Job Specification

Purpose of Position :

To assist in the planning and design of transportation projects by participating in the preparation of planning and design reports, contract plans and documentation required for the delivery of the multi-year capital construction program.

Duties / Responsibilities :

Assisting Senior Designer in compiling and/or preparing preliminary reports to document the recommended design for reconstruction of highways and/or planning of roadway improvements by assembling and analyzing available data; investigating preliminary design alternatives, including interpreting traffic data and calculating traffic capacity; determining the geometric design standards to be used in the development of the design criteria; defining associated constraints and preparing comparative cost estimates; preparing display and presentation material for various hearings, meetings with senior ministry staff, the public, property owners, municipalities; and ensuring that required pre-contract engineering information is prepared.

Providing technical advice and administrative support to project management staff/project lead by participating in the preparation of requests for expressions of interest, quotations and proposals.

Liaising with relevant internal sections (e.g. Geotechnical, Construction, Structural Sections) regarding technical input (e.g. soils, asphalt design, hydrology, hydraulics, structures, environmental aspects, traffic data) for contract requirements. Providing technical advice to senior Planning and Design Section staff on corridor control matters such as subdivisions, commercial development, building and entrance permit applications with regard to highway capacity and the safety of the travelling public.

Providing assistance to the Senior Designers and project management staff/project lead in the preparation of schedules for the design team members by detailing and estimating quantities by providing project updates and accomplishments in order to complete projects in allotted time frames.

Participating in the preparation of contract drawings and documents for the construction of transportation projects by assembling and analyzing all available base material relative to the project.

Staffing and Licencing :

N/A

Knowledge :

Job requires knowledge of highway planning and design principles/ engineering theory to assist in the preliminary and final plans/ documentation, preliminary design reports, design criteria, justification reports and project appraisal reports by considering available data such as mosaics, plans, area planning studies, traffic data, property plans, municipal reports and other relevant documentation.

Job requires knowledge of mathematics, algebra and trigonometry related to highway geometric layout and quantity estimation to assist in the preparation of contract packages by analyzing data to determine the geometric design; interpreting traffic data and calculating traffic capacity, assured passing opportunity and levels of service; considering such factors as horizontal/ vertical alignment, cross sections, structure requirements, intersection/ interchange layout, property requirements, access, proposed road closings.

Skills :

Job requires analytical and evaluative skills in selecting feasible planning and design alternatives for inclusion in preliminary design reports and contract packages with respect to the design or reconstruction of highways and in the planning of highway roadway improvements. Job requires the ability to complete field reviews of highway features under direction/guidance of senior staff.

Job requires carrying out investigation of design alternatives, definition of associated constraints, evaluation criteria, and evaluation methodology to determine the applicable geometric design standards that will be utilized for the preliminary and detail design.

Job requires the operation of computerized drafting software. Job requires appraising horizontal and vertical alignments, applicable cross-section, structure requirements, intersection and interchange layouts, property requirements, and assessing locations to determine the level of data/detail required for the inclusion in the design of a project.

Job requires use of technical terminology to communicate, both orally and in writing, for the purpose of obtaining information from internal sections/offices and external agencies and supplying information to engineering consultants and their staff in order to assist in the resolution of issues/concerns related to contract preparation and documentation; to liaise with municipal employees on matters related to work project issues such as municipal drains, co-operative work projects, property needs. Job requires writing skills for assisting with, the preparation of reports such as Project Appraisal Reports, Preliminary Design Reports, Design Synopsis Reports, Consultant Appraisals.

Job requires interpersonal skills to discuss technical aspects of specific work projects with engineering consultants, municipal employees, other sections/offices of the ministry.

Freedom of Action :

Job requires assisting in the preparation of preliminary and detail design 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 with ministry standards, practices and procedures for the various deliverables from engineering consultants in consultation with senior team members. Work is reviewed by Senior Designer on completion of various components of project. Job requires seeking technical advice from Senior Designer and/or supervisor.