Job Specification
Position Title:
Area Manager, Highway Engineering
Job Code:
PME09 - Management Engineering PM-09
Purpose of Position :
To manage and direct the activities of the Highway Engineering Area within the Planning and Design Section. To act as management representative for the region, division and ministry on committees, task forces and in proceedings for policy and technical matters involving highway engineering.
Duties / Responsibilities :
Generally administers the Provincial Transportation System in a specific geographic area of the Region by ensuring;
• The management of subordinate staff by organizing, directing, selecting, managing performance, setting performance standards, developing, hiring, promoting, disciplining, ensuring OHS compliance etc.; ensuring adherence to employment equity principles and practices; ensuring maintenance of state-of-the-art technical expertise in own Area;
• The development and approval of environmentally acceptable long range network engineering and right-of-way requirements;
• The cost-effective improvements and expansion of transportation corridors consistent with user demand, environmental requirements, and provincial engineering standards and practices
• The compatibility of public and private development on or adjacent to existing and future rights-of-way and administers complex corridor control issues within a designated geographical area.
• Oversees the management of and directs the activities of the Highway Engineering Area and ensures all services are provided economically and in accordance with Ministry policy, including providing direction to staff; planning and providing for employee education and training.
• Supervises the acquisition of engineering consulting services as required to support Ministry program delivery requirements for capital and maintenance projects including identifying technical work requirements for terms of reference; using technical judgement to evaluate professional/technical qualification and submissions from engineering consultants and recommending selection; monitoring and evaluating consultants' performance, cost and project delivery schedule.
• Oversees the management and direction and ensures that consultant designs are acceptable relative to public safety and provide value for money.
• Establishes long range highway planning priorities, ensures the establishment of long range network engineering and right of way requirements, and ensures approval in accordance with the Environmental Assessment Act.
• Recommends and negotiates regional priorities for corridor improvements and expansion in the development of the Capital Construction Program.
• Ensures receipt of Railway Crossing Board Orders, Interprovincial Pipeline Crossing Orders, etc., issuance of Drainage Petitions, and other external approvals.
• Ensures receipt of Ontario Municipal Board Road Closing Orders, and the provision of justification at Ontario Municipal Board hearings, if requested.
• Approves property acquisition and disposal requests, and ensures the provision of justification at Hearings of Necessity, if requested.
• Coordinates timely responses to Ministerial/Governmental, public, media and Freedom of Information enquiries.
• Ensures that engineering proposal and designs are developed in accordance with applicable statutes and regulations (i.e. Railway Crossing Board Orders, Interprovincial Pipeline Crossing Orders, Drainage Petitions, Environmental Assessment Act, etc.)
• Establishes, recommends, and controls the Area's objectives and priorities, recommends staff complements, and engineering assignments to Ministry staff and to Consulting Engineers.
• Directs the preliminary and detail design of all transportation facility projects, including the preparation of contract drawings and documents.
• Recommends and supervises transportation network concept planning studies, feasibility studies, route location studies and preliminary design studies.
• Reviews proposal/recommendations and provides a high level of administrative, technical, and engineering advice, and policy /procedure direction.
• Supervises the application of new technologies in Highway Engineering and the development of necessary staff skills.
• Supervises the implementation and application of new methodologies, techniques, and policies (e.g. Total Project Management and Design-Build) and program delivery, Value Engineering, and the development of necessary staff skills.
• Participates on, and leads, regional committees involved in highway infrastructure management, capital programming, pre-contract design and post construction review.
• Represents regional interests in policy development by providing operational comments, input and critique on matters related to highway engineering.
• Provides technical advice/services to Ministry personnel and external agencies including contractors, consultants, municipalities, commissions, associations, lawyers and the public, as required or directed.
• Manage, develop, monitor and control annual budget(s) and submits to Manager for approval; allocate resources and monitor expenditures.
• Performs managerial functions such as Chairing selection panels for hiring of staff; conducting performance appraisals/assessments and required follow-up; recommending promotions and merits; approving leaves of absences/overtime; administering discipline where required; managing the illness and injury program; and responding to grievances at first stage.
