Job Specification
Position Title:
Regional Engineering Supervisor - AMENDED
Job Code:
PME09 - Management Engineering PM-09
Purpose of Position :
To supervise and lead the strategic planning, project management and delivery of civil engineering and water resource management services in the Region. To act as Region engineering authority on worker safety and public safety at water control structures (e.g. dams & bridges), on standards for approvals under legislation/policies, and for the resolution of complex engineering problems, contractual and legal issues. To provide leadership for the provision of hydrogeological and other water resource expertise, support, policy interpretation and knowledge transfer to ministry program and regional/district staff.
Duties / Responsibilities :
Working in the Regional Operations Division, responsible for an Engineering Unit that delivers civil engineering and water resources management services, including policy interpretation, advice and hydrogeological assessments/recommendations, this position:
1. Leads, supervises and directs the work of full time and contract/temporary staff by making decisions and/or effective recommendations on hiring staff, performance reviews, merit increases, appointments to regular staff, promotions, demotions; approves career development courses, vacations, leaves and monthly attendance reports; deals with disciplinary and performance issues; and represents the Employer in responding to grievance situations. Reviews staff work to maintain engineering/technical, administrative and procedural standards.
2. Plans and implements the unit's work program, including target setting, work program planning, managing the section budget. Plans, implements and manages the budget for the region's Water Capital, Road Capital Program and other capital funding sources (e.g. MNDM, CBHC, environmental clean-up).
3. Provides a leadership role in the region for the development of long range (5 years) risk-based strategic approach to managing Crown assets such as dams, bridges etc.; participates in the development of divisional risk based strategic plans, rolling 5 year capital plans and asset management plans. Plans and manages operational activities, including scheduled inspections, dam safety reviews, water control structure maintenance, repair, replacement or decommissioning to maintain awareness of the condition of Crown assets and make adjustments to strategies/long range plans as needed.
4. Manages project, specialist consultant and contract management for major capital construction projects (e.g. water control structures, fishways, road and bridges) and for complex investigations or engineering projects. Plans and oversees all preliminary work (e.g. investigating and evaluating of alternatives, including the hydrogeological evaluation and development of recommendations on existing and anticipated impacts of development proposals on MNR interests such as aggregate extraction, ground water removals, highway developments; the planning and designing of projects; obtaining external approvals (e.g., EA, NWPA, DFO authorization); preparing cost estimates and work plan submissions; scheduling work; liaising with ministry ‘clients', private sector consultants and contractors). Leads, coordinates and/or prepares tender and contract documents, the selection and/or approval or recommendation of awards and the administration of contracts, including quality adherence, change orders, payments and acceptance; investigates, negotiates and resolves contractual and/or performance issues. Provides leadership in addressing Environmental Assessment coverage of capital projects.
5. Manages the response to regional/district requests for civil engineering/hydrogeological and water management support through the provision of engineering/technical expertise, policy/legislation interpretation, advice and guidance; and/or delivery of services (e.g. undertaking inspections, investigations; undertaking hydrogeological field investigations, including collecting field samples, observations and information; structural, hydrologic, hydraulic and coastal analyses; preparing conceptual and detailed designs; writing technical reports; preparing construction specifications for the construction, repair, replacement or decommissioning of structures such as bridges, dams, docks, culverts, buildings).
6. Reviews and issues plans and specifications approvals (e.g. dams, channelizations, culverts, watercourse enclosures and other in-water projects) under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act (LRIA), and provides direction on precautions to be taken related to construction of an emergency dam. Provides engineering/technical advice on approval requirements to districts, other ministries and external parties (e.g. municipalities, private developers, consultants, conservation authorities).
Provides input to the development of water management plans (e.g. complex and simplified plans). Oversees the conduct of compliance activities and the investigation of complaints related to water control and water management. Recommends use of discretionary powers under the Act.
