Job Specification

Job Summary :

To provide leadership, expertise and guidance, either in-house or through service providers, in project management, detailed structural designs of bridges and other transportation structures, production of contracts and safety assurance.

To provide project management leadership, expertise and guidance during phases of project of large size and complexity.

To provide technical guidance to professional structural engineers, technicians and drafters including assigning and checking work, audit inspections and liaises with internal staff, external agencies and the public on all matters related to highway structures.

Responsibilities :

1. Provides guidance to project staff on assigned projects including delegation of tasks, checking work, audit inspections, and establishing schedules and priorities. Provides input regarding capital and maintenance projects.

2. Leads and/or participates in project teams (Functional offices) in scoping out work and evaluating submissions for Expressions of Interest (EOI), Requests for Quotation (RFQ) and Requests for Proposal (RFP), review and acceptance of Quality Control Plans. Provides engineering expertise and guidance to project staff on a project basis, including consultants, contractors, fabricators, manufactures, students, staff, municipalities, agencies, other governments/jurisdictions on structural matters.

3. Administers consultant assignments; reviews professional engineering consultant submissions on specific projects; reviews submitted designs; provides recommendations for acceptance/rejection/amending of submitted work; identifies areas where improvements can be made; resolves problems, reviews final drawings/submissions and evaluates consultants' performance.

4. Conducts routine and emergency inspections structure inspections, co-ordinates inspections to be done by consultants, recommends repairs, prepares estimates and priority listings for Structural Maintenance and Capital/Preservation Management Programs. Prepares and/or co-ordinates designs, estimates, sketches and contract documents for specific repairs and supervises consultants retained for structural projects.

5. Prepares preliminary and final designs for complex new structures, rehabilitation of existing structures and co-ordinates the preparation of all related contract documents and drawings, ensuring appropriate technical codes, procedures, policies, standards, engineering data and legal requirements are reflected. Consults with Federal, Provincial and other agencies and authorities for approvals required for designs.

6. Carries out/coordinates through consultants the planning phase of structural projects through the preparation of feasibility studies, Structural Design Reports, Hydrology Reports and other required studies/reports for all types of transportation structures, recommends most feasible structure and methods of construction ensuring safety, adequacy and cost effectiveness of designs.

7. Carries out construction liaison activities on assigned projects or as required; reviews contractors' submissions, provides advice and resolves complex problems on-site, inspects quality of work for conformance to design and ministry policy, standards and specifications

8. Provides information and advice as requested by the Minister's Office, MPPs, political officials and external agencies by way of presentation, Briefing Notes and Minister's letters.

9. Participates in the negotiations of partnership/cost sharing agreements with municipalities and/or developers for highway structures. Responds to operational policy/procedural issues and provides input as requested.

10. Conducts research of published academic information such as journals, international and cross-jurisdictional practices relating to guidelines, design codes, engineering references, in order to apply fundamental engineering theories to specialized problems and provide options/recommendations.

Qualifications/Licenses :

Licensed Professional Engineer by Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO)
Valid Ontario Class “G” Driver's License

Knowledge :

Theories, principles and practices of civil engineering discipline and standard structural design concepts and practices for bridges and other transportation structures. This includes: Canadian Highway Design Bridge Code (CHDBC), structural maintenance inspections and designs, hydrology designs, structural long-range planning and detail planning to provide leadership, expertise in detailed structural designs of bridges and other transportation structures.

Highway design, soils, foundations, engineering materials, construction practices governing activities in the structural field.

Ministry standards governing planning, design, construction and maintenance to carry out project work ensuring conformance. Ministry administrative, financial and human resources policies and guidelines to estimate cost and provide financial analysis on a project basis.

Project management methodologies to manage several concurrent projects of large size and complexity; estimating resources and scheduling to ensure objectives and deadlines are met.

Procurement and contract management to develop and manage integrated project plans, plan and determine resources, and to provide advice and expertise on project planning and management.

Consultant management principles and practices to administer consultant assignments and oversee the work and approve submissions.

Risk management to identify and assess hazardous conditions and /or deficiency of existing structures and to recommend solutions.