• Participates in the Regional Management Team as required - makes effective recommendations concerning strategic Resources planning, allocations, business restructuring initiatives and confidential matters such as strike contingency planning.
• Represent the ministry as required at legal proceedings, public hearings, meetings, etc. to provide support to project staff or to give evidence as an expert witness.
Staffing and Licensing :
- Must be licensed by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO).
Knowledge :
- Work requires advanced knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of Civil Engineering, with an emphasis on highway engineering and with knowledge of related fields (such as geotechnical and foundation engineering, traffic engineering, structural engineering, electrical engineering, hydraulic engineering, environmental engineering, and construction practices), including related Legislative Acts (Environmental Assessment Act, Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act, Drainage Act, Planning Act, Freedom of Information Act, etc.).
- Work also requires a highly developed knowledge of management techniques, ministry organization and programs, policies, procedures and standards, and a practical knowledge of economics and budgeting.
- Skill is required in developing objectives and in assessing programs and engineering/management-related policies and recommendations.
- Skill is also required in integrating opposing interests and professional opinions on complex issues and in establishing effective working relationships with associates, senior officials, and the public.
- Work requires a working knowledge of ministry's engineering policies and procedures, standard specifications, design and construction standards, and automated engineering systems.
- Skill is required in developing objectives, negotiating priorities, assessing the implications of ministry/regional policies in terms of program delivery and resource utilization and in assessing recommendations.
- Communication and presentation skills are required to make presentations, to represent the ministry as an expert witness at inquests, hearings of discovery, Ontario Municipal Board hearings, hearings of necessity, etc., and to provide sound and accurate engineering, technical, and administrative direction to staff and to consultants.
- Political acuity and conflict resolution skills are required to effectively deal with difficult stakeholders in confrontational situations and coach staff who are also required to deal with the same.
- Knowledge and skill is required in management techniques, programs, standards, administrative procedures and estimating, resources planning, including the application of effective human resources principles/practices, ministry policies, and procedures, applicable collective agreements to manage the activities of area staff.
- Knowledge of land use planning, economics and budgeting and well-developed managerial, administrative and organizational skills to manage material, financial and human resources.
- Work requires the ability to establish effective working relationships with staff, colleagues, associates, senior officials, developers, municipalities, government agencies and the public.
Judgement :
- Initiative and judgment are exercised in establishing regional long range planning priorities, identifying transportation needs, assessing alternative design proposals, in recommending cost effective construction priorities, in organizational development and product improvement, in establishing budgets, and in resource allocation and development.
- Initiative and judgement are also exercised in assessing and approving/recommending solutions to complex engineering problems involving public safety and to substantiate development proposals on or adjacent to existing and future rights-of-way.
- Judgement is required in approving/recommending and providing justification for engineering solutions which may deviate from ministry standards, guidelines, or practices.
- Judgement is exercised in assessing and recommending property acquisition and disposal requests.
- Judgement is also required in recommending regional policy and procedures, and in providing advice and direction relative to defensible evidence for use at hearings/inquests, and/or acting as an expert witness.
- Judgement is required in assessing the appropriateness of corridor control criteria, in approving/rejecting unusual/sensitive development proposals.
- Judgement is required to provide the best practice in management of engineering tasks by assigning the proper human resources and recommending the appropriate budgetary resources.
- Judgement is required to provide the best practice in management of conflicts to address contractual, political and ethical concerns.
- Judgement is exercised in making hiring, appraisal, training, disciplinary decisions, in organizing and managing resources, determining and implementing staff development needs, establishing and controlling budgets, and resolving sensitive human resource issues.
Managerial decisions are made within administrative and budgetary guidelines defined by the regional director or office manager. Managerial decisions are accepted as valid and are reviewed only for conformity with ministry policies.
Work is performed with a high degree of independence within overall ministry policies, design standards and budgets and with access to consultative advice from various ministry specialists.
Engineering recommendations and decisions are accepted as valid and authoritative and are reviewed mainly for overall effectiveness and for conformance with policy and budget constraints.
