Civil Engineer Specialist

Notice of Change:
This recruitment is now open until filled.

We are accepting applications to fill two (2) full-time Civil Engineer Specialist vacancy in the Transportation Division of the Public Works Department in Santa Maria or Santa Barbara.  One vacancy is in the Design section, and one vacancy is in the Construction section. 

THE POSITION: Under general direction, performs complex, professional civil engineering work requiring advanced engineering knowledge in a specialized area such drainage, roadway, bridge or traffic design; flood control engineering and performs related duties as required.

We are also accepting applications to establish employment lists for future Full-Time, Part-Time, Civil Service Rule 1414* and Extra-Help Civil Engineer Specialist vacancies in All Locations.
  
*NOTE: Positions vacated as a result of a leave of absence (Civil Service Rule 1414) and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave. A person who is appointed to a position under Civil Service Rule 1414 may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department. *BENEFITS: The 1414 position is eligible for Full-Time benefits.

NOTE: The County may provide reimbursement for reasonable relocation expenses, and, at the discretion of the CEO, can provide flexible relocation assistance, housing and student loan offsets, cash incentives, and/or vacation and sick leave pre-accruals in the interest of attracting the best talent to the organization for up to $20,000.

BENEFITS OVERVIEW

• Vacation: 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment.
• Holidays: 13 days per year. 
• Sick Leave: 12 days sick leave per year. Unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement.  
• Health Plan: Choice of medical and dental plans (with vision care). County contributes toward the employee's premium. 
• On-Site Employee Health Clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria: Provides ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and their eligible dependents over age 15.

Click on the Benefits Tab above or click here for more information on County benefits. In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: The Civil Engineer - Specialist is distinguished from the Civil Engineer by the degree of specialized knowledge and originality of thinking required to complete assignments. The Civil Engineer - Specialist is distinguished from the Civil Engineer - Manager by the overall responsibility to lead and deliver a variety of projects while working alone or with a dedicated team within the department. 
 
The IDEAL CANDIDATE will possess:

• 7 years working in any of the engineering specialties described below
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Dedication and team loyalty with good judgment
• Solution-oriented strategic problem-solving skills
• Ability to effectively manage multiple situations occurring simultaneously
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain sound working relationships with diverse people and personalities
• Experience managing/supervising at least two (2) direct reports
• Ability to prepare and write clear and concise reports, and keep records organized accordingly

ABOUT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT: The Santa Barbara County Public Works Department consists of five divisions:  Transportation, Resource Recovery and Waste Management, Water Resources (Flood Control, Water Agency and Project Clean Water), the County Surveyors Office, and Administration. The County's Public Works Department employees are committed to efficiently providing, operating and maintaining public works infrastructure, facilities and services to make everyday life as safe and convenient as possible for the public we serve. To learn more about us, visit www.countyofsb.org/pwd/.

Transportation Engineering - Design Section:

1. Design roadways, bridges, traffic control systems, drainage facilities and minor and major structures.
2. Supervise and review the work of professional, technical and clerical staff assigned to assist in the planning, design and preparation of drawings, plans, specifications, bids and estimates on specific projects.
3. Represent the department at meetings and conferences and presents technical reports to public, other agencies and private organizations.
4. Manages projects from design through construction.
5. Supervise County Staff, manages consultants, and manages budgets.
6. Prepare and analyze contracts, technical reports, and legal documents.
7. Coordinate engineering activities with other departments, government agencies, and other outside organizations. Communicate, coordinate, and respond to public requests.
8. Design, coordinate, plan, and manage Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) as well as emergency response projects. Follow Federal, State, and County guidelines and participate in the reimbursement process for FEMA and FHWA funded projects. Experience with FEMA and FHWA emergency processes is highly desirable. 
9. Help manage the County Bridge and Structures program, including assessments, reporting, agency coordination, and design projects. 

Transportation Engineering - Construction Section:

1. Inspection and Contract Administration of County funded Transportation projects
2. Supervises and reviews the work of professional, technical and clerical staff assigned to assist in the inspection and contract Administration of projects
3. Represents the department at meetings and conferences and presents technical reports to public, other agencies and private organizations
4. Serves as Resident Engineer for inspection and contract administration of complex projects
5. Manages Consultants and Budgets for County funded projects

General Oversight:

1. Manages and supervises the inspection of contract plans, specifications, estimates and other legal documents for the construction of County funded projects.
2. Performs and supervises program feasibility and cost studies.
3. Performs supervisory duties to direct reports and to others through subordinate supervisors: providing direction, evaluating performance; reviewing and proposing disciplinary action; interviewing applicants and recommending section selections.
4. Reviews and provides guidance on public works projects before reaching management level.
5. Develops measurable performance standards, operation procedures and reporting systems.
6. Prepares engineering and budgetary reports and recommendations.
7. Train, motivate, supervise, mentor, and develop assigned staff. 

Registration as a Professional Civil Engineer in the State of California is required; AND

1. Minimum of four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in professional civil engineering; OR,
2. A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to the employment standard listed above and that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Initial appointment may be based on existing registration in another state with ability to obtain California registration within twelve (12) months of appointment.
 
Knowledge of: the principles and practices of civil engineering and the ability to apply them to the planning, design, construction and maintenance of transportation, flood control and other public works facilities.
 
Ability to: prepare correspondence and reports; analyze facts and exercise independent judgement; establish and maintain effective working relations; deal effectively with representatives of other organizations and with the public. 

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS:

1. Application Review. Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
2. Application Ranking. Applications that meet the employment standards will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the information provided on their application. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the application ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list. Human Resources will notify you by mail if your name is removed.
  
Conditional Job Offer:  Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.  
 
The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.
 
Recruiters will correspond with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.
 
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.  
 
Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.
 

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement
The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

 
APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: April 1, 2025. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.
 
Kim Clark, Public Works Human Resources Coordinator, kiclark@countyofsb.org

Salary : $131,003 - $158,355