Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

a) Program/Policy Development and Delivery
-To participate in the development and revision of electrical policy (i.e. policies, standards, specifications, manuals, and guidelines) for the ministry's
electrical systems (e.g. highway lighting systems, traffic signal control systems, traffic data collection, ferry dock and remote airport electrical facilities,
power systems), and evaluating new/innovative systems/products;
b) Consultation and Liaison
-To provide expert technical advice and support, in a consultative/facilitative role on electrical systems policy and standards to the Minister, senior
management, program deliverers, operations staff, and external partners and stakeholders, including engineering services providers and contractors,
other levels of government and jurisdictions, industry and special interest groups;
c) Project Management
To provide project management, leadership, technical and administrative direction for electrical policy and standards development and delivery, for the
design, construction, operation and maintenance of transportation related electrical infrastructure.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Working under the general direction of the Head, Electrical Engineering, and the Senior Electrical Engineer ' Policy, this position is responsible for the
following:
a) Program/Policy Development and Delivery
To plan, develop, and implement policies, procedures, and standards for the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of electrical
systems by:
-Performing or participating in the development and/or revision of electrical policy (i.e. policies, standards, specifications, manuals, and guidelines) of the ministry's electrical systems (e.g. highway lighting systems, traffic signal control systems, traffic data collection, ferry dock and remote airport
electrical facilities, power systems) to meet government goals and objectives, and client/stakeholder needs, by developing business plans for,
conceptualizing, and establishing project direction, independently or in consultation with the Regions (i.e. Central, East, West, Northeast and Northwest)
and other Provincial Office functions; formulating background material in support of the development/revision; and preparing, coordinating, and/or
presenting the submissions for approval;
-Conducting special investigations of complex or unconventional problems encountered in design, contract preparation, construction, or maintenance
operations, usually requiring resolution within restrictive timelines. Preparing technical reports on the findings, providing sound and defensible
recommendations for change. Working with other areas (i.e. Regions, Provincial Office) to implement solutions, and make changes to Ministry policy
documents;
-Identifying, evaluating and developing new electric/electronic systems for use in the management, operation, and maintenance of transportation
systems. Participating in the planning and decision-making on innovative systems, new products, materials, or equipment to evaluate/consider for
applicability to the ministry's present and future needs;
-Developing evaluative processes to monitor project progress, assesses results, and provide appropriate support and training to ensure effective and
efficient implementation;
-Devising and conducting field assessments, monitoring, tracking, and reporting on the performance of trial equipment installations;
-Reviewing, processing and maintaining applicants/applications to the ministry's Registry, Appraisal and Qualification System (RAQS), Designated
Sources of Materials (DSM) List, Government of Ontario Public Key Infrastructure (GO-PKI); investigating service provider or vendor non-compliance or
poor performance, and pursuing penalties or performing compensation claims processes;
b) Consultation and Liaison
To provide expert technical advice and support internally and externally by:
-Providing engineering expertise, counsel, training, and technical support to ministry staff and stakeholders regarding ministry electrical systems and a
broad range of issues concerning the application, interpretation, and implementation of electrical policies, standards, specifications, guidelines, and new
technologies
-Providing expert training to internal and external stakeholders on current and new policies, procedures, and technologies, by preparing educational
materials and conducting presentations;
-Investigating and resolving issues/concerns raised by regions, service providers, municipalities, utilities, and other transportation agencies;
-Investigating, analyzing, addressing, and formally responding to issues of public concern;
-Investigating, analyzing, and providing recommendations and advice to resolve construction and maintenance issues;
-Representing the section/Ministry on internal and external technical committees or task groups dealing with issues that have ministry/industry
implications and concerns. Participates in technical and standard setting committees (e.g. Illuminating Engineering Society, International Municipal
Signals Association, Canadian Standards Association);
-Participating in industry conferences, product demonstrations, and information seminars to gain and share expertise in state-of-the-art technology;
-Providing executive support to senior management and the minister's office through verbal and written briefings and by interfacing with the public,
industry and special interest groups directly or through ministerial correspondence.
c) Project Management
To provide project management for electrical policy and standards development and delivery, for the design, construction, operation and maintenance
of transportation related electrical infrastructure by:
-Leading and managing multiple concurrent electrical development projects;
-Working in close cooperation with all MTO specialty offices/sections (i.e. Highway Design, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Engineering, Traffic
Office, and Intelligent Transportation Systems) to incorporate and/or integrate with their standards and policies;
-Conducting investigations, collecting data, and analyzing documentation to identify electrical needs and deficiencies; to determine project scope, plans,
and strategies; and to prepare justification reports for operating or capital funding allocation;
-Liaising with internal and external stakeholders to coordinate project scheduling and program requirements, and to negotiate agreements;
-Performing and verifying economic analyses including design cost, construction cost, energy and maintenance cost, benefit-cost, and lifecycle cost
assessments;
-Performing services provider acquisition processes for the delivery of electrical engineering services, including scoping and terms of reference,
participating in the proposal evaluation and selection process, ensuring compliance with current ministry policies and practices, and preparing service provider appraisals;
-Managing, providing technical guidance, and overseeing the overall direction of engineering services assignments to ensure quality of deliverables,
compliance with relevant standards, practices and codes, and to monitor and track project status to ensure delivery on schedule, within budget and are
complete and accurately reflect the project scope and requirements;
-Presenting proposed new and/or revised electrical policies to senior management, municipalities and other agencies/stakeholders for approvals and
endorsement;
-Appraising engineering services providers' performance.

