Senior Project Engineer

The City of Kirkland's Public Works Department is seeking to hire a Senior Project Engineer!

The Public Works Department ensures the City's infrastructure remains safe, functional, and sustainable. It oversees vital services including stormwater management, transportation, water and wastewater systems, maintenance of streets and grounds, and capital improvement projects.

As the City's largest department, we are committed to the City's vision and the Department's mission. We play a vital role in making Kirkland livable, sustainable, and connected. We are City employees who take pride in being trusted stewards of the public's resources, infrastructure, environment, and quality of life.

We have a One Team approach, strive for excellence and attract, value, and keep diverse, talented employees.

Why Kirkland?

• Provides administrative, design and construction management services for water, sewer, surface water, and transportation capital improvement projects.
• Plans, distributes, and coordinates project assignments and work loads among the Project Engineers, Inspectors, Engineering Assistants and other support staff.
• Functions as technical resource to peers, providing leadership, direction and motivational support. Ensures projected timelines and work quality are consistent with established performance measures.
• Assists the Deputy Director of Public Works - Capital Projects in the development and implementation of Public Works' six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
• Assists the Deputy Director of Public Works - Capital Projects in the recruitment, interview, and performance evaluation of CIP staff.

• Assists in the development of the six-year CIP through various tasks including participation in the master planning of facilities, grant procurement, project scoping and estimating of individual projects.
• Coordinates and maintains standardized procedures, policies, and documentation for the Capital Improvement section to efficiently deliver CIP projects to the public consistent with City and community goals.
• Understands the project life cycle, including concept development, feasibility, planning, budgeting, scheduling, and execution readiness; defines scope, estimates costs, establishes milestones, and identifies risks and resource needs while collaborating with stakeholders to ensure projects align with organizational priorities and are delivered on time and within budget.
• Manages assigned projects from development of the scope of the project through to final construction and acceptance.
• Prepares project status updates for proper coordination and scheduling of CIP projects with other competing capital project, private, or other municipal interests.
• Provides technical expertise and engineering assistance to the Project Engineers and field crews for improvements, maintenance, or construction that is being performed by City crews.
• Provides oral and written information to a variety of audiences including City Council, the general public, adjacent departments, outside agencies, and others.
• Promotes training opportunities for the Project Engineers and support staff, acting as training mentor to new hires within CIP group.
• Provides input and assistance to the Deputy Director of Public Works - Capital Projects in the preparation of Performance Appraisals for the Project Engineers and CIP support staff.
• Represents CIP group on City service teams.
• Represents City and PW Department on State, Regional and Local planning, value engineering, or charette teams, as assigned.
• Fosters a positive and supportive work environment; promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the workplace, contributing to an environment of respectful living and working in a multicultural society.

• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Performs functions as assigned in the City's emergency response plan in the event of an emergency.

• Understand and be able to apply principles and practices of civil engineering and construction project management as they apply to the planning, design, inspection, and construction of public works projects.
• Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills and the ability to work with the public, public officials, other department heads and staff, consultants, and contractors in a knowledgeable and professional manner.
• Position often requires construction conflict resolution with the ability to rapidly analyze technical and/or legal implications in decision making, working directly with the City Attorney and Washington Cities Insurance Authority when necessary.
• Exhibit positive leadership skills and intradepartmental cooperation through involvement with diverse work groups, community interests, or service teams.
• Ability to successfully prioritize competing deadlines, schedules, and limited resources among a variety of customers to insure timely delivery of programs and projects.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.
• Experience: 7 years of increasingly responsible experience working on municipal engineering projects, including 3 years of direct project management. 3 years computer experience with CPM, database, spreadsheet, and word processing applications.
• Or: In place of the above requirements, the incumbent may possess any combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to proficiently perform the essential duties and responsibilities listed above.

• Professional Engineer registration is required.
• Must have a valid Washington State Driver's license and ability to remain insurable under the City's insurance to operate motor vehicles.

Physical Demands and Working Environment:
Primarily office work, but the position also involves visiting construction sites under varying weather conditions. Potential hazards at construction sites include vehicular traffic, construction equipment, and uneven terrain. The position may require climbing ladders, scaffolding, and working in trenches or other confined spaces.
This position encounters foot hazards as defined by the WAC, which may include any of the following: falling objects, rolling objects, piercing/cutting injuries, or electrical hazards.

Selection Process

Position requires a resume and cover letter for consideration of application. Please note how you meet minimum qualifications within the cover letter. Applicants who are selected for next steps in the hiring process will be invited by phone or e-mail. Candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest possible date as screening, interviewing, and hiring decisions will be made through the recruitment period, until such time as the vacancy is filled.

The City of Kirkland is a welcoming community where every person can thrive and grow. We value diversity, inclusion, belonging, and work together to support our community. We do this by solving problems, focusing on the customer, and respecting all people who come into the City whether to visit, live, or work. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to creating a workforce that does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, disability, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state or local law. We encourage qualified applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply to our job postings. Persons with a disability who need reasonable accommodations in the application or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 425-587-3210 or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf at 711.