Computers, structural analysis software, hydrology and CADD (Computer Aided Design and Drafting) program to carry out engineering calculations, structural and financial analysis and provide reports on all matters related to structural field.

Communication/Interpersonal Skills :

Consults with federal, provincial and other agencies and authorities for approvals required for designs, e.g., Navigable Waters Protection Act. Participates in the negotiations of partnership/cost sharing agreements with municipalities and or high structures developers.

Prepares preliminary and final designs for complex new structures, rehabilitation of existing structures and co-ordinates the preparation of all related contract documents and drawings. Develops presentations, prepares briefing notes and Minister's letters as requested to provide information and guidance.

Attends conferences as Regional representative and participates on a variety of inter/intra ministerial committees, professional, international and inter-provincial committees.

Communicates with regional and operational staff and officials to exchange information, discuss mutual problems and negotiate outcomes.

Communicates with consultants, contractors, officials from outside agencies and authorities, provincial and federal ministries, municipalities and the general public to provide advice on Regional structural matters.

Participates in the negotiations of partnership/cost sharing agreements with municipalities and/or developers for highway structures. Responds to operational policy/procedural issues and provides input as requested.

Problem Resolution and Analysis :

Assesses work completed by professional engineering consultants, suggests corrections or modifications in areas of uneconomical designs and non-compliance with ministry standards and specifications and evaluates consultants' performance.

Analyses feasibility studies, reports and recommends most feasible structure among transportation structures including methods of construction ensuring safety, adequacy and cost effectiveness of designs about future maintenance and environmental considerations.

Investigates and resolves construction problems and complex issues on site. Inspects quality of work for conformance to design and ministry policies and regulations. Identifies, analyses and responds to operational policy/procedural issues.

Identifies and assesses possible hazardous conditions and/or deficiency of existing structures and provides recommendations.

Scopes out project work and evaluates service providers' submissions.

Estimates costs and conducts financial analysis on project basis.

Conducts research of published academic information such as journals, international and cross-jurisdictional practices relating to guidelines, design codes, engineering references, in apply fundamental engineering theories to specialized problems.

Examines, assesses and resolves administrative and technical issues during all phases of projects.

Leadership/Guidance :

Responsible for leading projects of large size and complexity by acting as a project manager for engineering structural projects; preparing designs; leading assigned project team; providing cost estimates and financial analysis; overseeing consultant work; reviewing and approving submissions and providing guidance during all phases of the project.

Responsible for providing engineering expertise to project staff on a project basis, including consultants, contractors, fabricators, manufactures, students, staff, municipalities, agencies, other governments/jurisdictions on structural matters.

Responsible for providing guidance and expertise on effective structural planning, optimum structural repairs, maintenance inspections and designs, hydrology reports and structural designs.

Responsible for guiding, mentoring staff including delegation of, assigning and checking work, audit inspections, and establishing schedules and priorities.

Responsible for providing technical advice to internal staff, municipalities, consultants and outside agencies on structural engineering matters and production of designs and contracts.

Independence of Action :

Work is performed under the general direction of the Head, Structural Section within assigned objectives, priorities and limitations imposed by ministry's specifications, methods, procedures, criteria and provincial and federal legislation.

Work is performed with some latitude in dealing with deviations/departures from normal procedures and ambiguous application.

Exercises judgement in applying ministry processes, standards, practices, policies and engineering principles related to structures, hydrology planning and designs, varying structural maintenance problems and to the provision of structures consistent with the funds available, safety requirements and needs of interested parties.

Exercises judgement in researching innovative designs, use of materials and methods that extend beyond the application of standard practices and making decisions in refining proposed designs, or developing designs, options or other cost saving initiatives.

Exercises judgement and independence in affixing Professional Engineers' stamp on engineering work carried out.

Physical Effort :

Climbing, reaching, twisting or maintaining awkward body positions during in-house bridge, culvert, construction inspections.

Mental and Sensory Effort :

Job requires concentrated mental/sensory effort to develop technical materials, proposals, and review information and drawings.

Working Conditions :

Work is typically performed in an environment with regular exposure to disagreeable working conditions or hazards, such as site visits (inspections of structures and construction sites).