Assistant County Engineer

This class aims to perform professional civil engineering work in the design, development, review, and coordination of County road paving and resurfacing projects. The Assistant County Engineer manages State C Grant funds and federal entitlement funds for transportation projects and assists with other County capital improvement projects. This position involves planning, designing, and managing transportation and infrastructure projects across Richland County, ensuring quality construction and compliance, and working closely with staff, contractors, and public stakeholders. This class works within broad policy and organizational guidelines and does independent planning and implementation, reporting the progress of major activities through periodic conferences and meetings.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Management:

• Perform professional civil engineering work in designing and developing County transportation and other capital improvement projects.
• Develop and administer long-range paving and resurfacing plans for Richland County.
• Prepare and manage project budgets, invoices, and financial reports.
• Administer State “C” Grant and federal entitlement funds for transportation projects.
• Prepare requisitions and approve pay requests/invoices; prepare financial reports as required.

 

Team Supervision:

• Supervise the work of subordinate technical staff; supervisory duties include instructing, planning, and assigning work, reviewing work, maintaining standards, coordinating activities, allocating personnel, selecting new employees, acting on employee problems, and recommending and implementing employee discipline as appropriate.
• Review subordinates’ work for completeness and accuracy; evaluate performance and make recommendations for improvement; and offer training, advice, and assistance as needed.
• Participate in hiring and personnel management.

 

Procurement and Contract Administration:

• Develop requests for proposals (RFPs) for engineering design services for paving, resurfacing, road reconstruction, airport construction, and traffic studies.
• Evaluate bids and proposals; recommend vendors.
• Review proposals and construction bids and make recommendations regarding the procurement of services.
• Manage contracts for engineering design and construction.
• Administer engineering design and construction contracts.

 

Engineering Design and Review:

• Review plans and specifications for paving/resurfacing/reconstruction and related construction activities.
• Develop and design various solutions to engineering problems; seek alternatives to designs and submit plans for approval.
• Provide technical solutions to road and infrastructure problems.
• Review and approve encroachment permit applications.

 

Construction Oversight:

• Attend and participate in pre-bid and pre-construction meetings.
• Inspect construction work in progress and at completion for compliance with established policies, procedures, regulations, codes, contracts, and standards of quality and safety.

 

Public Engagement and Coordination:

• Receive and respond to paving, resurfacing, and other road-related requests from County citizens.
• Respond to public inquiries and road-related service requests.
• Coordinate projects with other County departments and other local/state/federal agencies, as well as contractors, developers, engineers, land surveyors, architects, attorneys, environmental agencies/special interest groups, and other parties as necessary.
• Receive and respond to inquiries, concerns, complaints, and requests for assistance regarding areas of responsibility.

 

Data and Reporting:

• Using ArcGIS and other GIS applications, manage data collection and analysis activities related to the Pavement Management System and Unpaved Road Management System.
• Use GIS tools (such as ArcGIS) to manage pavement and unpaved road data.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date project records and documentation.
• Report project progress and challenges to leadership.
• Inform the County Engineer, Director of Public Works, Assistant County Administrator, and others of project progress and any potential problems.

 

Administrative and Professional Development:

• Perform general administrative work as required, including attending meetings, preparing reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, preparing spreadsheets and presentation materials, copying and filing documents, etc.
• Prepare reports, presentations, spreadsheets, and correspondence.
• Attend meetings, training sessions, and professional development events.
• Attend professional conferences, meetings, training, seminars, etc., to maintain and enhance job knowledge and skills.

 

REQUIREMENTS

Certifications and Licenses

• Valid South Carolina driver’s license.
• Must obtain Professional Engineer (PE) license in South Carolina within 12 months of hire.

 

Experience

• Requires four years of experience in an engineering-related profession.

 

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficient in engineering design software, GIS applications, and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Strong leadership and supervisory capabilities.

 

Working Conditions

• Mostly office-based, with field inspections as required.
• May be exposed to weather elements, construction noise, and site hazards.
• Light physical work with occasional lifting (up to 20 lbs).

 

Involvement with Data, People, and Things

• Data Involvement: This requires planning or directing others in the sequence of major activities and reporting on operations and activities that are very broad in scope.
• People Involvement: Requires supervising or leading others by determining work procedures, assigning duties, maintaining harmonious relations, and promoting efficiency.
• Involvement with Things: Requires the application of custom or commercial engineering or other complex software or systems; responsible for public acquisitions and construction projects, including preparing specifications for contracts for goods and services.

 

Cognitive Requirements

• Reasoning Requirements: Requires performing work involving the application of principles of logical thinking or scientific practice to diagnose or define problems, collect data, and solve abstract problems with widespread unit or organizational impact.
• Mathematical Requirements: Requires using advanced calculus using such factors as limits, real number systems, mean values, algebraic functions including very complex functions, inferential statistics, and econometrics.
• Language Requirements: Requires reading professional literature and technical manuals, speaking to groups of employees and other public and private groups, and writing manuals and complex reports.
• Mental Requirements: Requires doing professional-level work requiring the application of engineering methods in the solution of technical or administrative problems; requires extensive understanding of operating policies and procedures and ability to apply these to complex issues; or the coordination of sub-professional work in these disciplines; requires continuous, close attention for accurate results and frequent exposure to unusual pressures.

 

Physical and Dexterity Requirements

• Requires light work that involves walking or standing much of the time and involves exerting up to 20 pounds of force regularly, or skill, adeptness, and speed in the use of fingers, hands, or limbs on repetitive operation of mechanical or electronic office or shop machines or tools within moderate tolerances or limits of accuracy.

 

Environmental Hazards

• The job may risk exposure to bright/dim light, dusts and pollen, extreme heat and/or cold, wet or humid conditions, extreme noise levels, vibration, fumes and/or noxious odors, traffic, moving machinery, electrical shock, heights, and toxic/caustic chemicals.

 

Sensory Requirements

• The job requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing and speaking abilities, depth perception, and color perception.

 

Judgments and Decisions

• Responsible for actions of others, requiring almost constant decisions affecting co-workers, customers, clients, or others in the general public; works in a moderately fluid environment with guidelines and rules, but frequent variations from the routine.

 

ADA and EEO Statement

Richland County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.