Engineering Project Manager

Somerville is a city that upholds progressive principles for both employees and residents alike. If you are looking for a culture that embraces innovation, empowerment, and collaborative involvement, Somerville not only embraces these talents but encourages them. Creative, hands-on collaboration with passionate dedication are at the core of the City’s workplace culture.  Challenging and fast-paced, Somerville also offers a generous benefits package that embodies a strong work-life balance. Not only is it a “Model City”, as termed by The Boston Globe, but it is also a model employer.

Statement of Duties

The Engineering Project Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating large infrastructure improvement projects, such as major sewer separation, streetscape, utility relocation, pipeline rehabilitation and storm water management projects. This position coordinates and directs all activities involved in the implementation and completion of planning, design and construction projects including but not limited to:  defining and controlling scope, schedule, budget, design review, and construction compliance. 

Essential Functions:

• Oversee the planning, design and construction of municipal utility improvement projects including roadway, sidewalk, water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
• Manage, organize, coordinate and monitor activities of consultants, design professionals, contractors, City staff, outside agencies and other project professionals to insure that construction projects are designed, conducted and completed in accordance with goals established by the Engineering Department with respect to quality of work, schedule and budget.
• Coordinate with the Engineering Department, the Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development, the Office of Sustainability and Environment, and other City departments to implement project design standards and recommend critical design elements in the planning of the City’s transportation and utility system infrastructure. 
• Work cooperatively with other City employees and private organizations to facilitate project implementation and completion.
• Interact with utility companies and other governmental agencies to obtain necessary permits and clearances and to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Meet and work with elected officials, community representatives, business owners, residents and other stakeholders to review proposed projects and activities, address questions and comments and educate community on the value and need for proposed projects.
• Attend and manage public meetings outside of regular work hours.
• Solve problems and work through unusual situations using professional judgement and by adapting methods or interpreting instructions to resolve a particular problem.
• Exhibit judgment and ingenuity to develop new or adapt existing methods and approaches for accomplishing objectives or to deal with new or unusual requirements within the limits of the guidelines or policies.
• Develop program and project budgets, schedules, work plans, and cost estimates and projections.
• Manage projects through the public procurement process including bidding and construction.
• Review and approve Amendments and Change Orders on design and/or construction projects.
• Review and approve Contractors’ Certificates for Payment and/or consultant invoices.
• Analyze and prepare written reports on program and project performance using quantitative and qualitative analyses and other project management techniques.
• Demonstrate continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, and streamline work processes.
• Plan and execute the design and construction of municipal utilities in conformance with Federal, State and local regulations and design standards ensuring that the work meets or exceeds expectations.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications                                      

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Civil/Environmental Engineering or Management with seven to ten (7-10) years of related work experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Special Requirements

• Professional Engineer’s License in Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
• Valid Class D driver’s license

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Knowledge of the principles and practices of engineering, research methods and report presentation; knowledge of the  principles and practices of project management, work breakdown structures, communications planning, team management, scheduling, budgeting, accounting and finance methods; knowledge of environmental laws and regulations as they pertain to municipal water and sewer system design, construction and operation; knowledge of applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations related to engineering, environment, ADA compliance, infrastructure and procurement; knowledge and expertise with various local, state and federal funding mechanisms for infrastructure.

Abilities: Ability to produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar; use and interpret graphical information such as construction plans, schematic drawings, flow charts, layouts and other visual aids, and electronic project management applications; interpret information accurately and make decisions according to existing laws, regulations and policies; ability to manage multiple projects of various complexities with competing interest and multiple funding sources

Skill: Proficient communication skills, both verbal and written as well as the ability to deal with the public in tense situations; proficiency with computers in all office software along with various engineering software applications like GIS or Arc View. Multilingual ability in Spanish, Portuguese, and/or Haitian-Creole is preferred but not required.

Work Environment
The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices; field work will require exposure to outside elements.  Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant.  Work may require some agility and physical strength, such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain, or standing or walking most of the work period.  Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments.

Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills
Employee will spend time in the office and in the field during construction projects.  Work effort involves an equal mix of sitting, standing and walking to perform work tasks. Work requires some agility such as moving in or about construction sites or over rough terrain. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as books, office equipment, and computer paper (up to 30 lbs).  During construction season, employee may be standing for periods longer than two to three (2-3) hours at a time and may encounter inclement weather.

Motor Skills
Duties may involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples include operating a motor vehicle, using a personal computer, or climbing a ladder.

Visual Skills
Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes, making detailed visual observations, and routinely reviewing non-written materials such as maps and blueprints for analytical purposes; the employee is required to determine color differences.

Send your resume and cover letter by April 6, 2018 to:

City Hall Personnel Office
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville MA 02143
Fax: 617-666-4426
TTY: 1-866-808-4851
Email: employment_opportunities@somervillema.gov

City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request.

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at 617-625-6600 x2323 or NSalamoun@somervillema.gov.