Senior Engineer/Principal Engineer - Utilities Engineering

This is a professional engineering position in the Department of Public Works and Utilities. The primary purpose is to safeguard public health and safety by providing safe, reliable drinking water and environmentally sound wastewater treatment and disposal services. The work consists of several roles:

1. Management of capital improvements projects involving water distribution systems, water treatment and storage facilities, pump stations, wastewater collection systems, wastewater treatment and lift station facilities, reclaimed water distribution systems, and reclaimed water treatment; the development, coordination, project management, plan review, and construction inspection of utility capital improvement projects; major responsibilities include project management from master planning level design through project construction and implementation within defined schedules and budgets

1. The Utilities Engineering Division works as a team to support Long Term Planning, Communications and Public Participation, and other activities as needed. Long Term Planning involves inventory of the City’s infrastructure assets and planning for Capital Improvements Projects; this activity coincides with the City’s two-year budget cycle, rate and fee studies, and development activities in the City; communications and public participation is an initiative for Utilities Engineering to increase knowledge and awareness of the City’s infrastructure

Work is under the direction of the Utilities Engineering Administrator, but with appreciable latitude for independent judgment and action for achievement of desired objectives. This position will require attendance at occasional evening meetings. An on-boarding program is in place to provide training and acclimation to new staff.
 
The full salary range for this position is stated above. The salary range for Senior Engineer is $106,956 to $133,705 per year, and for Principal Engineer the salary range is $123,611 to $154,508 per year. Starting wages are negotiable and dependent on the qualifications and experience of each individual candidate. The City of Westminster offers a bonus of up to $1,500 per year depending on the employee’s fluency in Spanish, Hmong, Laotian and/or American Sign Language (ASL).The City's work culture encourages passionate, positive and enthusiastic employees who, along with our City Council and City Manager, are strong supporters of our mission: Westminster’s purpose is to provide core services and foster economic resilience to give our community the opportunity to thrive. Westminster is a city of beautiful, safe, well-maintained neighborhoods and destinations with a vibrant, diverse economy, rich and resilient environment and a strong sense of community belonging. Our core values are embodied in our SPIRIT (Service – Pride – Integrity – Responsibility – Innovation – Teamwork).
 
This position supports the goals of the Public Works and Utilities Department, which maintains and enhances public health and safety by providing exceptional water and wastewater service and maintaining the City’s extensive, four-billion-dollar network of utility infrastructure. The department continuously strives to meet the needs of the community by constantly focusing on protecting public health and safety, customer service, efficient and effective utilization of resources, communications, innovation, and teamwork.
 
Every employee is accountable to:

• Demonstrate a high level of customer service; encourage others to focus on the customer; foster an environment where customer service is a priority
• Communicate with customers to ensure that, where possible, they are satisfied, and that their needs are being addressed; solicit and evaluate customer feedback
• Act as an ambassador by understanding and fostering the organization's mission and vision
• Exhibit pride in self, the department, the city, and the community; conduct self in a professional manner
• Demonstrate integrity and build trust through credibility, reliability, commitment, loyalty, and ethical behavior
• Address difficult or contentious issues in a constructive and confident manner
• Support/promote change; demonstrate flexibility, and take calculated risks when appropriate
• Participate in personal growth opportunities, and attend trainings designed to enhance capacity to bring new skills and ideas to the job and the organization
• Work to continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the service or product being delivered
• Demonstrate support for team efforts by accepting new roles and responsibilities, and helping others achieve objectives
• Value diversity; demonstrate an awareness of differences; demonstrate sensitivity, and adapt behaviors and communication to accommodate these differences

 
GENERAL COMPETENCIES
Citywide - Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Establish effective interpersonal relationships through honest, open communication and follow-through on commitments
• Recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, and target areas for personal self-development
• Demonstrate initiative in performing job tasks
• Exhibit problem-solving skills leading to sound judgment and quality decisions
• Achieve goals on time and on budget, and handle assigned workload and new assignments effectively; demonstrate an ability to work independently; demonstrate ability to prioritize tasks and accomplish them
• Communicate effectively with individuals and groups using clear and concise verbal and written communications
• Demonstrate accountability for work, and take ownership in job performance
• Demonstrate concern for the accuracy and quality of work; take steps to correct mistakes and improve the overall product

Job Specific – Every employee in this position must be able to:

• Demonstrate education, background, or on-the-job knowledge of and experience with:

• Best practices for design, construction, operations, and maintenance of water and wastewater utilities
• Industry and City design standards and preferences
• Water/wastewater operating and treatment systems principles and practices
• Public works contract administration and project management
• Discuss and explain technical issues to non-technical audience
• Discernment on variances, cost implications, customer service, and compliance with standards for the long-term viability of the City’s utility system
• Ability to learn and use a variety of computer programs including: GIS, City tracking and logging software, PDF-style editing software (i.e. Bluebeam), Microsoft Office software – Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, ESRI-ArcMap software, Asset Management software, water/sewer modeling software, contract creation and management software, and other software as implemented by the City
• Applicable codes, ordinances, regulations, and standards relating to public water/wastewater systems construction, maintenance, and repair
• Familiarity with industry hydraulic modeling and ability to interpret results of various engineering utility studies submitted to the City for review
• Conduct and evaluate engineering and technical studies and analysis on various programs to determine recommendations based on the information received
• Manage time and workload to meet deadlines; this employee must be able to prioritize to meet deadlines, communicate schedule changes, and appropriate/allocate time within the work hours available to meet deadlines