7. Reviews and approves bridges, culverts and fords under the ministry's Bridge Policy. Provides engineering/technical advice to districts, other ministries and external parties about development on Crown Land and in Ontario's waters (e.g. approval of water power generation plants, mine tailing dams). Under the Public Lands Act, reviews and recommends approval of breakwaters, groynes and other erosion control works.
8. Leads and oversees technical support to districts and Conservation Authorities on the Natural Hazards Policy, the preparation of floodline mapping, hydrologic and hydraulic modelling, and implementation of the two zone floodway-flood fringe policy and Special Policy Areas where applicable. Provides engineering expertise/input for the development of strategies for the management of reservoirs in order to minimize flooding and erosion by assessing hydrologic and environmental conditions and liaising with key stakeholders. Assists in the maintenance of a flood forecasting and maintenance capability for areas outside of Conservation Authorities jurisdiction.
9. Serves as advisor to the Regional Director, Regional/District Managers and staff on legislation/policy interpretation and water resource management issues with a high engineering component. Develops materials to address issues (e.g. briefing notes, press releases, Minister's letters, communication plans) and recommends policy solutions to senior ministry management. Directs and participates on project teams and committees for regional/provincial issues requiring project design, project team leadership and presentation of team recommended options to senior management.
10. Provides accredited expert engineering evidence at hearings and in court (e.g. Ontario Supreme Court, Ontario Municipal Board, Mining & Lands Commissioner) on behalf of the ministry.
11. Organizes and chairs the Regional Dam Safety Forum in order to promote worker and public safety at Crown owned dams through a comprehensive and consistent approach to operation, maintenance, inspection, and management of Crown owned water control structures; to promote private dam safety through administration of the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act; and to promote emergency preparedness against dam failure emergencies to protect life and private property values.
12. Introduces new technology concepts to further resource management objectives (e.g. SAR eel passage techniques at water power generation stations), transfers new technology to advance resource management objectives. Leads and manages the development and implementation of information transfer and training programs on technical matters in the Region, including groundwater hydrogeologic and surface water functions, for ministry and non-ministry staff.
13. Builds and maintains effective working relationships within the ministry and externally. Maintains effective linkages, communication, dialogue and connections with counterparts in the region/other regions and with ministry policy and operational branches for consistency in the application of legislation/water resources management and issues management. Provides input into ministry policy development and other programs and initiatives (e.g. LRIA guidelines, dam safety, water management planning, renewable energy, emergency management and source water protection); assists with the development of Provincial positions, strategies and guidelines. Leads the development and implementation of operational guidance documents.
14. Ensures the effective delivery of an Occupational Health and Safety program that complies with the OHS Act and other related legislation, standards and management principles.
Knowledge :
Position requires a degree in Civil Engineering and full membership in the Professional Engineers of Ontario.
Work requires an advanced knowledge of civil engineering theory, principles and practices as applied to natural resource management and conservation with a focus on water resource management as well as good understanding of hydrogeological methods and techniques, to supervise and lead the strategic planning, the provision of expert advice/support, including expert engineering evidence at hearings/court, and delivery of civil engineering and water resource management services in the Region. Initiative is required to expand knowledge in a wide range of engineering areas to service the Region's present and future requirements.
Expert knowledge of and skills in implementing relevant federal (e.g. Fisheries Act, Navigable Waters Act) and provincial legislation (e.g. Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act (LRIA), Public Lands Act, OHSA, Class EA for Resource Stewardship, Environmental Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, Ontario Water Resources Act), regulations and ministry administrative and technical policies, standards and procedures to review and assess plans/specifications for construction and/or maintenance projects under legislation and issue/recommend approvals; and oversee compliance activities and investigations of complaints.
Knowledge of ministry/region mandate, objectives, programs and priorities to assess delivery of water management services and/or projects and identify where adjustments are needed. Knowledge of MNR and other ministry resource use programs/objectives (e.g. source water protection, protected areas, Ontario's biodiversity program, Species at Risk )to ensure these programs are aligned/supported by the civil engineering and project management activities of the unit and to provide suitable advice/technical support to regional/district managers and supervisors.
