Engineer IV
*** $2,500 Hiring Incentive! ***
Current Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Employees do NOT qualify for Hiring Incentive
PLEASE ATTACH THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS LISTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
Job ID: 20027
Agency: Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources - Division of Financial and Technical Assistance, Environmental Funding Program
Location: Pierre
Salary: $74,750.40 to $83,081.52 annually, depending on experience
Pay Grade: E4
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
This is a full-time position with the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. For more information on the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, please visit https://danr.sd.gov/.
The mission of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) is to protect and preserve the state’s agriculture, environment, and natural resources with the vision of a prosperous economy, diverse agricultural opportunities, clean air, clean water, and healthy families.
DANR’s Environmental Funding Program is looking for an engineer to assist with the protection of South Dakota's water quality and improving the quality of life for residents by providing engineering related administrative and technical oversight to water, wastewater, and solid waste projects which have received grant or loan assistance through the various funding programs administered by the department. The primary purpose of this position is to protect the water resources of South Dakota by managing projects that have received funding to construct a water, wastewater, or stormwater project. This position will ensure that works of sanitary significance are designed and constructed in accordance with the applicable design criteria and industry standards.
The position is considered the program's expert in the design and construction of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. The position reviews plans and specifications involving a wide variety of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects ranging from relatively simple pipe replacement projects to complex mechanical water and wastewater treatment systems. The position also provides technical guidance, training, and direction to new employees and reviews the work of other colleagues' review of plans and specifications to ensure accuracy, quality, and timeliness. The position is responsible for final review and approval of plans and specifications, addenda to plans and specifications, and change orders for all infrastructure projects receiving funding through the Environmental Funding Program.
The position will work with other professional engineers in the department to update and maintain the state design criteria used by consulting engineers to design water and wastewater infrastructure, review national standards to identify applicable design changes, and be in contact with industry experts to assure up-to-date state design criteria.
The position requires excellent written and verbal communication skills to share programmatic requirements and design standards with internal and external customers including department staff, local government officials, design engineers, contractors, and planners. The position reports to the Environmental Funding Program Administrator.
Nature of Work:
- manages water and wastewater infrastructure projects through planning, design, construction, and project close-out and coordinates and schedules project activities to meet program objectives and deadlines;
- conducts initial engineering evaluations of preliminary engineering reports and facilities plans to determine if proposed projects are technically viable, environmentally sound, and eligible for funding;
- works within a team concept to develop grant and loan financing packages;
- reviews and approves engineering plans and specifications prepared by design engineers;
- reviews and approves addenda to plans and specifications and contract change orders;
- reviews and approves pay requests for accuracy and assuring reimbursement is for program eligible costs;
- attends pre-construction meetings and conducting construction inspections to ensure projects are constructed in accordance with approved plans and specifications and meeting all funding requirements. These inspections are performed outside in all weather conditions and are performed in settings with uneven terrain, construction equipment, and noise;
- acts as a technical reference and provides technical assistance to the Environmental Funding Program staff, design engineers, and external customers and identifies training needs for program staff;
- uses Bluebeam software for the review and cataloguing of plans and specifications, approximately 30 percent of this position's time will be spent on review of plans and specifications;
- provides training to program staff;
- creates a positive work environment that maximizes individual and team development leading to work consistency and goal achievement;
- collaborates and communicates with other DANR programs and external customers to further the mission and goals of DANR.
The position requires statewide travel approximately 10-15 percent of the time with occasional overnight stays. Office work includes sitting at a desk for long periods of time using a computer. Normal working hours are 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M., five days per week. This is a salaried position and some work outside normal hours may be required to meet necessary deadlines. The position works closely with municipalities and other units of government, consulting engineers, and planning districts.
Benefits of Working for DANR:
- We offer a $2,500 hiring and retention incentive. The first half of the incentive will be paid to you by your second paycheck. The remainder of the incentive is paid after you have worked with the department for 15 months. This incentive is not applicable to current state of South Dakota employees.
- The state of South Dakota offers a generous health benefits package, which includes health, vision, and dental insurance. Additionally, South Dakota has one of the top retirement systems in the nation.
- The state of South Dakota understands the importance of having a work/life balance and this position includes paid vacation, sick leave, and family leave.
Licenses and Certifications:
- Bachelors or Master’s degree in environmental or civil engineering, or similar field of engineering;
- South Dakota Professional Engineer's License;
- valid driver's license.
The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
- three to six years of progressive water, wastewater, and stormwater engineering experience;
- experience using BlueBeam software to review, comment on, and approve plans and specifications;
- the ability to convey design principles and industry standards to a wide audience.
Our ideal candidate is someone with a desire for continual learning and strong problem-solving, analytical, and interpersonal skills. We are looking for someone who wants to serve the citizens of South Dakota by protecting and improving water quality and growing our economy.
Knowledge of:
- environmental or civil engineering principles;
- water and wastewater design standards;
- infrastructure funding principles.
Skill to:
- communicate technical engineering design and programmatic requirements to the public, media, and other customers in a manner suitable for the audience;
- serve as a technical expert;
- appear as a speaker or represent the department at meetings and training on engineering standards.
Additional Requirements: To be considered, please attach your resume.
This position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference per ARSD 55:10:02:08.
The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9. The State of South Dakota as an employer will be using E-Verify to complete employment eligibility verification upon hire.
The State of South Dakota offers employer paid health insurance plus eleven paid holidays, generous vacation and sick leave accrual, dental, vision, and other insurance options, and retirement benefits. You can view our benefits information at https://bhr.sd.gov/job-seekers/work-for-state-government/. This position is a member of Class A retirement under SDRS.
You must apply online, emailed resumes or submissions will not be accepted.
South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources
Telephone: 605.773.3148 Email: careers@state.sd.us
"An Equal Opportunity Employer"