Accountability - Programs :
The position is accountable for the provision , development, and overall professional engineering oversight and management of a resource of professional engineers and technical staff capable of handling all aspects of highway planning, design and corridor control; the position is accountable for the efficient/effective operation of the area by performing managerial functions such as approving merit increases, transfers, promotions, attendance, discipline, responding to grievances, delegation of work, determining the hiring of staff to carry out the responsibilities of the area; determining work methods, conducting performance planning and assessments, assessing training needs and implementing training plans; and handling sensitive employee relations issues.
The position is accountable for approving production schedules, recommending manpower and resources to achieve program objectives, ensuring the accurate preparation of engineering proposals and providing sound engineering, technical, and administrative advice and direction to individuals and offices both within and outside of the ministry, including testimony at board/court hearings and coroner's inquests.
The position is accountable for ethical professional conduct and proper business practices in the Area's activities by supervising staff and directing their work to comply with Ministry policies, industry practices and accepted engineering principles.
Accountability – Personnel :
The position is accountable for the proVISion , development, a•nd overall professional engineering oversight and management of a resource of professional engineers and technical staff capable of handling all aspects of highway planning, design and corridor control; the position is accountable for the efficient/effective operation of the area by performing managerial functions such as approving merit increases, transfers, promotions, attendance, discipline, responding to grievances, delegation of work, determining the hiring of staff to carry out the responsibilities of the area; determining work methods, conducting performance planning and assessments, assessing training needs and implementing training plans; and handling sensitive employee relations issues.
The position is accountable for approving production schedules, recommending manpower and resources to achieve program objectives, ensuring the accurate preparation of engineering proposals and providing sound engineering, technical, and administrative advice and direction to individuals and offices both within and outside of the ministry, including testimony at board/court hearings and coroner's inquests.
The position is accountable for ethical professional conduct and proper business practices in the Area's activities by supervising staff and directing their work to comply with Ministry policies, industry practices and accepted engineering principles.
Accountability - Finance and Materials :
Position is accountable for delivering the capital construction program (in tens of millions of dollars) consistent with the published public commitments.
Position is accountable for the development and monitoring of annual work plans and budget estimates, and allocating positions accountable for resources accordingly. The position is accountable for Planning & Design cost centre budgets and Construction Program budgets, staffing and other resources required, development of capital programs, changes to Area objectives and the training and development of staff.
Position controls an annual multi-million dollar consultant engineering budget, by supervising consultant acquisition processes undertaken by assigned staff, ensuring consultant performance is evaluated, mediating disagreements on fees and assessments and ensuring timely payment of invoices.
Accountability - Impact of Errors :
Errors in judgment or improper application of policies, etc., could result in an inefficient organization, in unsafe highway operations, in excessive construction problems and claims, in significant financial losses to the Ministry, poor public image, loss of confidence, and labour relations issues and grievances. Decision errors could result in delays and claims by contractors, hazardous situations, financial loss, loss of credibility of the Engineering Office and serious embarrassment to the Ministry, labour relations issues and grievances.
Highly sophisticated public, media, special interest groups, and elected officials within the Region result in increased visibility and scrutiny of the Ministry's efforts.
Contact - Internal :
Within the Ministry, work requires regular contact with associates and senior officials to obtain approval, clarify policy, and provide information, as well as attending meetings with the Minister in dealing with various delegations explaining various projects and issues. Work requires contact with human resources and manager to exchange information, obtain advice to ensure compliance to collective agreements, human resources policies/practices in dealing with employee relations issues.
Work requires contact with union representatives and human resources and manager to exchange information, obtain advice to ensure compliance to collective agreements, human resources policies/practices in dealing with employee relations issues.
Contact - External :
Work requires regular contact outside the Ministry with senior officials of other Ministries, Municipalities, Agencies, and with elected representatives at all levels to clarify the Ministry's position, exchange information, provide interpretation of Highway Engineering policies and procedures, and generally resolve mutual concerns. Contact is also necessary with various news media, contractors, engineers, members of the real estate industry, private industry and members of the public at large to provide information and resolve concerns. In addition, contact is required with senior officials of consulting engineering firms to negotiate fees, negotiate extra work, and to resolve financial concerns.