Salary : $6,692.00 - $12,047.00 Monthly
Location : Baton Rouge, LA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: OCD 082426 ERG
Department: Division of Administration
Division: Office of Community Development
Opening Date: 08/24/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 11:59 PM Central

About this Job
The Division of Administration/Office of Community Development has a vacancy. This job title has an assigned pay grade of TS-319.

The engineer position reviews all construction related documents ensuring compliance with federal, state and program requirements. This position also determines cost reasonableness on federal infrastructure projects and makes determinations on emergency project eligibility.

The vacancy has the following supplemental qualification:

Applicant must possess two years of licensed engineering experience in evaluating public water or sewer infrastructure applications and/or plans and specifications for federally funded programs.

Minimum Qualifications
Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice professional engineering plus one of the following:

Two years of licensed engineering experience; or

Six years of professional engineering experience.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTIONS:
A master's degree in engineering will substitute for one year of professional engineering experience.

A doctorate degree in engineering will substitute for two years of professional engineering experience.

Advanced degrees will substitute for a maximum of two years of professional engineering experience.

There is no substitution for licensed engineering experience.

NOTES:
Engineering experience gained while licensed as a professional engineer will be accepted as licensed engineering experience.

Engineering experience gained after earning an ABET-accredited degree and prior to earning a professional engineer's license (e.g., as an engineer intern applicant, engineer intern, or equivalent) will be accepted as professional level engineering experience.

Applications will be accepted from persons licensed to practice professional engineering in states other than Louisiana. If one of those applicants is selected for the position, he/she will be required to obtain a Louisiana license prior to appointment. The hiring agency will verify that all licensing requirements are met.

Louisiana Professional Engineer licenses are issued by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board. Licensing requirements may be viewed at www.lapels.com.

Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties and Other Information

Job Duties:
Project Development

• Review applications submitted to the Office of Community Development (OCD) for CDBG, CDBG-DR, EPA, and Recovery Housing Program (RHP) funding from statewide units of local government for infrastructure and housing projects, including public facilities projects such as streets, community center buildings, potable water systems, new and existing sewer collection systems, and new and existing sewage treatment facilities. Review applications for various rating factors and to make a determination as to whether the project will meet Public Bid Law requirements, CDBG guidelines and minimum design standards and legal requirements as established by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), and Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and will completely remedy any state code violations. Approximately 150 LCDBG Program applications are received during each funding cycle, which encompasses a two-year period, from local jurisdictions statewide eligible to participate. Applications received for CDBG-DR programs vary depending on funding allocation and current programming.
• Coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Health and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to evaluate the severity of water system, sewer collection system, sewage treatment facility, and street projects considering existing field conditions, violation of state and federal laws, and unsafe practices. Assign a project severity score, which is incorporated into the overall rating criteria used to select applicants for funding.
• Review bid packages to make a determination as to whether the project will meet Public Bid Law requirements, CDBG guidelines and minimum design standards and legal requirements as established by the Louisiana Office of Community Development.
• Review and approve proposed engineering solutions to existing problems submitted with new applications to determine the feasibility of the proposed solutions and to determine whether the proposed solutions are reasonable and appropriate. Advise internal program staff with respect to project feasibility and design, cost estimating, and project development. Provide technical assistance as needed to subrecipients and grantees with active CDBG funded projects throughout the project life cycle.
• Review and approve engineering cost estimates submitted with new applications for reasonableness of cost projections. Review engineering cost estimates through the project life cycle at key milestone submittals.
• Review and approve plans, specifications, and final cost estimates submitted for CDBG projects for needs and appropriateness as defined and accepted by the Office of Community Development and issue authorization for the public bidding process which will be conducted at the local level.
• Review and assist in determining funding eligibility for applications, amendments, requests for payments and emergency and/or urgent projects, applications for engineering feasibility, appropriateness of proposed solutions, and reasonableness of estimated costs.
• Review architectural and engineering fees associated with projects funded through OCD including basic engineering, inspections, topographic surveying, boundary and property surveying, geotechnical engineering, construction layout and staking, testing, sanitary sewer evaluation, surveys, etc.
• Provide contract and/or task order management for third-party contractors engaged by OCD for engineering support.

Construction Contract Administration

• Review and approve the qualifications of construction inspectors to be hired by private engineering firms for projects funded by OCD and by other funding sources, as needed.
• Coordinate with construction inspectors, as needed. Review and approve change orders on ongoing construction projects resulting from unknown conditions that arise during construction. The review will be conducted for necessity, appropriateness and reasonableness of costs; i.e., approving program and budget, quality standards, ERR compliance, technical requirements, industry standards, program requirements, policies of Office of Community Development, regulatory requirements, and terms of the construction contract.
• Investigate any engineering problems, on a case-by-case basis, that may arise during the construction phase of a project and assist project engineers in promulgating solutions. Conduct on-site inspections of OCD funded construction projects to ensure performance by engineers and contractors including reviewing for supervision by contractor, quality of materials used and proper installation and operation of equipment.
• Ensure that the architect/engineer enforces compliance with the construction documents, quality standards, and construction industry standards.

Special Projects Administration

• Investigate complaints received from the public regarding the improper construction or operation of OCD funded projects, specifically water and wastewater systems constructed with LCDBG funds. Investigate complaints received from the public regarding improper construction of OCD funded projects, including individual and multifamily housing.
• Formulate strategic policy and planning analysis with respect to engineering relating to OCD programming. Review and make modifications as necessary.
• Provide engineering assistance to the Executive Director, Assistant Executive Directors, Directors and staff of the Office of Community Development regarding accepted engineering practices and the planning and construction of assigned projects.
• Represent the Office of Community Development and provide information regarding OCD programming to federal, state, and local government officials, state legislators, and others. Respond to current issues, changes in federal and/or state laws, and potential impacts to OCD programming.

Water Sector

• Conduct onsite inspections of Water Sector grants to ensure that the project has been built according to the project scope. Complete site inspection forms and take site photos.
• Consult with the design engineer and/or grantee regarding discrepancies that arise from the site inspection to assure that the project will be completed according to the application.

Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: This vacancy will be filled by a new hire or by promotion of a current permanent status classified employee.

How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

* Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.The transcripts can be added as an attachment to your online application. The selected candidate will be required to submit original documentation upon hire.
For further information about this posting, please contact:

Erica R. Gay
HR Specialist
Division of Administration/Office of Human Resources
Email:
01

Do you have a current Louisiana license to practice engineering?

• Yes
• No

02

If you answered yes to the previous question, please list the license number, the original issue date, and the expiration date. If you answered no, please type N/A.
03

Please describe your experience with the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and/or other federal grant infrastructure programs.
04

Do you possess two years of licensed engineering experience in evaluating public water or sewer infrastructure applications and/or plans and specifications for federally funded programs?

• Yes
• No

Required Question