• Cross-coordinate, share information, and share decisions with utility operations superintendents and supervisors
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively, orally and in writing to technical and non-technical audiences
• Resolve problems, mediate or facilitate cooperation among various parties – internal and external to the City
• Work in a team environment with strong desire for program success while championing Public Works and Utility’s needs
  • Work may involve coordination with outside developers/engineering firms; close partnership with several Divisions within Public Works and Utilities; and collaboration with City Departments including Community Development, Economic Development, and Parks Recreation and Libraries

Leadership – Every employee in this position is accountable to:

• Foster a participatory organizational climate that is open, positive, reinforcing, and supportive
• Encourage employees to be accountable for their work and take ownership in what they do
• Demonstrate leadership and courage by making or supporting decisions that reflect the organizational mission and goals even when the decision may be unpopular to some
• Demonstrate collaboration and conflict resolution skills with other departments and employees

Essential Job Functions, Duties, Responsibilities, and Tasks

1. Manage Department of Public Works and Utilities capital improvement projects (CIP) within the defined design and construction schedules and budgets.; complete reporting on time
2. Participate and contribute to Long Term Planning activities to support the planning, prioritizing, and implementing of Capital Improvement Projects. Represent the PWU Department, and Utilities Engineering Group and Utilities Operations Divisions and other City departments to provide high quality utility services
3. Give presentations in internal and public meetings regarding utility projects, prepare written reports and memoranda including City Council Agenda Memos and Staff Reports
4. Demonstrate advanced project management skills including but not limited to task prioritization, budget forecasting and management, communications and project reporting, and completing projects on time
5. Participate in construction management, inspection, and implementation of utility infrastructure
6. Participate in Communications and Public Participation activities as appropriate
7. Prepare scope, schedule, and budget for projects and prepare Requests for Proposals to solicit independent consulting services; lead the process for consultant selection and the management of consulting and construction contracts that follow
8. Play an active role in comprehensive master planning for the Department and the City’s Public Works assets and $4 Billion infrastructure
9. Must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain a safe driving record
10. Maintains regular and punctual attendance

Other Duties and Responsibilities
Incumbent is accountable for all duties of this job, and other projects and responsibilities may be added at the City’s discretion.Education, Experience, Skills, Formal Training, Licenses, and Certifications
Required:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in civil or environmental engineering or closely related field
• Must possess a valid driver's license, provide proof of a safe driving record, and maintain a safe driving record for continued employment

Senior Engineer:

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in the design and construction of water/wastewater systems and facilities
• Registration with the Colorado State Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors as a professional engineer (P.E.) is required

Preferred:
Senior Engineer:

• Eight or more years of experience in the design and construction, of water/wastewater systems and facilities
• Significant experience working directly for a municipality or for a consulting firm providing services to a municipal government
• Master’s Degree in civil or environmental engineering or a related field

 
Candidate will be hired as Senior Engineer and is eligible to progress to Principal Engineer, with performance review and meeting the following requirements:

• Meet all minimum requirements for Engineer and Senior Engineer
• Minimum of ten (10) years of directly related, progressively responsible experience in water resources management

Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience, which would provide the required knowledge and skills, may be considered
Physical Requirements
Work is sedentary in nature and requires sufficient physical stamina, strength and ability for:

• Constant sitting to perform daily tasks; occasional walking through a multilevel facility to retrieve information; frequent standing, sometimes for extended periods
• Frequent squatting, reaching above shoulder, and twisting to file documents and lift supplies and material; occasional bending, kneeling, climbing, balancing, and reaching below shoulder to store documents, material, and supplies
• Constant light grasp, fine manipulation, and handling to perform daily duties; occasional firm grasp to safely use equipment
• Frequent lifting, carrying, and pushing and/or pulling of up to fifteen (15) pounds to move material and supplies; occasional lifting and pushing and/or pulling of up to twenty-five (25) pounds with dollies and carts

 
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is primarily performed indoors with infrequent field and off-site tours and inspections. Indoor work involves sitting for extended periods in an office environment, with frequent exposure to distractions and interruptions created in a multipurpose work environment. Outdoor fieldwork requires the ability to stand and walk on uneven terrain in various conditions. Work entails exposure to periods of high activity and stress under demanding conditions. The position requires a great deal of communication with City employees, the public, and outside agencies as well as clear articulation of information in presentations and on the phone. May be required to use personal vehicles to travel to and from meetings and other locations throughout the City and metro area. Occasional evening or weekend events for improved public participation and outreach may be required.
Required Materials and Equipment
Personal computers, keyboards, calculators, telephones, audio-video equipment, and standard office equipment. Utilizes electronic connections to off-site locations.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Background checks will include employment references and criminal history, and when applicable, credit check, driver license record, and education verification
• Drug screen
• Must be legally entitled to work in the United States