Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

POSITION DESCRIPTION FOR JOB POSTING

Position Number:  50693911

Description Activated On:  3/7/2024 11:08:53 PM


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 Civil Engineer Hydraulic position functions as a Project Specialist in the Division of Dam Safety’s Field Engineering Section and is involved in performing a variety of journey-level civil engineering work including hydrology and hydraulics and general monitoring requirements for dams under the provisions of the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act, including the Chapter 105 Dam Safety and Waterway Management rules and regulations, the Clean Streams Law and the Flood Plain Management Act.

If this position is filled as a Civil Engineer Trainee, the incumbent will participate in a one-year formal 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.

Conducts annual inspections of dams generally within a field area corresponding to the DEP region where the employee is headquartered but may be assigned work statewide on an as-needed basis.

Conducts detailed site inspections, prepares written and/or electronic reports, and makes recommendations on dams to ensure the proper construction, operation, monitoring, and maintenance of dams within the Commonwealth regulated under the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act.

Utilizes Dam Safety mobile inspection application and any other forms of electronic record creation, storage, and retrieval systems utilized by the Department.

Maintains current knowledge of the methods of construction and theory of dams and other hydraulic structures, such as bridges, culverts, stream enclosures, detention basins and flood control projects.

Duties may include general to complex engineering principles in the areas of hydrology and hydraulics, design of structures, and methods of construction to assure adequacy and conformance with the Department's Rules and Regulations.

Serves as a liaison to dam owners in the assigned field area to build relationships and provide education during the performance of routine duties and as needed to foster understanding and cooperation between dam owners and the Division.

Completes Hazard Category 1&2 (High Hazard) dam inspections and associated reports at least once annually within assigned area or in other locations as assigned by the Section Chief.

Completes Hazard Category 3 (Significant Hazard) dam inspections and associated reports at least once every two years within assigned area or in other locations as assigned by the Section Chief.

Completes Hazard Category 4 (Low Hazard) dam inspections and associated reports at least once every five years within assigned area or in other locations as assigned by the Section Chief.

Reviews dam owner’s annual dam inspection reports and routine Department inspections to provide feedback to owners on recommendations and significant issues.

Conducts pre-construction meetings with dam owners, design consultants, and contractors for approved projects within assigned area or in other locations as assigned by the Section Chief.

Completes routine construction inspections and associated reports for all approved construction projects for dams within assigned area or in other locations as assigned by the Section Chief.

Resolves routine construction issues with the dam owner, their engineer and the contractor in the field.
Works in collaboration with other Dam Safety Program staff to resolve more complex construction issues and significant design changes and is responsible to ensure compliance with the state licensure law for work performed under the responsible charge of a licensed professional engineer as necessary.

Reviews construction completion documents, as-built construction drawings and construction progress photographs to acknowledge construction in accordance with the approved design drawings, specifications and design revisions. Issues encountered during construction are noted and any concerns or necessary monitoring as a result of those issues is documented.

Provides field engineering support in response to dam hazard emergencies, Dams of Special Concern or other dam related flooding emergency inspections, or incidents of terrorism.

Assists in the deployment and implementation of the Dam Safety Program’s Statewide Siphoning Systems.

Manages the maintenance and upkeep of the Dam Safety Program siphon trailer and associated equipment in the assigned area in collaboration with the Regional Business Manager.

Investigates complaints stemming from the alleged violation of state law, including the rules and regulations of the Department, governing the construction, operation, and maintenance of dams and completes reports documenting findings and provides appropriate recommendations.

Manages small to medium compliance and enforcement cases, maintains accurate records and details of cases, and keeps the Section Chief informed of any emerging issues. Elevates larger compliance cases to the Section Chief as directed.

Gathers site information such as elevations and measurements and develops basic site sketches or plan views indicating findings.

Conducts field reconnaissance of unregistered dams and prepares reports with accurate locational data and obtains ownership information when available.

Assists permitting staff to complete jurisdictional dam determinations or requests for waivers of dam permitting requirements, as directed by the Section or Division Chief.

Reviews Dam Permit and Letter of Amendment/Authorization applications for small to medium projects as directed by the Section or Division Chief.

Participates in Emergency Action Plan (EAP) exercises with dam owners and all local, county and state agencies or offices with emergency response duties or responsibilities.

Participates in the inspection of federally owned dams when invited.

Performs deed searches to determine ownership of dams.

Investigates dams with serious compliance and/or safety problems and provides recommendations or advisements to the dam owner to 1) initiate repairs or to 2) obtain the services of a consulting engineer to perform necessary investigation and design of the needed repairs or modifications.

Provides support to the Monitoring and Compliance Section and attorneys in the preparation of Notices of Violation, Departmental Orders or Consent Agreements for the repair, draining, or breaching of non-compliant and unsafe dams.

Provides information to dam owners, and federal, Commonwealth and municipal officials, consultants, special interest groups, and the public regarding Departmental functions, rules, regulations, policies and procedures regarding dam safety emergency and security related activities.

Prepares necessary reports, correspondence, and other written documentation required in follow-up to completed inspections.

Testifies or serves as an expert witness, when necessary.

Assists permitting staff to review requests for emergency permits for dams to determine if an emergency permit can be granted in accordance with the Rules and Regulations.

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

Participates on committees, advisory, and ad hoc workgroups and commissions dealing with the dam safety program.

Assists in implementation of the Division’s prioritization program developed to rank dams for follow-up action and rehabilitation in order to bring the dams into compliance with the Department’s regulations and to protect the health, safety, welfare and property of the public.

Assists in maintaining the Division’s electronic Dam Inventory Database.

Coordinates activities with other sections within the Division of Dam Safety.

Travels to project sites and training sites (located statewide), as needed.

Participates in flood disaster activities which may include short-term assignment to field locations either under the State’s emergency preparedness programs or the Federal emergency preparedness programs.

Provides flood related emergency assistance to the Department’s regional offices when determined appropriate by the Director of the Bureau of Waterways Engineering and Wetlands.

During environmental emergencies, especially those associated with floods, the employee may have to provide required engineering and oversight services from the employee’s assigned headquarters or from an incident command center in the disaster area or from a nearby public building/office.

Understands and promotes 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.

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, as assigned.

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.

Direct supervision and guidance is provided by the Field Engineering Section Chief, who along with other Managers in the Division of Dam Safety, provide engineering assistance and/or guidance. Work is assigned with specific engineering instructions and is reviewed upon completion for quality and accuracy.

General supervision and review of all reports and correspondence for compliance with programs, guidelines and policies is performed by the Section Manager. Specific instructions and expectations are given on new assignments, programs, and/or projects.

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 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. Negotiate and traverse uneven or rough terrain
 2. Visually conduct inspections/field surveys/site investigations
 3. Apply environmental and engineering principles
 4. Read & interpret plans & specifications
 5. Understand technical information related to dams
 6. Interpret and apply rules and policies
 7. Effectively communicate orally and in writing
 8. Develop and maintain working relationships
 9. Learn and apply computer and technology concepts
 10. Travel frequently within assigned area and occasionally statewide