Engineering Specialist II/III, Soil Conservation

About the role

The Howard Soil Conservation District is seeking an Engineering Specialist II/III to review various types of grading and development plans. The position requires considerable knowledge of the Howard County development review process, including all aspects of sediment and erosion control plan compliance.

Responsibilities

• Reviews sediment and erosion control plans for feasibility and for compliance with approved standards and specifications.
• Congrates with engineers, developers, inspectors, and citizens to help resolve violations, complaints or other problems associated with sediment and erosion control, storm water management and environmental impacts.
• Coordinates District plan review responsibilities with the Howard County Planning office and other departments.
• Reviews and develops pond designs for compliance with Maryland Small Pond Law and State Pond Safety Standards.
• Reviews plans for compliance with temporary storm water requirements.
• Conducts field investigations of environmentally sensitive areas such as floodplains, streams, wetlands and their buffers to determine category and extent.
• Occasionally delineates wetlands for Capital Projects and for certain agricultural or forestry uses.
• Attends Subdivision Plan Review Committee meetings, project meetings and other meetings as requested to represent the District.
• Prepares various reports and summaries and performs data entry.
• Skill in using standard computer programs such as TR-55, TR-20 and HEC-RAS, for calculating hydrologic and hydraulic quantities and characteristics.
• Proficiency in office software such as Word, Excel, and Adobe.
• Experience in soil conservation practice standards design and engineering.
• Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the construction of ponds, flood plain encroachments, wetland impacts, and stream changes; and of storm water management concepts.
• Knowledge of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Technical Manuals.
• Knowledge of the Howard County subdivision plan review process.
• Ability to interpret graphs, charts, and nomograms, and to solve algebraic formulas.
• Ability to read and interpret plan drawings.
• Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, particularly with engineers, architects, conservationists, developers, and landowners.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD or other design software and GIS systems such as ArcView, ArcMap, ArcGIS, and Property View.
• Knowledge of the County’s PDOX plan review system.
• Knowledge of engineering methods relative to the planning of soil and water conservation projects.
• Confirms Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC).
• Registered Maryland Licensed Professional Engineer or active pursuit of P.E. certification.

  Requirements

  • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Civil, Environmental, Agricultural or similar)
  • Three (3) years of experience in development plan review, engineering, or other related field.
  • Work experience may be substituted for education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

  Qualifications

  • Knowledge of State and County Sediment Control laws and regulations.
  • Knowledge of the Maryland Standards and Specifications of Erosion and Sediment Control.
  • Knowledge of the soil characteristics (Soil Survey) of the County.
  • Knowledge of District policies and procedures.
  • Knowledge of standard conservation practices and of the criteria utilized in various conservation studies.
  • Experience in design and construction of ponds and agricultural conservation practices.
  • Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the construction of ponds, flood plain encroachments, wetland impacts, and stream changes; and of storm water management concepts.
  • Knowledge of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Technical Manuals.
  • Knowledge of the Howard County subdivision plan review process.
  • Ability to interpret graphs, charts, and nomograms, and to solve algebraic formulas.
  • Ability to read and interpret plan drawings.
  • Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, particularly with engineers, architects, conservationists, developers, and landowners.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
  • Knowledge of AutoCAD or other design software and GIS systems such as ArcView, ArcMap, ArcGIS, and Property View.
  • Knowledge of the County’s PDOX plan review system.
  • Knowledge of engineering methods relative to the planning of soil and water conservation projects.
  • Confirms Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC).
  • Registered Maryland Licensed Professional Engineer or active pursuit of P.E. certification.