Assistant Engineer

Classification Description

• “There is teamwork in my department. When I need help, there is someone always there to assist me”.
• “I like the All-Employee Meeting. The food is always good, and the City Manager gives updates on what is happening. We play games and recognize employees.”
• “I like working with professionals who are trying to do their best for the City.” “Flexibility in my schedule and easy-going employees.

Essential Functions

Essential functions of the position include:

• Provide responsible staff assistance and support to the City Engineer/Public Works Director and Assistant City Engineer.
• Determine the scope of engineering projects; prepare requests for proposals and contracts for consulting services; develop plans, specifications and other contract documents for a variety of engineering projects; make technical engineering decisions and assist with development of technical criteria and standards, calculate the quantity, quality, and cost of materials used for various projects.
• Review plans and calculations of consulting engineers and private contractors for conformance with regulations, specifications, and/or conditions of approval.
• Assist in the management, coordination, inspection, and progress of assigned projects, including capital projects, and ensure conformance with contract plans and specifications; make recommendations on approval of progress payments and change orders, prepare progress reports on projects under construction, and maintain project files.
• Administer National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) programs; assist/conduct plan check review of plans for private and public projects affecting City streets, sewers, drains, and related public works facilities, and for compliance with NPDES related requirements; make technical decisions and recommendations regarding appropriate application of "Best Management Practices".
• Manage City service contracts, including contract development, coordination, and review of services and processing of invoices.
• Meet with property owners, engineers, contractors, architects, and the general public concerning interpretation and application of City and Department policies and procedures.
• Respond verbally and in writing to citizen inquiries and complaints; investigate field problems, including but not limited to grading, encroachment permits, right-of-way, property line information, utility information, slope stability, stormwater and groundwater issues, improvement plan check and payment processes.
• Administer and oversee a variety of projects and programs as assigned, which may include: the Capital Improvement Program, Traffic Regulatory Program, Graffiti Abatement Program, Fleet Maintenance Program, Crossing Guard Program, and City Transit Program.
• Participate in the development of the City Engineer/Public Works Department budget; assist with the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies, and recommend budgetary adjustments as appropriate and necessary; assist with procurement of equipment and capital project budget monitoring; and assist with engineering fee analysis.
• Provide review and oversight of land development projects, subdivision maps, and associated improvement plans; meet with potential developers to review engineering requirements for development projects; prepare design/mitigation conditions of approval; review sureties and agreements for grading and improvements; inspect during and post construction for compliance with conditions of approval.
• Prepare or review maps, easement language, legal descriptions, and deeds.
• Assist with issuance of grading and encroachment permits.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the fields of City Engineering and Public Works.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Engineering principles and practices as applied to city engineer/public works, including planning and development, design and construction, and maintenance.
• Methods, materials, and techniques used in the preparation of public works project designs and related plans, specifications, cost estimates and reports.
• Basic principles of capital improvement cost estimation, project management, and contract administration.
• Operations, services, and activities of a comprehensive municipal public works program. Management skills to analyze programs, policies, and operational needs.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• Principles and practices of Assessment District management.
• Principles and practices of contract administration.
• Technical report writing.
• Modern office procedures, methods and equipment.
• Purchasing procedures and practices.
• Grant application procedures and grant administration.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Principles of advanced mathematics and their application to engineering work. Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

• Conduct complex civil engineering research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports.
• Assist in developing and administering contracts for professional services and construction.
• Prepare maps and engineering drawings, design computations, plans, and studies. Perform basic plan checking activities.
• Interpret, apply and explain complex laws, codes, regulations, and policies.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Respond tactfully, clearly, concisely, and appropriately to inquiries from the public, press, or other agencies on sensitive issues in area of responsibility.
• Operate and use modern office equipment including computer, printers, and copiers. Enter data on a computer at a speed necessary for successful job performance. Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods and techniques. Maintain accurate records and files.
• Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, laws and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Maintain mental capacity, which allows the capability of making sound decisions and demonstrating intellectual capabilities.
• Maintain effective audio/visual discrimination and perception to the degree necessary for the successful performance of assigned duties.
• Perform responsible and difficult administrative work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.

Experience, Training, License/Certificate, Working Conditions

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Three years of professional engineering experience, preferably in a public agency.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in civil engineering or a related engineering field. Two years of the education requirement may be substituted with four years of professional engineering work experience, with no less than two of those years being municipal engineering experience.

License or Certificate: Engineer in Training (EIT) certificate is desirable. Possession of or ability to obtain and maintain an appropriate, valid California driver's license.

Working Conditions:
Environmental Conditions: Office and field environment; travel from site to site; exposure to computer screens; exposure to outside atmospheric conditions, dust and noise; work on slippery or uneven surfaces.
Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting, standing, bending, kneeling, squatting, or walking for prolonged periods of time; travel to various locations; operating motorized vehicles; medium lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling; climbing; balancing; stooping; reaching; handling; using fingers; talking; hearing; near and far acuity; depth perception. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

The City of Moorpark operates most divisions on a 9/80 schedule and offers a comprehensive and generous benefit program. Highlights include the following:
Health, dental, and vision insurance:

• Medical insurance is through California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) which offers PPO and HMO plans. The City pays 90% of the PERS Platinum Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Health Plan family rate towards whichever plan the employee chooses. An employee may convert up to a maximum of $300 per month of the medical insurance allowance to cash out or deposit in deferred compensation each month if not used for medical insurance cost.
• 100% of the dental and vision insurance premiums for employee and dependents is paid by the City.

Life Insurance: $75,000 term life insurance paid by the City.

Supplemental Life Insurance: Employees have the option of increasing their life insurance by purchasing supplemental life through payroll deduction.

Retirement: The City participates in CalPERS to provide retirement benefits for employees. For eligible miscellaneous Classic employees (employees hired before 1/1/2013 with a 2% @ 55 formula and no required employee contribution), the City pays 7% of base salary on employees’ CalPERS contribution. For “New” members (employees hired on or after 1/1/2013 with a 2% @ 62 formula), the employee contributes 6.75% of salary. The City does not participate in Social Security.

Deferred Compensation Saving Plan: 2% of base salary paid by the City.

Annual Leave Accrual: Annual leave (vacation, personal, sick time hours) is accrued based on years of service. Annual Leave accrual rates for Management Employees begins at 22 days per year and maxes out at 32 days per year.

Administrative Leave: Management Employees at salary range 67 or higher receive approximately 68 hours per year. Management Employees at a salary range lower than range 67 receive approximately 44 hours per year.

City Paid Holidays: 11 ½ paid legal holidays each year.

Remote Work Option: For certain positions where it may be appropriate without diminishing quality of performance or service delivery, remote work arrangements may be set up after six months of on-site work.

Flexible Work Schedule: For certain positions where it may be appropriate without diminishing quality of performance or service delivery, flexible work schedule arrangements may be set up.

Short and Long-Term Disability: City-paid coverage.

Tuition Reimbursement: Management employees will be reimbursed for courses pre-approved by the City Manager. The annual maximum tuition reimbursement is $1,800 and the lifetime maximum is $10,000.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): The City provides a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program for confidential counseling and services to City employees and their immediate families.