Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To undertake the planning and design of transportation projects by preparing planning and design reports, contract plans and documentation required for the in-house and outsourced delivery of projects for the multi-year capital construction program. To provide technical advice and assistance to Project Managers/Engineers in consultant acquisition and management. To provide technical advice, guidance and assistance to engineering consultants assigned to transportation projects.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Under the supervision of project management staff, performs the following duties:

1. Compiling and/or preparing preliminary and detail design documents to determine and develop the recommended design for new construction and reconstruction of highways and/or planning of roadway improvements by assembling and analyzing available data; identifying geometric, operational, capacity safety and drainage deficiencies, carrying out field investigations; developing, assessing and evaluating preliminary design alternatives for route selection studies, functional planning studies and corridor investment plans; determining hydrology and hydraulic requirements and designs, determining property acquisition requirements; interpreting traffic data and calculating traffic capacity; developing project design criteria and determining geometric design standards; undertaking the design of highway geometry, safety features, drainage and other project elements; defining associated constraints conducting financial analysis of alternatives, and preparing comparative cost estimates; preparing and presenting display and presentation material for hearings and meetings with senior ministry staff, politicians, the public, property owners, municipalities etc. and ensuring that required pre-contract engineering information is prepared.

2. Liaising with relevant internal Sections/Offices (e.g. Traffic, Environmental, Geotechnical, Structural, Property, Construction) and external agencies (e.g. other ministries, municipalities, utilities, conservation authorities,) regarding technical input (e.g. soils, pavement design, hydrology, hydraulics, structures, environmental aspects, traffic data, construction) for contract requirements and coordinating of information into the project. Providing technical advice on corridor control matters such as subdivisions, commercial development, permit applications to ensure safety and efficient highway operation.

3. Preparing and/or reviewing contract drawings and documents for the construction of transportation projects which are both biddable and constructible by assembling standards and specifications relative to the project; examining design/planning packages and other deliverables for accuracy, compliance and completeness with respect to standard Ministry practices and project requirements; providing technical expertise at regional contract review and other meetings to effect the design package turnover to Construction, and responding to design related questions during tendering and construction.

4. Providing technical advice and administrative support to Project Managers/Engineers by participating in the preparation of requests for expressions of interest, quotations and proposals; participating in the review and evaluation of consultant submissions; providing technical advice, guidance and assistance to consultants engaged in the development of projects for the capital construction program; Coordinating meetings, preparing minutes of meetings and correspondence; and assisting in the monitoring of expenditures.

5. Providing technical advice and assistance to Project Managers/Engineers, and other ministry sections and staff in the development of project scope and cost reports, and the preparation and updating of cost estimates and project schedules by detailing and estimating quantities and complexity of work to be undertaken.

6. Providing leadership, direction and training to junior staff, and other staff on temporary assignment to the section, e.g. Transportation Technicians, Intermediate Designers, students, and other temporary staff in the completion of planning and design projects, and tasks.

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of civil engineering technology in the application of highway planning/design practices policies, procedures and standards, in order to prepare project appraisal reports, Scope and Cost Reports, Corridor Investment Plans, preliminary design reports, design criteria and final plans/documentation, by assembling and analyzing available data such as mosaics, plans, area planning studies, traffic data, drainage information, property plans, municipal reports and other relevant correspondence. Job requires knowledge of mathematics, algebra and trigonometry related to highway geometric design and quantity estimation to prepare contract packages that are both biddable and constructible by investigating and analyzing data to determine the geometric design; interpreting traffic data and calculating traffic capacity, assured passing opportunity and levels of service; evaluating, applying and/or modifying such factors as horizontal/vertical alignment, cross sections, structure requirements, intersection/interchange layout, property requirements, access and proposed road closings. Job requires knowledge of civil engineering technology, highway planning and design, construction practices and related technical disciplines (e.g. geotechnical, survey, drainage, hydrology, environmental, traffic engineering) to assess technical input to highway planning and design projects. Job requires knowledge of MTO policies, procedures, directives, standards, specifications and relevant legislation related to highway planning and design (e.g. Drainage Act, Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, requirements of Occupational Health and Safety Act for construction practices, and the Ministry of Transportation Class Environmental Assessment process), sufficient to assess their impact on highway design alternatives and to ensure that contract packages minimize potential liability to the Ministry and adhere to all Ministry standards, specifications and relevant legislation. Job requires knowledge of consultant acquisition procedures, assignments/agreements and Ministry procedures to provide technical and administrative assistance to Project Managers/Engineers in the preparation of requests for expressions of interest, quotations and proposals; assisting Project Managers/Engineers in the development of project scoping, costing and providing technical input to be used in the terms of reference; and participating in the review and evaluation of consultant submissions, and to participate in quality assessments, and audits of consultant deliverables, and conformance to quality control processes. Job requires knowledge of computer operations and relevant applications, including computer aided drawing and design (CADD), and highway design systems for the preparation of project appraisals, route selection studies, cost estimates, financial analysis assessments of alternatives, preliminary design reports, detail design drawings, contract drawings, design of horizontal and vertical alignments, quantity calculations; contract documentation and correspondence, display and presentation material for hearings (i.e. hearings of necessity, OMB road closing hearings, court cases) and meetings.

Skills :

Job requires analytical and evaluative skills to ensure that environmentally sound and cost effective planning/design alternatives are selected for inclusion in preliminary design reports or contract packages with respect to construction or reconstruction of highways and in the planning of highway road improvements. Job requires research and investigative skills for the development of design alternatives, definition of associated constraints, evaluation criteria and evaluation methodology to determine applicable geometric design standards that will be utilized for preliminary and/or detail design. Job requires analytical skills to assess technical alternatives, and to assess the inter-relationship of components such as traffic data, soils investigation, drainage studies, pavement design reports, area planning studies, environmental considerations, construction methods and materials and to integrate and assemble such components into a preliminary design/detail design package. Job requires judgment skills to determine relevant data and respond to issues arising from the contract tender documents or contractors'/consultants' concerns. Job requires organizational skills to coordinate own work activities, and those of assigned junior staff, to complete projects within pre-established time frames and deadlines. Job requires interpersonal skills to discuss technical aspects of specific work projects with engineering consultants, municipal employees and other sections/offices of the Ministry. Job requires oral and written communication skills to obtain and supply technical information to engineering consultants and their staff to resolve issues/concerns related to contact preparation and documentation; to liaise with stakeholders on matters related to work project issues. Job requires writing skills when assisting with, or in the preparation of reports such as Project Appraisal Reports, Preliminary Design Reports, Design Synopsis Reports, Consultant Appraisals, writing letters, and preparing presentation materials. Job requires computer skills in the operation of highway design applications to prepare preliminary design and detail design contract packages.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires working within Ministry directives, legislation, geometric design standards, drainage, contract documentation and estimating manuals, and environmental assessment regulations. Job requires making decisions regarding the adequacy and conformance to Ministry standards, practices and procedures for the various deliverables from engineering consultants in consultation with Project Manager/Engineer. Work is accepted as technically accurate and is subject to general review only; unusual problems or special treatment situations that occur are subject to more detailed review.

Job refers non-routine or complex problems to Project Manager/Engineer such as where significant departure from Ministry policies or standards may be required, or where design solutions result in a significant increase in the estimated project cost. Work requiring the practice of professional engineering is completed under the direction of a professional engineer, Project or Senior Project Engineer, the Area Engineer or Head, Highway Engineering/Planning and Design.