Engineer or Engineering Associate

JOB This position is open from Monday, July 15 until filled. A first review of applications received will take place on August 5, 2024 for any applications received by August 4, 2024 at 11:59 pm. The Urban Flood Safety & Water Quality District (UFSWQD) manages the flood safety system in northern Multnomah County. The system prevents 8,000 residents, 60,000 businesses, 2,000 acres of natural habitat, and critical services such as Portland International Airport, critical electricity and natural gas hubs, and the region’s secondary supply of drinking water from being flooded by the Columbia River and stormwater. The UFSWQD currently reduces flood risk in greater Portland along the Columbia River and the Columbia Slough. The UFSWQD collectively operates and maintains 27 miles of flood levees, 12 pump stations, and 45 miles of sloughs, canals, and culverts. The mission of the UFSWQD is to equitably reduce flood risk and prepare for and respond to flood emergencies by maintaining levees, conveying water when necessary, and finding innovative and nature-based ways to live with more water around us while supporting community safety and the region’s economic vitality, contributing to the health of the river and watershed, planning for a more climate-resilient future, and promoting equity in all we do. Position Summary: The Engineer or Engineering Associate will provide technical guidance to help manage the flood risk reduction system including planning, design, construction, and operations & maintenance support of District’s internal drainage system. This position is a member of the UFSWQD Engineering Team and reports directly to the Senior Supervising Engineer. The primary responsibility of this position is to serve as an engineering project manager and the district’s senior technical specialist related to pump stations. While UFSWQD does maintain open channels and stormwater culverts as part of its drainage system, the primary assets of its drainage system 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 or Engineering Associate will lead, or support, projects and programs related to the internal drainage system and other associated district infrastructure. A 2021 report supporting the development of the UFSWQD identified over $70M and $23M in major capital improvements and ongoing 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 (PMLS) project. The voters of Multnomah County recently passed a $150M general obligation bond for capital improvement projects under the UFSWQD, which includes the PMLS projects as well as $15M for additional pump station upgrades. The UFSWQD is also currently utilizing a FEMA grant to design a pump station replacement. Collectively, the potential for capital improvements at the district over the next 10+ years is the biggest in generations. The UFSWQD 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 or 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 or 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.Depending on qualifications, the selected candidate will serve as an Engineer or Engineering Associate.Engineering AssociateProject assignments vary in size and complexity. The candidate must have 1 to 4 years of directly related engineering experience and an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate by passing the Fundamentals of Engineering examination or the ability to gain reciprocity for the EIT certificate in the State of Oregon within 6 months of hire. Salary Range: $76,200 - $114,300FSLA Status: Non-exemptEngineerProject assignments vary but are generally more complex that those lead by an Engineering Associate. The candidate must have 4+ years of directly related engineering experience and a Professional Engineer (PE) license from the State of Oregon or the ability to gain reciprocity for PE license in the State of Oregon within 6 months of hire. Salary Range: $92,300 - $138,400FSLA Status: Exempt EXAMPLE OF DUTIES This position will primarily serve as a technical resource and project manager within a 5-person engineering team. This position will lead upgrades and replacements to district assets, both contributing to and executing projects from the district’s Capital Improvement Plan. This position will also serve as a technical resource to the district’s operations team and will have occasional need to consult with district boards and legal staff. Relevant technical experience and dynamic communication skills will be highly valued when evaluating candidates for this position. Specifically, this position will: Perform planning, design, and construction management tasks;Provide technical information related to internal drainage (pump stations, culverts, etc.) and levee systems;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.Duties Applying to All Employees: 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.Maintain confidentiality of work-related issues, client records, and District’s information.Complete required Incident Command System training within 90 days of hire.Remain within a 10-hour response time during Partial Emergency Activation or as specified by the Executive Director.Adhere to workplace safety rules and regulations.Occasional weekend and evening shifts may be required.Some travel may be required to attend conferences and events.Ensure and encourage a safe workplace environment.Create a culture that promotes respect, inclusion, and equity for the diversity of people in our workforce and community. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION Working Environment: Work is performed in both a standard office environment and in the field; exposure to variable and/or extreme weather conditions, flowing water, water-borne pathogens found in floodwater, and off-road driving conditions; standing, walking, driving, hiking, digging, and may be required to carry 50 pounds. There are projects that may require time in the field. Employees are required to utilize the appropriate PPE for their time in the field. Engineering staff are currently working a largely remote schedule with occasional time in the office; however, the opportunity to work primarily in the office also exists for those interested. Long-term plans for full-time in-office versus a continued hybrid schedule have not yet been determined. The UFSWQD reserves the right to change the remote work policy. Hours may vary but usually fall between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. 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.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 tolmedo@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 UFSWQD 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. 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.