Civil Engineering Assistant and Junior Civil Engineer

THE OPPORTUNITY

Resources & Development Management Department is seeking Civil Engineering Assistants and Junior Civil Engineers to support in a variety of field and office professional civil engineering work. This recruitment is being held to establish an Open Eligible List to fill County of Orange vacancies in the Resources & Development Management Department.

RESOURCES & DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT (RDMD)

COME JOIN OUR TEAM AT RDMD

Resources & Development Management Department (RDMD) provides services on a regional basis to unincorporated areas, to cities, and other County agencies and departments. The primary mission of the department is to provide, operate, and maintain quality public facilities and regional resources for the people of Orange County; In addition, provide land development services in the unincorporated County of Orange. RDMD includes seven diverse Divisions: Administration, Planning and Development Services, OC Parks, Agricultural Commissioner, Internal Services, Watershed and Coastal Resources and Public Works. The majority of engineering opportunities are within the Planning and Public Works Divisions working in six core business areas:

• Flood - Provides flood protection countywide by planning and designing the Orange County Flood Control District's 350 miles of flood control channels, dams, retarding basins, pump stations, and other flood control infrastructure.
• Road - Administers funding programs and plans, designs and manages the public works road system in unincorporated Orange County. Provides traffic engineering support to the residents of unincorporated Orange County.
• Construction - Manages and inspects the construction of Road, Flood, and OC Parks capital improvement programs.
• Project Management - Provides project management of significant public works capital improvements. Also provides regulatory permit and utility coordination services.
• Operations & Maintenance - Maintains the 330 miles of County local roads and arterial highways, related slopes, storm drains, and flood control facilities. Design and advertise for construction small repair projects, emergency projects, and asphalt overlays in support of the road system.
• Building & Safety / Building and Grading Plan Check - Provides building and grading plan review for the issuance of permits associated with the construction of improvements for single and multi story structures for commercial, industrial and residential developments in the unincorporated Orange County.
• Watershed and Coastal Resources - There are additional engineering opportunities within the Watershed and Coastal Resources Division. These opportunities include helping to provide planning, direction, technical review and administrative functions for coastal and water quality improvement projects.

THE COUNTY - The Place to Work, Live and Play

Orange County is a desirable place to live and is one of the premier employers in the region, as well as the second most populated county in California. At the County you will find variety, individual opportunity, job satisfaction, and the pleasure of working with colleagues who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of their community residents and visitors. Over the years, Orange County has established a reputation as an innovative leader among local governments and services over 3,000,000 people who live within its 34 cities. Residents enjoy over 42 miles of pristine beaches, 3 harbors, vast wilderness parks, beautiful nature preserves, and 250 miles of riding and hiking trails. Orange County has top rated attractions from Disneyland to several major professional sports teams, a wide range of cultural arts as well as some of the highest quality public and private schools in the nation. There is no doubt that Orange County is a great place to work, live and play.

ARE YOU?

• Eager to take on new and challenging assignments on public works projects?
• Able to communicate, orally and in writing, in English effectively?
• Eager to be part of a project team responsible for improving transportation and flood control within Orange County?
• Looking for training opportunities and career growth with the County of Orange?

RDMD IS LOOKING FOR ENGINEERS WHO CAN

• Perform precise engineering related computations
• Under the direct supervision of a Senior Civil Engineer prepare technical engineering reports and studies; review flood control, road/highway, and bridge infrastructure plans and specifications; design and prepare plans, specifications, and engineering estimates for public works infrastructure including: roads, highways, highway drainage/storm drains, bridge structures, flood control channels, dams, and retarding basins; effectively manage project assignments
• Prepare concise and accurate notes, records and technical reports and correspondence

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS for Junior Civil Engineer

Graduation from an ABET accredited college with major work in civil engineering. {OR} Possession of a valid certificate as an Engineer In Training issued by the California State Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS for Civil Engineering Assistant

Graduation from an accredited college with major work in civil engineering. {Or} Possession of a valid certificate as an Engineer In Training issued by the California State Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

{And} One year of job related Civil Engineering experience. (Receipt of a master's degree in Civil Engineering may be substituted for the required experience.)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS for those interested in the Junior Civil Engineer positions:

• Education/coursework within many of the following fields of study: statics, dynamics, mechanics of materials, open channel hydraulics, fluid mechanics, hydraulic (structures) design, hydrology, traffic and transportation, highway design, surveying, CAD Drafting, timber, steel, masonry, and reinforced concrete structures, advanced structural design, engineering economics, geotechnical or soils course work, project management and technical communications.
• Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn: complex engineering processes and procedures; how to prepare complex engineering reports and studies; how to review and critique plans and specifications; how to project manage complex public works infrastructure projects; how to prepare plans, specifications, engineering estimates; how to follow the public bid process to put projects out for public advertisement and bid; and how to provide construction engineering support.
• Ability to actively communicate and build relationships with other team members.
• Eager and able to effectively communicate and speak with the public, county staff, and other governmental agencies.
• Ability to use a computer and perform tasks utilizing Microsoft Word and Excel (or similar software).
• Enthusiastic to undergo training in a variety of discipline areas including structural, road and flood control software and design methodologies, Microstation CAD drafting, Microsoft Project scheduling software, etc.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS for those interested in the Civil Engineering Assistant positions:

