have the authority to sign and submit construction plans, to sign State Aid Needs, and to apply for and receive state, federal, and FEMA funding. 
• The County Engineer will serve as the County Bridge Program Administrator.
• Supervises and directs the work of departmental staff in the operation of engineering and maintenance projects.  Monitors work in progress to assure appropriate methods and quality of performance and materials.  Evaluates completed assignments to assure adherence to plans.

• Promotes continuous employee development and continuous improvement of department operations.

• Directs planning and development of construction projects to assure compatibility with county program.  Identifies road and bridge deficiencies and makes recommendations and determines if structures are eligible for available funds.  Establishes order of priorities for proposed projects.

• Arranges funding by utilizing available county and state aid money and by applying for federal and state grant money.  Makes recommendations to County Board regarding project changes, schedules, awards of contracts, and payment approval.

• Coordinates maintenance activities to assure compliance with laws and policies and integration of operations with construction plans.  Decides scope of work and priorities.  Recommends equipment purchases.

• Advises County Board on technical aspects of various projects.  Prepares studies and reports findings.  Prepares and submits to the County Board annually a full and complete report covering all county highway work and all other reports relating to the county highway system as the County Board directs.
• Meets and confers with other professionals and governmental units to maintain compatibility of projects and adherence to policies, laws, and standards, and to assure cooperation of all parties on mutual projects.
• Supervises bid letting procedures for major equipment purchases.  Reviews bids and recommends acceptance/rejection.  Verifies acceptability of delivered equipment.

• Prepares annual budget and updates.  Reviews and approves monthly bills.

• Maintain current licenses, registrations and certifications as required by the department.

• Observes prescribed health and safety precautions in the performance of all tasks.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.  They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties performed by personnel so classified.

ROAD-RIGHT-OF-WAYS

• Responsible for the County Weed Spraying program, including but not limited to, the research of chemicals, purchase of chemicals and spraying equipment, safety training, signs time cards, receives complaints, pay damages, maintains trucks and equipment before and after season,
• Directs, prepares and administers the budget.  Monitors information and sends final billing to the Redwood County Historical Society. Hires and oversees training of seasonal employees on chemical usage, heat stress, personal protection equipment, vehicle safety, and all other safety concerns involved with the County Weed Spraying program
• Serves as principal chemical expert for right-of-way within the county.  Responsible for monitoring and research of chemical affects on adjoining crops.
• Purchases chemicals and related equipment such as trucks and sprayers before and after season.
• Receives complaints, pays damages and oversees all aspects of the program.
• Access to Not Public Data – The incumbent may encounter not public data in the course of these duties. Any access to not public data should be strictly limited to accessing the data that are necessary to fulfill the employment responsibility. While data are being accessed, incumbent should take reasonable measures to ensure the not public data are not accessed by individuals without a work reason. Once the work reason to access the data is reasonably finished, incumbent must properly store the not public data according to the provisions of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned this classification.  They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties performed by personnel so classified.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs other work-related duties as required.
• If a new work assignment requires access to not public data, the incumbent is permitted to access not public data for the work assignment purposes only. Any access to not public data must be strictly limited to the data necessary to complete the work assignment and after the assignment is completed, the employee’s work assignment no longer requires access.

EDUCATION

A bachelors degree in civil or highway engineering plus current professional engineering registration as a Civil or Highway Engineer in the state of Minnesota.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS REQUIRED

At least five years of recent work experience with progressively responsible supervisory and administrative duties that provides the following skills and abilities:

• Must be organized, self-motivated. Must be accurate; demonstrate time management/multi-tasking skills. Able to motivate and supervise work of department staff. Able to work with various governmental officials and jurisdictions, other professional engineers, contractors and the public.
• Strong working knowledge of the engineering principles for highway, bridge, and hydraulic design; principles, practices, and procedures of highway equipment and maintenance; surveying methods and techniques, construction methods and materials; techniques for the construction and maintenance of highway segments, bridges, culverts/related structure and traffic control systems.

• Considerable knowledge of federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations relating to highway, bridge and ditch systems designs, construction and maintenance, land acquisition and traffic control.

• Considerable knowledge of federal and state aid funding programs and methods of obtaining project approvals.

• Considerable knowledge of leadership skills at multiple levels for the management and supervision of engineering and maintenance activities.

• Considerable knowledge of public administration, personnel administration, management techniques and current organizational practices.

• The ability to prepare and administer a department budget.

• The ability to develop and implement department goals and objectives.

• The ability to plan, coordinate, direct and evaluate the work of others.

• The ability to develop and implement department policies and procedures.

• Ability to supervise personnel in a manner conducive to efficient performance and high morale.

• Ability to select, train and develop competent personnel to staff the department.

• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and have good public relations skills.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

• Must possess a valid Minnesota drivers license.
• Must be a citizen and resident of the State of MN.

The qualifications listed above are guidelines. Other combinations of education and experience could provide necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to perform this job.