Division Chief, Utilities Division (Transportation Engineer Manager II Supervisor)

State Highway Administration’s Office of Construction, Utilities Division is currently recruiting for a Division Chief (Transportation Engineer Manager II Supervisor) in Anne Arundel County.

About the role

The Division Chief of Utilities serves as the Statewide Utility Engineer (SUE). This position administers the Utilities Program for the State Highway Administration (SHA) to plan, organize, implement, and supervise the interpretation and application of SHA utility policies, directives, and procedures. Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring highway standards are met and utility relocation costs are equitably distributed.
• Securing federal funds for relocation work.
• Administering SHA’s Resource Sharing Program for large department-wide information technology (IT) and telecommunications contracts, including interaction with MDOT modal IT teams and the Department of Information Technology (DoIT).
• Administering SHA’s Miss Utility Program, including management of the Miss Utility Ticket Tracking System (MUTTS) to ensure compliance with Title 12 of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
• Supervising staff activities related to utility facilities placed, removed, adjusted, or relocated in SHA right-of-way or construction projects.
• Overseeing third-party cost responsibility for utility work, including agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs).
• Developing goals, performance measures, and the Utility Program budget for the Utilities Team.
• Providing leadership in upper management for program review, evaluation, development, and coordination of utility initiatives.
• Mediating and resolving policy and procedural disputes between utility companies and SHA.
• Conducting meetings to train, educate, mentor, and provide technical expertise to SHA and utility companies.
• Acting as a liaison between SHA and utility companies to minimize utility impacts on construction projects and reduce delays and claims.
• Representing SHA at national and regional utility conferences and workshops.
• Co-chairing the Maryland Quality Initiative (MdQI) Utility Subcommittee and serving as Vice-Chair for Utilities on the AASHTO Subcommittee for Right-of-Way and Utilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering from an accredited college or university.
• Eight (8) years of professional engineering experience, including one (1) year of supervisory or consultant management experience.
• One (1) year of experience in professional construction and/or design project work involving utility planning, policies/procedures, design, coordination, relocation, and/or scheduling (selective qualification).
• Motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the state of Maryland.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate should demonstrate:

• Ability to interpret utility relocation and SHA construction plans.
• Problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong internal and external customer service skills.
• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

Additional notes:

• Additional work experience in professional engineering or technical engineering may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
• A master’s degree in engineering may substitute for one year of non-supervisory experience.
• Professional Engineers registered in Maryland or a state with comparable requirements meet the education requirements.

Benefits

MDOT offers a generous and competitive benefits package, including:

• Excellent health and leave benefits.
• 401k benefits and a pension plan.
• Free transit program.
• Advanced education and training opportunities.