Knowledge of policies and guidelines related to human resources management, best practices and applicable Collective Agreement provisions for working conditions to effectively manage unit staff, including assessing performance and training needs and dealing with performance issues and grievances.
Excellent knowledge of project management principles, methodologies and practices to plan, design and manage various construction and/or specialized engineering projects and initiatives within the region that has provincial policy/program application.
Knowledge of government/ministry procurement and contract management policies, procedures and practices to manage the acquisition, selection/awarding and administration of major capital construction projects (e.g. dams, channelizations, culverts, watercourse enclosures and other in-water projects, bridges, culverts, fords), including monitoring progress, quality control, change orders, payments and acceptance.
Knowledge of budgetary and financial processes to prepare and implement project budgets and other capital funding sources (e.g. MNDM, CBHC, environmental clean-up), multi-year and annual work plans, and monitor/ report on budget allocations.
A working knowledge of: the Occupational Health and Safety Act, regulations under the Act, other related legislation, and standards and management principles that apply to the work supervised or controlled is required.
Strong demonstrated supervisory and leadership skills are required to direct, lead and supervise the work of a multi-disciplinary team of professionals.
Expert planning, conceptual and problem-solving skills to analyze/interpret legislation/policies related to plans and specifications approvals for construction projects, to investigate and evaluate design alternatives, identify complex and contentious water resource operational issues, determine cause and effect relationships and bring about resolution; and to deal effectively with complex engineering/technical issues and/or problems which may be politically sensitive and/or has potential impact on worker and public safety during construction, operation, maintenance, inspection and management of Crown owned water control structures.
Project management skills, coordinating abilities and results orientation to ensure that major construction, maintenance and inspection projects reach timely and successful conclusions.
Oral and written communication, interpersonal, consulting, facilitation, training and public consultation skills to effectively liaise and communicate with regional/district staff, consultants/contractors and external clients, to build consensus for proposals and present policy recommendations and team recommended options to senior management; to represent the ministry and engineering/water resource management perspectives when participating on project teams and committees; and to develop technical reports, briefing notes, make presentations, provide expert testimony and to make presentations, to provide effective recommendations to clients and training to MNR and other ministries staff.
Negotiation and facilitation skills are required to integrate opposing interests, engineering and technical opinions on complex water resource management or construction project issues and negotiate viable solutions.
Advanced planning, program development/delivery, organizational and coordination skills to: prepare budgets, annual work plans, monitor costs and targets; organize and co-ordinate staff schedules and ensure consistent application of policies and procedures in the region.
Knowledge of computers and relevant computer applications (i.e. CAD, specific engineering applications for planning, analyzing and managing projects and issuing approvals); and proficiency with the use of a variety of software (word processing, spreadsheets, project management, presentation) to prepare briefing materials, memos, reports, presentations and to use e-mail.
Position requires a valid driver's license, full class G or Ontario equivalent as significant travel in Southern Ontario is required.
Judgement :
Position works under the general direction of the Regional Services Manager in accordance with broad policy objectives, accepted professional/administrative standards, water resource management policies and legislation theories and within the principles and practices of engineering.
Considerable judgment is required in issuing plans and specification approvals and recommending refusals, orders or compliance action under the Lakes & Rivers Improvement Act and in recommending approvals under the Public Lands Act. Judgment is required to provide water management services within the region, including responding to requests from regional/district staff, to plan and oversee the conduct of inspections of existing and the review of proposed facilities and determining their adequacy to serve the intended purpose safely and effectively, to determine correct design and construction methods for new structures, making optimal use of budget /other capital funding sources and resources and in managing the procurement/tendering process for the delivery of construction projects and hiring consultants. Judgment is exercised in determining project priorities/deadlines, in managing the delivery of a diverse range of construction/maintenance/rehabilitation projects and ensuring alignment with region/ministry goals and directions; and providing direction and a comprehensive/consistent approach for worker and public safety at Crown owned dams during construction, operation, maintenance and/or inspections. Position must make final decisions to condemn structures, replace, repair, select design, etc. Limited technical guidance is available through engineering codes and legislation.