Staffing and Licensing :

-Incumbent must be licensed by the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO);
-Class "G" Driver's License to conduct field investigations, site inspections, and to attend off-site meetings.

Knowledge :

-Knowledge of the theories, principles, practices, and regulation/legislation (e.g. Ontario Electrical Safety Code, Occupational Health and Safety Act,
Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, Highway Traffic Act) of electrical engineering and other related areas as applicable to the design,
construction, operation and maintenance of highway electrical systems (e.g. highway lighting systems, traffic signal control systems, traffic data
collection, ferry dock and remote airport electrical facilities, power systems); to provide/apply in the development of electrical policies and standards;
and to provide expert training and knowledge transfer to internal staff and external partners/stakeholders;
-Knowledge of ministry policies, procedures, specifications, standards, and contracting methods; to provide technical guidance to ministry electrical
staff, professional engineering services providers, and contractors, to ensure uniformity and consistency in provincial electrical infrastructure;
-Interpersonal and negotiation skills to establish working relationships with and to negotiate agreements with internal and external stakeholders; this
requires written and oral communication skills to prepare technical reports, documentation, and presentations;
-Project Management and organizational skills to plan, schedule, and coordinate several concurrent projects; this requires knowledge of project
planning to organize, prioritize, lead and independently manage large complex electrical development projects;
-Knowledge of related fields such as electronic engineering, intelligent transportation systems, computer systems, communication systems, power
engineering, traffic engineering, civil engineering, highway construction practices, biology, and human factors;
-Knowledge of the ministry's mandate, organization, operations; policy review and revision process; and consultation, negotiation, and communication
skills in order to develop appropriate, effective, and convincing recommendations to management and others regarding the development/revision of
policies, standards, processes, and operating guidelines;
-Analytical and problem solving skills to define complex and specialized traffic safety and electrical design, construction, and maintenance issues (e.g.
hardware and software problems in the context of traffic signal and highway lighting applications, electrical hazards, lightning protection, power
conditioning, power outages/faults, induced/stray voltages); to manipulate and study collected data; and to investigate and determine alternatives, and
to recommend and implement solutions;
-Technical competency to understand and interpret engineering plans, details, wiring diagrams, technical reports and relevant legislation/regulations;
-Knowledge of economic analysis methods including design cost, construction cost, maintenance cost, benefit-cost, and lifecycle cost assessments;
-Knowledge of the operation and manipulation of computer software for engineering and operational design, design simulation/modelling, construction
contract preparation, and computer-aided design (CAD) software packages, in order to establish ministry standards for electrical design and contract
preparation;
-Operating computer systems and application software (e.g. word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation), to prepare briefing notes, reports,
recommendations, correspondences, and to create/update asset management inventory and file management
systems;
-Existing and emerging electrical and electronic technology (e.g. lighting, power generation/distribution/protection, control/communication systems,
vehicle detection systems), to lead and/or provide analysis/expert advice for the testing/evaluation and implementation of new devices or methods to
improve provincial highway, public and worker safety, and economic and energy efficiency.

Judgement :

-The position is under the general direction of the Head, Electrical Engineering, and the Senior Electrical Engineer - Policy; technical solutions and
advice are carried out within the broader framework of electrical engineering principles/practices, established legislation/regulations, and within
government administrative policies and procedures;
-Judgement is exercised in developing proposals and solutions which serve the long term objectives of the ministry, meet all safety criteria, and involve
stakeholders; in formulating viable solutions/alternatives to complex electrical engineering problems, considering all impacts and implications; in
resolving problems related to standards and policies that are encountered during the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of electrical
systems; recommendations made are accepted as being technically accurate, and in the best interest of the public;
-Judgement and decision making is exercised in the provision of expert consultation, advice, and recommendations to internal and external clients and
stakeholders; in representing the ministry at public consultations; in identifying the need to create, update or revise electrical policies and standards, and
to generate plans, and strategies for implementation; in the provision of verbal or written expert opinion on electrical engineering issues, and in
preparing material (e.g. briefing notes, minister's letters) for senior management;
-The position makes recommendations and creates policies on issues of political sensitivity (e.g. highway lighting warrant assessments, lighting
trespass, energy efficiency/reduction initiatives, environmental impacts, safety priorities, benefit-cost considerations in public safety);
-Judgement is used in evaluating and making decisions on the acceptance of service providers, construction materials/methods, products and systems
for use by the ministry, and considering their applicability to the ministry's present and future needs;
-Negotiation skills to present/debate complex issues to technical/non-technical audiences and facilitate resolution where there may be differing
viewpoints and/or in adversarial situations;
-Numeracy skills to perform, verify, and interpret economic analyses including design cost, construction cost, energy and maintenance cost, benefit cost,
and lifecycle cost assessments.