Desirable applicants will possess many of the qualifications of the Junior Civil Engineer position, as listed above, and at least one year of job related civil engineering experience in the following:

• Experience with Public Works infrastructure including related background in hydrology and hydraulics, street drainage, highway design, traffic engineering, earthwork grading, bridges, regulatory permits or subdivisions, project management, and/or construction inspection
• Excellent computer and project management skills

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal engineer candidate is a motivated, self starting individual meeting the minimum qualifications, is willing to take on new and challenging Civil Engineering assignments, is able to work independently or as part of a larger team with county or with private sector staff and engineers, and is desirous of making a difference in the lives of Orange County residents and visitors.

TECHNICAL ENVIRONMENT

Proven Knowledge of:

• Civil Engineering Principles
• CAD Drafting Programs (MicroStation, InRoads or AutoCAD) is desirable but not a requirement
• Design plan format, organization and content
• Public works infrastructure planning, design, construction or maintenance activities
• Project Management principles
• Plan Check of land development improvement plans.
• Construction

ACTIVE COMMUNICATION

Proven Knowledge of:

• Effectively communicate with the engineering staff, consultant, management, field staff, surveyors, planners, contractors, the general public, and other governmental agencies
• Read, prepare and interpret road, drainage, grading, structural, traffic engineering, subdivision and flood control plans, drawings and sketches
• Prepare and generate engineering reports and investigations
• Actively manage project assignments

INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE

Proven Ability In:

• Civil engineering design and drafting, and design principles
• Knowledge of general trends and standards within the engineering industry including federal, state and county requirements and standards

LEARNING AGILITY

Proven Ability To:

• Rapidly assimilate and use new information
• Seek new knowledge and training and to share knowledge with others
• Create opportunities to learn outside your area of expertise

PROBLEM SOLVING

Proven Ability To:

• Solve difficult mathematical problems
• Perform precise engineering related computations using algebraic, geometric and trigonometric formulas
• Approach problems and decisions methodically

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The County of Orange is committed to providing a means for applicants who may have a disability to identify areas in which they may request a reasonable accommodation. The following is a description of the physical and mental abilities which are customarily required to perform the essential job functions of this position. Applicants are encouraged to contact the recruiter listed below for any questions or to request an accommodation during testing/selection procedure.

The requirements are: Vision sufficient to read fine print and computer monitors; speak and hear well enough to communicate with others clearly and understandably in person and over the phone; independent body mobility to sit, stand, walk to access a standard office environment, walk for an extended period of time out in the field, and walk along various road, flood, and park trails as well as flood channel side slopes in varying environmental conditions such as during a storm; manual dexterity to use hands, arms and shoulders to operate a keyboard, and to write; mental stamina to work with changing deadlines and competing priorities, and physical stamina to carry various equipment weighing up to 15 lbs.

THE RECRUITMENT

This recruitment is being held to establish an open Eligible List to fill future Resources & Development Management Department (RDMD) vacancies at this level. This recruitment is open to the public until the needs of the department are met. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately, as this recruitment can close at anytime.

SELECTION PROCEDURES:

Competitive applications must emphasize all areas of expertise and accomplishment in the specific competencies related to the position. Applications will be screened to identify the most qualified candidates as shown below:

Minimum Qualifications (Refer/Non-Refer): RDMD Human Resources screens all applications to identify the most qualified candidates for the position based on the skills required to meet the needs of the County. After the initial screening, the more qualified candidates will be referred to the next step of the selection process.

Application/Supplemental Screening (Refer/Non-Refer): An Application Appraisal Panel (AAP) of job knowledge experts will thoroughly screen all application materials and rate for job knowledge, competencies and related experience described above. The more qualified candidates will be referred to the next step. (The information you provide will be used as a scoring device, so please be descriptive in your response.)

Qualification Appraisal Panel Interview/Written Exercise (Weighted 100%): Candidates will be invited to be interviewed by a panel of job knowledge experts. Each candidate's rating will be based on responses to a series of structured questions designed to elicit the candidate qualifications for the job AND responses to a written exercise that will be administered on the day of the interview. (Please note: the panel of job knowledge experts is not granted access to the candidate’s application prior to the panel interview; therefore, a candidate’s responses to the structured questions should be thorough, detailed and complete.)

HOW TO APPLY:

• Submit your online application by clicking the link at the top of the screen: “Apply for this job".
• Only online applications with completed supplemental questions will be accepted.

• Call the RDMD HR Support Desk at (714) 834-7521 if you need assistance filling out your on-line application.
• Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is on your application and only use one email account.
• Applications must provide information that clearly demonstrates possession of the competencies described above.
• Note: All information submitted will be scored in order to identify the most qualified candidates

For questions, please contact daryl.chamberlain@rdmd.ocgov.com