Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING

Position Number:  00067434

Description Activated On:  7/25/2023 8:45:27 AM


Position Purpose:
Describe the primary purpose of this position and how it contributes to the organization’s objectives. Example: Provides clerical and office support within the Division to ensure its operations are conducted efficiently and effectively. 

This position serves as a Civil Engineer Hydraulic (CEH) within the Planning and Design Section of the Division of Project Development in the Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands. The employee is involved in engineering work as required for implementing the duties of the program as mandated by “Dam Safety and Encroachments Act” (Act No. 325, 1978), and/or “Flood Plain Management Act” (Act No. 166, 1978) and/or “The Flood Protection Act” (Act of August 7, 1936, P.L. 106) and/or “Stream Improvement Act” (Act of June 5, 1947, P.L.422). The expectations and duties of a Civil Engineer Hydraulic are spelled out below under “Description of Duties”.

If this position is filled as a Civil Engineer Trainee, the incumbent will participate in a one-year formal and on-the-job training program to learn the duties of a Civil Engineer Hydraulic.

Description of Duties:
Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

Description of Duties: Describe in detail the duties and responsibilities assigned to this position. Descriptions should include the major end result of the task. Example: Types correspondence, reports, and other various documents from handwritten drafts for review and signature of the supervisor.

COMMON EXPECTATIONS & DUTIES FOR CIVIL ENGINEER HYDRAULIC (CEH) IN BWEW

A Civil Engineer Hydraulic in BWEW possesses and maintains a basic level of engineering competencies and performs the following common technical and administrative duties related to hydrologic and hydraulic studies, preliminary design of dams, levees, culverts, concrete channels, and other hydraulic structures and economic analyses and cost estimates to fulfill Department, bureau, divisional, and inter-agency obligations.

● Computes and reviews hydrologic procedures to determine project design discharges. This includes using various hydrologic prediction methods, gage station data, rainfall information, topographic maps and various computer programs.

● Computes and reviews hydraulic analyses of natural or existing streams, bridges, culverts and pipes, to establish water surface profiles showing flood frequency elevations, flow capacities and floodplain delineations, including the use of various computer programs.

● Plots cross sections and profiles of stream channels based on the survey data and hydraulic calculations.

● Analyzes environmental considerations affected by the proposed project, coordinates an environmental assessment with a Bureau Biologist, and meets with representatives of environmental interests, as applicable.

● Prepares and/or reviews Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plans. Inspects and evaluates Erosion and sedimentation controls for compliance with approved plans and the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth.

● Checks engineering computations and related calculations performed by other engineering staff and/or consulting engineers.

● Develops the proportions of the individual structures required for the project, such as heights of dams, weirs, walls, or levees, lengths of spillways, widths of channels, sizes of pipe, etc., based upon calculations.

● Assists in the preparation of plans and specifications for repair and rehabilitation projects.

● Performs courthouse searches to determine ownership of dams and other structures/matters concerning BWEW.

● Participates in and/or conducts meetings with consulting engineers, dam owners, local public officials, and the general public concerning problems related to operations and safety of dams and flood control structures.

● Communicates, in writing and orally, with federal, state and local agencies, as well as with the general public.
Drafts routine correspondence.

● When needed, travels to project sites, meetings, conferences, and training sites (located statewide); stays overnight in a hotel (sometimes multiple nights).

● When needed, prepares engineering drawings of plans, profiles, and cross sections for feasibility studies of proposed projects.

● When needed, conducts field surveys and site investigations to obtain data for engineering studies and information concerning the nature of the flooding problem.

● When needed, participates in flood disaster activities which may include short-term assignment to the field either under the State’s emergency preparedness programs or the Federal emergency preparedness programs. Independently conducts post flood inspection and damage assessments.

● All inspections require documentation through the completion of an inspection report.

● Operates and maintains air breathing equipment required for confined space entry.

● Promote the four pillars of the DEP Vision - Operational Excellence, Climate Leadership, Cultural Competence, and Environmental Justice.

● Inputs appropriate data in a prescribed format to meet data quality standards set forth by guidance, training, and policy across all of DEP's electronic data systems; to include ensuring accuracy and completeness of entries and, where available, the use of system specific tools to ensure duplicative entries and data quality issues are minimized.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

As listed below, the specific duties of this position as listed below, concerns the Division of Project Development in order to protect the health, safety, welfare and property of the people.

● As listed below, the primary duties of this position, concerns the design and implementation of flood protection projects throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in order to protect the health, safety, welfare and property of the people.

● The CEH is accountable for design of entire projects and is actively involved in several projects at any one time. He/she may work independently or may be assisted by other staff, who will form a project development team under the direction of a Section Chief. The CEH assists other members of the project development team in developing and assembling the various data, calculations, and sketches of the component parts of the project into a complete set of contract plans and specifications for the project.

● Keeps fully abreast of project developments and assists the Senior Civil Engineer and/or Section Chief in the coordination of the project; this may involve telephone contacts, preparing correspondence, attending formal or informal meetings or public hearings, making presentations of the project at public meetings, writing reports, and providing all necessary project information quickly and efficiently.


