Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To provide technical support in all technical areas of the region related to the design, construction and maintenance of provincial highways.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Incumbents of this position, independently or as a member of a project team, will work in various technical areas of the ministry including design, traffic, surveys, construction, maintenance and head office as periodically assigned by the employer on a rotational basis. The incumbents, under the supervision of more senior staff, will: 1. Conduct investigations, data collection and analysis and carry out technical reviews of contract documentation to support the highway planning and design process including conducting collision and capacity analysis, conducting on-site investigations to identify traffic operation, geometric and design deficiencies, and reviewing proposed designs to assess adherence to standards and constructability. 2. Assist in the preparation of preliminary and final contract documents and drawings by gathering and analyzing available data, determining appropriate design approach, calculating quantity and cost estimates for tender items, preparing layout and presentation of contract drawings and documentation and preparing design drawings/calculations in conformance with ministry standards. Prepare legal and engineering survey drawings and models and utilize computer software, such as AutoCAD systems, to carry out drafting and design activities. 3. Carry out various activities to support the administration of ministry contracts including such duties as: performing routine engineering survey work to control construction, conducting site inspections for construction and maintenance contract activities, conducting quality assurance sampling, testing and inspection, preparing contract progress reports and verifying documentation for payment to the contractor. 4. Assist with consultant acquisition processes (EOI, RFP, RFQ) by performing tasks such as: writing assignment requirements in accordance with ministry design, construction and maintenance requirements and reviewing consultants' RFQ and RFP submissions to assess the consultants' adherence to ministry's requirements. 5. Assist in the planning and management of maintenance work including road patrol activities by: preparing work plans to be carried out by contractors; arranging for appropriate equipment, material and labour; inspecting work to ensure adherence to recognized safety and maintenance standards; completing a variety of maintenance work activity records and forms; and carrying out road patrol duties to monitor highway conditions and determine need for maintenance and emergency activities. 6. Consult with project team, internal regional offices and contract administrators to exchange technical information and ensure drawings and documents are compatible with overall project approach and requirements of other areas. Discuss/provide information on highway maintenance activities and emergency situations, as required, with property owners, general public, police and municipal staff. 7. Prepare a variety of technical reports, correspondence and other technical input for management use to support/clarify design and other technical issues. 8. Maintain awareness of current developments and trends in highway engineering through reading/review of technical journals and manuals, attendance at meetings/conferences and discussion with senior staff and colleagues.

Staffing and Licencing :

Valid Class G Drivers License

Knowledge :

Basic knowledge of engineering survey, design, operation, construction, and maintenance as related to transportation to collect and analyze relevant design data, prepare preliminary and final documents and drawings, conduct traffic capacity and collision analysis, and prepare legal and engineering survey documents and plans to ministry requirements. Basic knowledge of contract administration to conduct on-site inspections and identify design and construction problems, conduct quality assurance sampling and testing, prepare contract progress reports and analyse consultant and contractor' proposals for adherence to ministry requirements. Knowledge of computer technical software applications, such as AutoCAD systems, to prepare computerized designs, plans, statistics and a variety of correspondence, reports and presentations. Knowledge of mathematics to carry out calculations and geometric designs. Knowledge required for this position is typically acquired through a diploma in civil engineering technology.

Skills :

Job requires analytical skills to assess data requirements for contract designs, investigate data sources, clarify data integrity with other staff and prepare preliminary and final contract documents and drawings in conformance with ministry standards. Job requires evaluative and problem solving skills to collect and analyze traffic capacity and collision statistics, identify traffic operation and geometric deficiencies, assess proposed designs for constructability and recommend modifications as required. Job requires skill in conducting engineering surveys to control construction progress, carry out quality assurance sampling, testing and inspection to ensure ministry standards are being adhered to and prepare contract progress reports to verify contract documentation for payment to the contractor. Job requires evaluative and project planning skills to prepare winter maintenance work plans, arrange for appropriate equipment and labour and assess contractor performance, ensuring work meets contract criteria. Job requires skill in applying mathematical calculations in engineering surveying, sampling and testing, in carrying out design calculations and estimating quantities of materials for design and tendering documents. Job requires oral and written communication skills to explain ministry standards and design requirements to other technical areas and contract administrators and, as required, to discuss maintenance problems and emergency road situations with the public, municipal staff, police, etc. Job requires ability to work with other project members in a team environment and adapt and apply standards and procedures in different functional areas within defined scope.

Freedom of Action :

Under the supervision of more senior staff, judgement is used to assess data requirements for contract designs, investigate data sources and clarify data integrity with other staff. Judgement is required in collecting and analyzing traffic capacity and collision statistics, identifying traffic operation and geometric deficiencies, assessing proposed designs for constructability and recommending modifications as required. Job requires judgement in dealing with external service providers and assessing the need and timing of maintenance activities. Job requires judgement in conducting engineering surveys to control construction progress, assessing quality assurance sampling, testing and inspection results to ensure ministry standards are being adhered to and verifying contract documentation to ensure accuracy of contractor payments. Job requires judgement to determine winter maintenance work plan requirements, including arranging for appropriate equipment and labour, and assess contractor performance, ensuring work meets contract criteria. Job requires judgement in applying correct mathematical calculations in engineering surveying, sampling and testing and estimating quantities of materials for design and tendering documents. Work is assigned on a project basis with work assignments identified and processes established by more senior staff/project manager. Completed work is usually accepted as technically accurate and is reviewed by more senior staff at various stages of completion for accuracy and adherence to established time lines and ministry standards and procedures. Incumbent refers to the supervisor all matters of conflicting priorities and decisions that require deviation from established standards and practices. The position is accountable for conducting investigations and data collection, preparing design drawings and documents and carrying out field inspection, surveying and maintenance activities to support the administration of ministry contracts. Commitments are made in the allocation of own time and in providing accurate technical information to more senior staff, contract administrators and contractors within established procedures and time frames. Some latitude for decision-making exists in: determining data requirements and approach for specific contract designs, identifying deficiencies and recommending modifications to meet design, construction and maintenance requirements, conducting quality assurance testing, recommending maintenance work plan requirements and providing accurate information as input to reports and briefing materials for management use. The position reports to more senior technical staff and is responsible for the accurate preparation of contract drawings and documents, the conduct of contract administration activities and the carrying out of maintenance work (including road patrol duties) in accordance with established standards and procedures. Inaccurate technical decisions (e.g. design calculations, survey and testing results, inspection of contractor work) could result in additional work, possible contract delays and incorrect information provided to senior staff, contractors and the public.