Posted: 1/26/2023
Salary: $70,400-$127,700
Location: Portland, OR

Description:

The Multnomah County Drainage District (MCDD) seek a motivated and organized technical specialist who enjoys working in a collaborative environment, has the skill to mentor staff, and develop best practices that influence the district’s project delivery system for years to come to support its infrastructure. Depending on qualifications, the selected candidate will serve as an Engineer or Engineering Associate at the district that is undertaking a momentous change in its history. If you are interested in helping make the public sector work better and you are committed to finding technical solutions that meet multi-objective needs of the community, then you are the engineer we are seeking. The primary responsibility of this position is to serve as the district’s technical specialist related to pump stations and other internal drainage elements.

While MCDD does maintain open channels and stormwater culverts as part of its drainage system, the primary assets are its pump stations. These pump stations range in capacity from 13,000 to 272,000 gallons per minute with vertical turbine and submersible pumping systems. The Engineer/Engineering Associate will lead or support projects and programs related to the internal drainage system. A 2021 report supporting the development of the UFSWQD identified over $70M and $23M in major capital improvements and on-going capital requirements respectively, with a majority devoted to internal drainage improvements. This is in addition to 3 major rehabilitation or replacement pump station projects identified and lead by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through its Portland Metro Levee System project. Collectively, the potential for capital improvements at the district over the next 10+ years is the biggest in generations.

The MCDD Engineering Team works closely with the District’s Operations Team to identify problems, develop solutions, and support in-house construction of repairs or new capital improvements. The Engineer/Engineering Associate will become an integral part of a cross-disciplinary team to modernize the district’s pump stations and drainage system management to better serve the community. Additionally, this position will work in partnership with other District engineers and other staff to develop an asset management program that supports ongoing maintenance and capital requirements for the internal drainage and levee system. Other responsibilities may include technical support for District projects, ongoing condition assessment, development reviews, project management, identification/adoption of programmatic best practices, or other work related to the internal drainage or levee systems.

The Engineer/Engineering Associate will also provide customer support to private and public agencies to help them meet their goals while maintaining the district’s mission, vision, standards, and regulatory obligations. This will require experience and skill in presenting technical information to a variety of audiences including the public and technical representatives from partner agencies. District staff interact with local, state, and national elected officials and agency leadership periodically to help advance our work. The ability to convey complex information in broadly understandable terms both in writing and through presentation is essential to this position. The ideal candidate will have comfort and excitement working at the intersection of policy, planning, and technical work. Engineering Associate Project assignments vary in size and complexity.

The candidate must have 0 to 4 years of directly related engineering experience and an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination or ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire. Salary Range: $70,400 - $105,500 Engineer Project assignments vary but are generally more complex that those lead by an Engineering Associate. The candidate must demonstrate 4+ years of directly related engineering experience and a Professional Engineer (PE) license from the State of Oregon or ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire. Salary Range: $85,200 - $127,700 Examples of Duties Specifically, these positions will: Perform design, planning, and construction management tasks; Provide technical information related to levee and internal drainage systems (stormwater conveyance, pump stations, etc.); Support development review process to ensure continuity of District services; Provide engineering support for other District programs; Provide documentation that supports project objectives and District mission; Communicate effectively in writing and orally with other District staff. It is the duty of all employees to: Perform other duties as assigned; Strive to achieve the Mission, Vision, and Values of the organization; Perform the duties assigned during an emergency; Complete required Incident Command System training within 90 days of hire; Remain within a 10-hour response time during the District’s Partial Emergency Activation or as specified by the Executive Director; Work well with community and be a strong ambassador for MCDD; Exemplify the workplace safety culture. Create a culture that promotes respect, inclusion, and equity for the diversity of people in our workforce and community Minimum Qualifications Knowledge of: Pump station design and operations including mechanical, hydraulics, electrical, I/C systems, structural, and other pertinent elements; Formal contracting and project management processes; Familiarity with local, state, and federal laws related to floodplain management and design practices; Computer programs such as Microsoft Office, project management (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet) and other engineering software such as hydraulic modeling (e.g. xp-swmm), AutoCAD or ArcGIS. Computer programs such as Microsoft Office and other engineering; software such as hydraulic modeling, AutoCAD or ArcGIS; Knowledge of principles and practices related to stormwater management, geotechnical engineering, and/or pump station design. Ability to: Conduct project management duties for planning, design, and construction project phases; special emphasis needed to track project status regarding budget, schedule, and staff availability. Participate as a member of multi-disciplinary teams to support the district’s mission. Remain adaptable to address unexpected needs or other District priorities. Comply with public procurement rules related to contract administration. Read and interpret various kinds of maps, architectural and engineering drawings, construction plans, and other technical materials and documents. Complete proper permits and documents are completed and filed with appropriate authorities. Evaluate and complete development review proposals in a timely manner. Communicate effectively in writing and orally with contractors and other project stakeholders. Represent the engineering team in District-wide initiatives or committees. Provide construction management duties to ensure District staff or contractors successfully complete work within scope and budget Education, Experience, and Special Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in civil, mechanical, or related engineering field Valid state driver’s license Preferred skills & qualifications: Master’s degree in civil, mechanical, or related engineering field Experience in a public agency preferred. Experience leading multi-disciplined projects involving pump station improvements Experience managing engineering consultants to support a project and/or on-call services. Training or experience with emergency response protocols (e.g., Incident Command System) Distinguishing minimum qualifications for the Engineering Associate position: 0-4 years of directly related engineering experience Engineer-in-Training (EIT) certificate or ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire Distinguishing minimum qualifications for the Engineer position mirror those of an Engineering Associate with the following exceptions: 4+ years of directly related engineering experience Requires a Professional Engineer (PE) license from the State of Oregon or the ability to obtain one within 6 months of hire Supplemental Information Working Environment.

Most MCDD office staff worked primarily remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Engineering staff are currently working a largely remote schedule with occasional time in the office. Long-term plans for full-time in-office versus a continued hybrid schedule have not yet been determined. MCDD reserves the right to change the remote work policy. Hours may vary but should fall between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. However, there are projects that may require time in the field. Employees are required to utilize the appropriate PPE for their time in the field. During flood fighting season, October 15th – May 15th, employees may be asked to perform levee and drainage inspections or serve in some capacity within the district’s Incident Management Team during emergencies. Compensation: The salary range for the Engineering Associate is $70,400 - $105,500 and the salary range for the Engineer $85,200 - $127,700, depending on qualifications.

Accommodation: Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this process. Assistance will be gladly provided upon request for any applicant with sensory or non-sensory disabilities. Please contact Tracy Olmedo at (503) 281-5675 or hiring@mcdd.org for any questions on accessibility or accommodation during the hiring process Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for Veterans’ Preference when applying for MCDD positions. If you are a veteran and would like to request Veterans’ Preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents (Copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, DD Form 214 or 215; Disabled Veterans must also submit a copy of their Veteran’s Disability Preference Letter from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) with your application submittal in the attachments section. Documentation must be received by the closing date and time of this recruitment for the applicant to receive Veterans’ Preference. Equal employment opportunity: All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law. This position is not represented.

How to Apply: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mcdd/jobs/3884913/engineer-or-engineering-associate?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs