Deputy Director of Engineering Projects

Statement of Duties

The City of Somerville is addressing a vital and urgent need to improve the quality of its aging infrastructure. Whether horizontal – sewer/water services, and streets – or vertical – buildings, and walls – the city is poised to make significant investments to improve service to constituents, provide quality space for users of our streets, and meet our climate goals (to name a few).

Essential Functions

• Manage the Engineering Division’s Engineering Projects Group of project managers, ensuring adherence to standards-of-practice for project management in infrastructure project execution.
• Analyze all outstanding obligations of the Capital Investment Plan (CIP) for risk and liability, advising Director of opportunities and potential failure points.
• Perform project portfolio analysis, including planning of near-term improvement projects, forecasting costs, making scope change recommendations, and helping translate the greater CIP into individual projects.
• Ensure that projects are designed, constructed, and completed in accordance with: Project goals established by the Infrastructure Department in coordination with other City departments and stakeholders with respect to quality of work, schedule, and budget, and Applicable Federal, State, and local regulations and design standards.
• Act as liaison to Engineering Services staff on behalf of project managers to ensure timely execution of outstanding project work.
• Responsible for routine decision making in all engineering projects, keeping Director informed. Obtain Director feedback in the most complicated decision making that impacts overall CIP portfolio.
• Manage, organize, coordinate, and monitor consulting teams of assigned projects including relationships with design professionals and contractors.
• Work with Administration & Finance to: Manage the Massachusetts General Law requirements for public procurement of services, including design professionals and construction contractors, Make suggestions of opportunities to limit risk and ensure compliance in procurement phase, Plan and apply funding source(s), inform a project budgets, and create a feedback loop to Project Managers for their execution of individual projects, and Track contract statuses, project budgets, invoice approvals, and spending schedules.
• Think critically about the complete project portfolio, including identifying risks, problem solving, researching, and implementing best practices, etc. Works to identify areas of synergy or impacts with other city projects and initiatives by engaging with staff in other Departments via formal structures, coordination meetings.
• Communicate effectively and persuasively in writing and in public speaking and presentations; interact with utility companies and other governmental agencies to coordinate work and obtain necessary permits, clearances, and applicable regulatory compliance requirements.
• 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.
• Work with Construction Liaison and Communications staff to interface with elected officials, community representatives, business owners, residents, and other stakeholders on project specific issues.
• Maintain contracts with special service providers, including on-call contracts, (e.g., engineers, surveyors, OPMs and construction managers) to ensure the delivery of quality capital projects and required services.
• Provide guidance, assistance, and recommendations to staff within the Engineering Division, Infrastructure Department and other City Departments relative to the design and construction of large-scale utility infrastructure projects, and develop solutions to infrastructure issues.
• Prepare for and attend public meetings, City Council meetings, etc. during and outside of regular work hours, at the direction of the Director.
• Draft City policies for various public infrastructure, contracting and issues related thereto.
• Analyze and prepare written reports on program and project performance using quantitative and qualitative analyses and other project management techniques.
• Aid the Director and coordinate with the Deputy Director of Engineering Services in the day-to-day management and operation of the department.
• Mentor engineering staff, conduct formal annual reviews, and provide guidance for their work in the absence of the Director, be able to collaborate & coordinate with the Deputy Director of Engineering Services to make decisions and communicate on behalf of the Engineering Department.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree (Master’s Degree preferred) in an Engineering discipline with seven to ten (7-10) years of experience in the engineering field, or 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.
• Knowledge, Abilities And Skill: Knowledge of civil engineering principles and practices such as roadway design and construction techniques, sewer design and construction, drainage design and construction, hydraulics and hydrology; knowledge of roadway, sidewalk, sewer, water and drainage maintenance and repair techniques. Ability to analyze water system flows and pressures and water main and water service design and construction. Ability to work independently; ability to maintain, manage, and organize records; ability to handle problems effectively in response to day-to-day crises; ability to communicate effectively and persuasively in writing and in public speaking and presentations; ability to operate a computer; ability to deal appropriately with City employees, City official, contractors, trades workers and the public. Ability to synthesize complex information. Ability to prioritize projects based on multiple factors, which may include political, financial, public health and safety, etc. Ability to analyze and explain financial implications of complex capital planning decisions. Ability to recruit and train employees, foster effective team relationships and communicate with direct reports in a clear and direct manner. Knowledge of all work-related software applications. Strong conceptual, analytical, verbal and written communication skills. Outstanding administrative skills, including the ability to produce, track, and manage multiple deliverables with overlapping deadlines in a high-performing environment. Excellent meeting facilitation skills. Bilingual language skills in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Creole or Nepali a plus.