Accountability - Programs :

Accountable for:
-The development of new and updated electrical policies and standards; provision of support and training to ensure effective and efficient
implementation;
-The accuracy and completeness of the policies, standards and procedures produced; ensuring that ministry and other applicable requirements, codes,
legislation and regulation are incorporated; and ensuring ministry objectives and the safety of road users are protected;
-Providing expert analyses, opinions, and guidance; ensuring the accurate analysis of unconventional and complex problems, and the use of
appropriate methods of analysis evaluation/testing;
-Providing professional advice both internally and externally; and resolving problems pertaining to the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and
testing of electrical systems;
-Identifying, evaluating or developing new construction materials/methods, products, and electric/electronic systems for use in the management,
operation, and maintenance of transportation systems; devising and conducting field assessments, monitoring, tracking, and reporting on the
performance of trial equipment installations; evaluating and providing recommendation on applicability to the ministry's present and future needs;
-Reviewing engineering services provider applications to the ministry's Registry, Appraisal and Qualification System (RAQS), investigating service
provider non-compliance or poor performance, and pursuing penalties or performing compensation claims processes.

Accountability – Personnel :

Accountable for:
-Evaluating, recommending, and administering methods of service delivery procurement, through requests for proposals or quotations from engineering
services providers, retainer engineering services agreements, in-house staff, or through other staffing resource acquisitions methods;
-Providing leadership and technical direction to in-house staff, engineering services providers, contractors, and students;
-Monitoring and evaluating the performance of service providers and appraisal of their work;

Accountability - Finance and Materials :

Accountable for:
-Generating and reviewing financial assessments for cost implications of proposed or revised policies and standards, and trial equipment installations,
including: engineering design cost, construction cost, maintenance cost, benefit-cost, and lifecycle cost;
-Preparing funding justifications and requests, and forecasting financial needs for planning, development work, design, and construction;
-Generating scope and cost reports, risk assessments, and constructability reviews for capital construction projects;
-Developing and participating in asset management activities, and providing input to the capital construction plan, and operating budgets;
-Evaluating and recommending the most cost effective methods of procuring engineering design work, methods of construction, materials, and design
alternatives.

Accountability - Impact of Errors :

Errors in engineering support, technical guidance, and project management, have public safety, financial, social and environmental implications:
-Errors and misjudgement in the creation or revision of electrical policies and standards could result in traffic signal system and highway lighting system
installations that create hazardous conditions to motorists and pedestrians; degradation of the ministry's infrastructure assets, impacting system integrity
and reliability; and embarrassment to the government and ministry;
-The misinterpretation of technical requirements, or the application of improper materials or installation methods, could lead to violations of legislation or
regulations such as the Ontario Electrical Safety Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act, jeopardizing worker safety, public safety, and
construction schedules, leading to increased construction costs due to claims, change orders and addenda;
-Poor design standards could lead to increased maintenance costs due to the specification of inappropriate materials or non-optimal location of plant;
-Socially and environmentally irresponsible policy decisions could result in excessive light spill onto private property, violations of dark sky ordinances,
and negative ecological impacts to wildlife and ecosystems. This in turn may lead to public complaints, unnecessary expenditures to address concerns,
and embarrassment to the ministry;
-Errors or omissions in establishing financial assessment procedures including design cost, lifecycle cost, benefit-cost, and construction cost, could
result in ineffective allocation of financial resources.

Contact - Internal :

-Engineers, technicians, and project managers within Central Region, East Region, West Region, Northeast Region, Northwest
Region, and the Provincial Office;
-Senior management to present proposals to, to make recommendations to, to provide advice to, and to solicit input and endorsement on policy and
standards issues;
-Legal counsel in preparation of agreements, and the resolution of disputes and litigation;
-Other government officials (Minister's Office staff, MPPs, local governments) to provide technical advice related to electrical engineering issues and on
ministry policies, standards, and practices;

Contact - External :

-Engineers and technicians of engineering services providers, contractors, and utility and transportation agencies, to provide direction, advice and to resolve issues;
-Product manufacturers and distributors to obtain state-ot-the-art solutions to issues, and to generate new and innovative standards and methodologies
for trial and implementation;
-Representing the ministry on steering committees, task forces, professional associations.