Director of Engineering / County Engineer

Director of Engineering / County Engineer

$145,000 Annually - Salary Exempt

Position Summary

Serves as the department head and senior technical authority for County engineering and capital project delivery. Plans, directs, and coordinates County Engineering Services; provides professional engineering oversight; establishes priorities and technical standards; and is accountable for the Roads & Transportation, Stormwater & Utilities, and Parks & Vertical Construction portfolios. Directly supervises the three division leads and three Project Coordinators and coordinates major capital projects from planning and funding through design, procurement, construction, closeout, and turnover.

Essential Functions

Department Leadership & Supervision

• Direct, organize, and evaluate the work of County Engineering Services, including the three division leads and three Project Coordinators.
• Establish departmental priorities, workloads, performance expectations, procedures, technical standards, and project assignment practices.
• Conduct or participate in hiring, coaching, performance management, training, and corrective action in coordination with Human Resource Services.
• Coordinate staff capacity across portfolios and reassign resources when project schedules, funding, or operational needs require.

Engineering & Capital Program Oversight

• Provide senior professional engineering review and technical direction for County infrastructure and capital projects.
• Oversee the County capital improvement portfolio, including scope development, feasibility, cost estimating, design, procurement, construction, change management, closeout, and turnover.
• Review plans, specifications, studies, calculations, contracts, and consultant deliverables for completeness, compliance, constructability, and alignment with County objectives.
• Oversee consultant and professional-service contracts, including scopes, solicitations, selection support, negotiations, performance, invoices, amendments, and deliverables.
• Administer and oversee public works contracts, and coordinate contract scope, performance, service levels, expenditures, compliance, and issue resolution with responsible departments and contractors.
• Identify project risks, schedule conflicts, cost pressures, and regulatory issues and provide recommendations to County leadership.

Budget, Grants & Administration

• Develop and administer the department budget and support development of the County capital improvement program.
• Monitor project budgets, expenditures, funding sources, change orders, encumbrances, and forecasts in coordination with Finance and Procurement.
• Ensure grant-funded and special-purpose-funded projects meet applicable documentation, reporting, reimbursement, procurement, and compliance requirements.
• Hold division leads and Project Coordinators accountable for grant administration and project records within their assigned portfolios.

Intergovernmental & Public Coordination

• Serve as the primary engineering advisor to the County Manager and provide technical information and recommendations to the Board of Commissioners.
• Coordinate with County departments, elected offices, consultants, contractors, utilities, developers, GDOT, state and federal agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate closely with Development Services on development-related engineering matters, infrastructure impacts, plan review coordination, permitting issues, and projects affecting County facilities and infrastructure.
• Engage with residents, property owners, businesses, community groups, and other members of the public regarding engineering projects, infrastructure concerns, planned improvements, and County processes; communicate technical information in a clear and professional manner.
• Attend Board meetings, public meetings, preconstruction meetings, project meetings, and community outreach sessions as required.
• Respond to complex engineering, infrastructure, and capital project concerns and communicate project status, risks, and decisions to leadership.

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate project, contract, permit, budget, grant, correspondence, decision, and technical records in accordance with County requirements and applicable retention standards.
• Perform related duties consistent with the purpose and level of the classification and operational needs.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Directly supervises division leads and Project Coordinators and exercises department-head authority consistent with County policy. Responsibilities include work assignment, performance management, coaching, training, and participation in hiring and corrective action.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of applicable County standards, project delivery practices, public procurement processes, records requirements, and relevant local, state, and federal regulations.
• Ability to analyze technical, financial, operational, and project information and develop clear, supportable recommendations.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, specifications, contracts, schedules, estimates, reports, permits, and other technical documentation relevant to assigned work.
• Ability to coordinate effectively with County departments, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, elected officials, and the public.
• Skill in written and oral communication, project documentation, issue resolution, and presentation of technical information to nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to organize multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, maintain accurate records, and identify issues requiring escalation or licensed professional review.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related engineering field from an accredited institution.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in the State of Georgia, or ability to obtain Georgia licensure by comity within a County-established timeframe.
• Seven (7) years or more of progressively responsible engineering, infrastructure, or capital project experience, including supervisory or program leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex capital projects, consultant contracts, budgets, schedules, procurement processes, and construction activities.
• Knowledge of applicable local, state, and federal engineering, procurement, environmental, accessibility, and construction requirements.
• Valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in Georgia local government or a comparable public-sector environment.
• Experience with GDOT, state/federal funding, TSPLOST/SPLOST, grants, utilities, stormwater, transportation, and vertical capital projects.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM), or related credentials.
• Experience presenting technical recommendations to governing bodies and the public.

Work Schedule and Availability

Full-time professional schedule. Capital projects, public meetings, emergencies, construction activities, inspections, deadlines, and operational needs may require travel and work outside normal business hours, including evenings or weekends.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

Requirement

Frequency

Job-Related Context

Sit or stand and use computers, phones, plans, documents, and project-management systems

Frequently

Performs professional, administrative, analytical, and project-management work.

Walk on uneven terrain; bend, stoop, kneel, climb, and move through active project or construction areas

Occasionally

Conducts site visits, inspections, observations, and project meetings.

Lift or carry plans, equipment, tools, samples, or supplies of moderate weight

Occasionally

Supports field review and project activities; assistance should be used when appropriate.

Observe field conditions and exchange accurate technical information

Frequently

Evaluates projects, coordinates work and communicates with stakeholders.

Work Environment

Work is performed in offices, meeting spaces, vehicles, active construction areas, roadways, parks, utility locations, and other County facilities or project sites. Field work may involve exposure to traffic, construction activity, uneven terrain, noise, dust, wetness, humidity, temperature extremes, equipment, and other conditions typical of public infrastructure and capital projects. Appropriate training, personal protective equipment, traffic control, and site-safety procedures are required when applicable.

Disclaimer

Effingham County will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable performance of the essential functions of the position, consistent with applicable law. This job description summarizes the position's primary duties and requirements. It is not an exhaustive list of every task, responsibility, or qualification. Duties may be modified or assigned based on operational needs, subject to applicable law and County policy.

Employment Relationship

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this position. It is not an employment contract and does not create a guarantee of employment for any specific duration. Employment with Effingham County is at will and may be terminated by either the employee or the County at any time, with or without cause or notice, subject to applicable federal or state law, County ordinances, personnel policies, and any other legally binding employment protections.