Position works with wide latitude to identify water resource management issues with high engineering components (e.g. flood risk assessment, water level management regimes) and provide strategic advice and policy interpretation to ministry senior management. Position also provides accredited expert engineering evidence at hearings and in court on behalf of the ministry.
Discretion is required when dealing with municipalities, private owners, contractors, advocacy and special interest groups related to legislation/policy interpretation, project plans/specification approvals, contractual issues and infrastructure (e.g. dams, road, bridges, culverts, waterways, etc.) problems.
Judgment is exercised in the application of human resources management legislation, policies, practices and guidelines for the supervision of professional and technical staff and dealing with employee issues.
Work is performed with a high degree of independence within administrative/budgetary guidelines as defined by the Regional Services Manager. Completed inspections, analyses, project conclusions and recommendations are recognized as authoritative and program responsibilities are reviewed for accomplishment of objectives.
Accountability - Programs :
Accountable for strategic planning, project management and delivery of civil engineering and water resource management services in the Region, including the quality of the design/analysis and issuing plan/specification approvals under legislation. Accountable for providing advice on engineering/water resource management and capital program issues to senior management, ministry staff, public stakeholders; for input into ministry policy development; and for the integrity, completeness and thoroughness of recommendations. Work is viewed as technically authoritative and final. Responsible for planning and delivering project outcomes within required timelines and giving expert advice on worker and public safety at water control structures, crown access roads, bridges and water crossings; for representing the ministry and ensuring that the implementation of the region's capital projects and risk-based strategic approach to managing Crown assets are complementary to the ministry's integrated and sustainable use of resources.
Accountability – Personnel :
Directly supervises 7 staff (4 Senior Project Engineers, 2 Engineering Technologists and 1 Regional Hydrogeologist). Schedules, assigns and reviews work, monitors progress, reviews/evaluates work performance, and deals with performance/ employee relations issues, including Stage 1 and Stage 2 grievances.
Accountability - Finance and Materials :
Accountable for planning, directing and managing the region's Water Capital, Road Capital Program and other capital funding sources, including monitoring expenditures and approving payments. Accountable for developing and administering a budget and controlling the financial and material resources of the unit. Manages the procurement and contract management process, selection and awarding of contracts/tenders and administering the contracts.
Accountability - Impact of Errors :
Failure to deliver effective water resource management services could result in not being able to meet ministry and government resources management commitments or result in inadequate safeguards to ensure the sustainability of Ontario's lands and natural resources. Errors in design/analysis or management of Capital Projects could lead to structure failure risking the life of employees and the public, severe environmental damage, damage to private and public property, excessive construction costs, unnecessary work, contractor's claims against the ministry. Errors in the provision of expert engineering advice, policy interpretation and responsible policy recommendations, proposed solutions and communications could result in loss of credibility to the ministry, the government and lead to public embarrassment.
Contact - Internal :
Frequent contact with provincial counterparts, regional management/staff and Head Office (e.g. program, legal) to provide advice, project coordination and recommendations to address water resource management/capital project issues, strategies and plans or to provide information about designs or approvals . Regular contact with district managers to provide advice, technical support and respond to requests for engineering/water management services and for issue resolution. Regular contact with managers of ministries (e.g. Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Ministry of Transportation) to provide direction, or advice, or to exchange technical information and discuss and resolve problems of mutual concern, or to provide information about designs or approvals. Frequent contact with ADM, DM's office related to approvals for large projects or regarding issues management. Participates on inter/intra ministry committees.
Contact - External :
Regular contact with consulting engineers, contractors, industry representatives (e.g. Forests, Water Power), agencies (e.g. Conservation Authorities), the federal government (e.g. Transport Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans) and municipalities to provide direction, or advice, or exchange technical information, discuss and resolve problems of mutual concern or to provide information about designs or approvals . Irregular contact with the public and media about projects and policies.