● Reviews all completed calculations, plans, and specifications for overall completeness and accuracy to insure that all necessary corrections and additions are made in accordance with instructions and guidelines provided by the Senior Civil Engineer and/or Section Chief.

● Determines survey limits and mapping requirements to acquire topographic mapping for projects. Meets on-site with surveyor to give specific directions. Reviews final mapping and field checks for accuracy and completeness.

● Develops and reviews scopes for flood protection projects to determine dimensions, capacities, estimate quantities and construction costs, and compares alternate solutions based on economics and engineering.

● Prepares reports on feasibility studies, field investigations, backwater studies and hydrology studies, detailing results and providing recommendations.

● Performs data collection and prepares computer input to estimate damages to residential, commercial and industrial properties from different levels of flooding.

● Performs itemized construction cost estimates based on preliminary design of a flood protection project.

● Calculates benefit/cost ratios to determine if a flood protection project is economically justified. This requires knowledge of the various cost index references, plotting damage probability curves used in determining average annual benefits a community would attain through flood damage reduction, and calculating the average annual cost of a flood protection project based on the updated Commonwealth bond interest rate and a life span of the project.

● Coordinates project scope with appropriate local, state and federal agencies, consultants, private companies and individuals to insure compatibility and to avoid conflicts.

● Performs or reviews the calculations of project alignment.

● Brings to the attention of the Senior Civil Engineer and/or Section Chief unusual problems that may require more detailed or special design criteria.

● Obtains required approvals and permits from regulatory agencies for construction of designed projects.

● Develops the limits of lands and easements required for construction of the project, determines the roads or utilities which must be relocated or adjusted, and coordinates the preparation of plans showing the basic project outline, lands required, and relocations or adjustments that are needed.

● Develops, assembles, and reviews detailed cost estimates for projects, portions of which may be developed by other members of the design team, and assures that estimates are reasonable and accurate.

● Prepares construction drawings (plans, profiles, cross-sections, details, erosion and sedimentation control plans, traffic control plans, etc.) using AutoCAD Civil3D.

● Prepares technical specifications for methods, materials, and/or products required for the project, but which are not included in the Department's standard specifications, and coordinates the preparation of final bid documents.

● Assists in the review of property acquisition documents submitted by the project sponsor. Meets with project sponsor, property owners, business owners, lawyers, etc. to resolve property acquisition issues.

● Assists the design professional during construction of a project. Reviews contractor submissions of materials, shop drawings, subcontractors, certifications and test results; maintains shop drawing log; attends biweekly job conferences; prepares paperwork for change orders and field orders, and assists in responding to Contractor's requests for information.

● Assists the Senior Civil Engineer and/or Section Chief in the review of calculations, plans, and specifications on projects which are designed by engineering consultants.

● Works closely with the Section Chief to ensure that proposed designs are economical and meets project objectives that the design is in conformance with accepted hydraulic engineering practice, and that contract plans and specifications are complete and ready for bidding.

Activities may vary from those in the job description but will generally be related to hydraulic engineering or program-related matters. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.

Decision Making:
Describe the types of decisions made by the incumbent of this position and the types of decisions referred to others. Identify the problems or issues that can be resolved at the level of this position, versus those that must be referred to the supervisor. Example: In response to a customer inquiry, this work involves researching the status of an activity and preparing a formal response for the supervisor’s signature.

Work is assigned through specific job assignments made by the Section Chief. At the beginning, the project is discussed in general and the various phases of the work to be completed are laid out along with discussion of time schedule. Completed work is reviewed for technical accuracy. After a new job or problem is developed by the Division Chief, the work is assigned by the Section Chief to the civil engineer. Also, general project scope and plan are discussed and later reviewed at times with the engineer. Project progress and any problems encountered are also discussed at intervals. Completed work is reviewed by a Senior Civil Engineer and/or Section Chief for technical correctness and for consistency with Departmental standards.

If this position is filled as a Civil Engineer Trainee, assignments are designed to develop the employee's technical proficiency. Work assignments increase in scope and complexity as the employee gains technical proficiency in the work. Once the employee demonstrates the ability to perform the work, specific assignments are given and the employee performs the work under the technical guidance of the supervisor. Work is reviewed in progress and upon completion for personal development, completeness, technical accuracy, and quality.

Requirements Profile: Identify any specific experience or requirements, such as a licensure, registration, or certification, which may be necessary to perform the functions of the position. Position-specific requirements should be consistent with a Special Requirement or other criteria identified in the classification specification covering this position. Example: Experience using Java; Professional Engineer License

Experience:



Licenses, registrations, or certifications:

1. 
  Class C Driver's License
 
2.  
N/A
 
3.  
N/A
 
4.  
N/A
 
5.  
N/A
 
6.  
N/A

Essential Functions
: Provide a list of essential functions for this position. Example: Transports boxes weighing up to 60 pounds.
 
 1. Perform civil engineering hydraulic work
 2. Conduct field surveys/site investigations
 3. Effectively communicate
 4. Consider environmental factors related to BWEW as indicated by the Biologists.
 5. Perform hydraulic evaluations
 6. Review design drawings and specifications
 7. Negotiate uneven & rough terrain
 8. Review, prioritize and keep current with assignments
 9. Learn & apply computer concepts
 10. Operate a motor vehicle