Utility Permitting and Relocation Program Manager

This position is open only to Colorado state residents.

About the Work Unit

This work unit exists to assure conformity with applicable Safety and Traffic Engineering related laws and regulations, promote statewide uniformity of practice, and establish and maintain policy and procedure.  Provide technical assistance and training, furnish essential project and program delivery and support, perform field studies, and disseminate information in the Department’s Project Development Services. 

     About the Position

The Program Manager position evaluates statewide utility permitting and relocation situations and Utility Accommodation Code (UAC) interpretations.  The UAC, other state laws, and case law, and collaborates with the Office of the Attorney General if necessary, to determine courses of action for the CDOT Regions. This position will develop policy and procedure regarding the Utility Accommodation Code (UAC), utility coordination, utility plan review, utility ownership research, utility cost estimates, utility planning, as well as negotiate, compose, and process contracts, and partner with utility companies around the state. 

This position develops policies, recommendations, procedures, forms, and other materials to direct the regional utility units and assure conformity with applicable utility-related laws and regulations while promoting statewide uniformity of practice.  The Program Manager will serve as the Statewide Subject Matter Expert in the area of utility permitting and relocation projects and agreements, and represents Headquarters as well as the regional utility units at various CDOT management level meetings.  This position will also assist with the Railway-Highway Crossing (Section 130) Program by setting up projects in SAP; developing and determining project selection; performing program budget actions; coordinating project development; negotiating, composing, and processing contracts; and partnering with railroads, CDOT Regions, and state and local agencies.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Utility Permitting Program Administration

• Provide statewide expertise, guidance, training, research, and assistance to CDOT regional utility units and other stakeholders for the utilities permitting program;

• Serve as the statewide subject matter expert and single point of contact for Regional Permit Managers, ensuring utility company compliance with CDOT’s Utility Accommodation Code (UAC), state, federal, and local agency requirements; 

• Provide statewide expertise / guidance, training, research and assistance to regional staff on appropriate permitting process terms and conditions, as well as Salesforce software updates and programming changes;

• Determine and update all Salesforce exhibits, including environmental and as-built requirements;

• Identify and address instances where utility accommodations do not comply with the UAC or other state and federal requirements, directing both regional and ITS staff accordingly; 

• Lead the UAC rule-making process, including implementation policies and guidelines.

Utility Relocation Program Administration

• Provide statewide expertise, guidance, training, research, and assistance to CDOT regional utility units and other stakeholders for utility relocation projects and agreements;

• Serve as the statewide subject matter expert and single point of contact for CDOT, engaging with utility companies, state, federal, and local agencies, as well as consultants, regarding utility work within CDOT rights-of-way;

• Implement policies and guidelines for regional staff in project selection planning and coordination, and support them with funding actions; 

• Coordinate and ensure timely and appropriate authorizations, approvals, and project clearances to advance individual projects and program goals;

• Confirm that utility accommodations adhere to the utility accommodation code and all applicable state and federal regulations;

• Negotiate relocation agreements for critical infrastructure facilities, draft budgets, manage utility relocation agreements for construction projects, and ensure their consistency;

• Prioritize and schedule project tasks, setting deadlines for project delivery and disseminating information to regional teams;

• Monitor agreement progress via PMWeb and track associated funding through the SAP system;

• Develop policies and procedures governing utility relocation agreements.

Section 130 Rail/Highway Safety Program Administration Support

• Support the Railroad Program Manager for Section 130 project contracts and other CDOT transportation projects that involve work on or near railroad property, and/or work by railroad forces;

• Coordinate the agreements of these projects with railroad companies and local agencies

• Coordinate with Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and ensure appropriate and timely authorizations, approvals, and project clearances as needed to advance individual projects and program goals;

• Participate in field diagnostic reviews in determining scope of work for project location; 

• Coordinate with CDOT Maintenance to prioritize railroad crossings on state highways for maintenance repair list projects;

• Set work priorities, schedules, and deadlines for project delivery and share information with the Region;

Utility Ownership Research

• Establish and implement guidelines for Regional Utility Engineering Program Managers to ascertain utility ownership and pre-existing easement rights;

• Conduct thorough research to identify potential utility conflicts before commencing construction;

• Confirm facility ownership to facilitate the coordination of construction-related utility relocations;

Training

• Develop and implement CDOT's railroad and utilities training programs, encompassing leadership for the Transportation Core Curriculum (TCC), Build America Buy America Act (BABA) requirements, and the Transportation Engineering Training Program (TETP).;

• Develop training materials and deliver both online and in-person classroom instruction;

• Contribute to the implementation of the Transportation Core Curriculum training certification program and ensure regular updates to training materials align with national and state standards;

• Develop and deliver training programs on utility coordination and conflict management. This training will educate designers and regional utility coordinators on the significance of ASCE 38 standards;

• Other duties as assigned.

Work Environment:

• Primarily 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM work hours, Monday-Friday with the opportunity for a flexible schedule
• Position will be based in Denver and will be regularly working from the CDOT Headquarters building
• Travel to project sites, meetings, and training across the State