Senior Project Engineer, Water and Wastewater

The Senior Project Engineer, Water & Wastewater is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) responsible for leading the delivery of County water and/or wastewater infrastructure projects, including the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport.  This position also provides strategic engineering advice to County leadership to help explore regional-scale servicing opportunities, supporting forecasted growth and optimizing any associated County investment decisions.  Reporting to the Director of Planning/Chief Planner alongside a working relationship with the General Manager – Engineering, Planning & Environment, the Senior Project Engineer will be a primary member of various inter-departmental teams tasked with delivering specific water/wastewater projects (concept to commissioning) as well as ensuring Simcoe County is informed and strategically positioned to work with the Province and partner municipalities in future water/wastewater matters.

** This is a 3-year Contract **

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (not listed in order of priority)
1.   Capital Projects 

•    Lead delivery of water and/or wastewater projects (planning, design, approvals, procurement, construction, commissioning, and close-out).  Projects will include but are not limited to the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport Water/Wastewater System Expansion project and a regional Septage & Leachate Solutions Assessment.

•    Undertake, supervise and approve all aspects of project engineering associated with assigned projects.  

•    Arrange for, direct, and approve pertinent studies, evaluations, design and specifications, surveying, drafting, office services, inspections and testing programs.  

•    Define project scope, schedule, budget, resourcing, governance, and performance measures; implement project controls and reporting.

•    Manage internal teams and/or external consultants, contractors, and stakeholders.

•    Review and approve engineering deliverables, drawings, specifications, and cost estimates.

•    Oversee value engineering assignments when required to ensure constructability and value. 

•    Provide construction oversight including site coordination, change management, and deficiency resolution.

•    Ensures capital projects are comprehensively considered to ensure risk is minimized to existing infrastructure and treatment processes.

•    Coordinate all other related activities, including construction management, to attain project objectives.

•    Undertake all necessary procedures to ensure that pertinent projects comply with the Environmental Assessment Act.  

•    Recommend class and/or schedule environmental assessments for individual projects, attends hearings and provides information as required.

•    Maintain compliance with all applicable legislation, standards, bylaws, and County policies.

2.   Strategic Advice: Regional Strategies, Master Planning & Growth Servicing

•    Provide strategic engineering advice and guidance on regional-scale water/wastewater opportunities that could support forecasted growth.

•    Help inform County responses to provincial and/or municipal infrastructure proposals and requests for County assistance in infrastructure service delivery.

•    Develop and evaluate alternatives using lifecycle cost, risk, resilience, and operational impacts.

•    Prepare briefings and recommendations for senior management and Council.

•    Support long-range capital planning, prioritization, and business case development.

3.   Innovation & Service Delivery Optimization

•    Explore innovative service delivery approaches and project execution models.

•    Identify opportunities to improve value-for-money across planning, design, and operations.

•    Apply systems thinking to optimize solutions across the servicing chain.

4.   Stakeholder, Partner & Regulatory Coordination

•    Lead engagement with municipalities, agencies, conservation authorities, and other partners.

•    Negotiate, coordinate, and secure all approvals, permitting, and compliance obligations.

•    Maintain strong working relationships that support timely approvals and delivery.

•    Work with LSRA water/wastewater operator (i.e. OCWA) to review performance, ensure reporting requirements are met, and provide necessary update to the LSRA Board/Council.

5.   Financial, Procurement & Contract Management

•    Develop and track project budgets, forecasts, and funding requests.

•    Support procurement processes and evaluations.

•    Administer consultant and construction contracts, ensuring defensible decisions.

6.   Leadership, Mentorship & Continuous Improvement

•    Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior staff.

•    Support development of standards, templates, and best practices.

•    Promote safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

•    Represent Simcoe with the province, agencies, local area engineering professionals, development stakeholders, and other associations, as directed.

7.   Corporate Responsibility 

•    Undertake special projects and perform other duties as assigned, in accordance with departmental, divisional or corporate objectives, including redeployment in emergency situations.

•    Execute roles and responsibilities with a high degree of tact, expertise and political acuity, in a manner that builds confidence and establishes trust.

•    Comply with provincial and County occupational health and safety legislation, regulations, policies and procedures.

•    Maintain confidentiality in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

•    Other duties as assigned, including redeployment in emergency situations.

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES 
Has knowledge of and demonstrated ability in our corporate competencies: 

•    Acts with the Customer in Mind

•    Ensures Accountability

•    Continuously Seeks to Improve Work Processes

•    Collaborates

•    Communicates with Impact

•    Is Resilient

EDUCATION, TECHNICAL SKILLS AND CERTIFICATION
•    University degree in Civil Engineering.  This job may be considered for educational equivalency in accordance with County Policy.

•    Holds a P. Eng designation in good standing.

•    Demonstrated understanding of growth-related infrastructure planning and delivery methods and processes.

•    Experience in planning, design and construction of municipal infrastructure including water/wastewater treatment facilities, pump stations, trunk sanitary sewers, and water mains.

•    Excellent time and project management skills. 

•    Thorough knowledge of water/wastewater treatment processes, design practices and standards, related codes, regulations, safety acts, tendering/contract process, value engineering and contract administration to work independently.

•    Construction management of large working groups which includes Contracts, municipal staff, Plant Operators, and Consultants.

•    Experience completing Environmental Assessments and procuring major equipment

•    Strong staff leadership and supervisory skills to build enthusiastic staff teams and external partnerships. 

•    Excellent written and verbal communication skills and facility with report writing and presentation preparation and delivery.

•    Strong conceptual and analytical skills with the ability to also think and act strategically in a political and community service environment.

•    Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with diplomacy and sensitivity with all levels of internal staff, Council, the public, and other stakeholders.

•    Thorough working knowledge of relevant legislation, policies, standards, guidelines, and regulations.

•    Knowledge of labour relations principles and collective agreement administration would be considered a definite asset.

•    Computer literacy utilizing word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database software, related GIS and mapping applications, and the Internet.

•    Class G Driver’s License in good standing and reliable vehicle to use on corporate business.

•    Criminal records check that is less than six (6) months old at time of hire.

•    Availability to attend evening or other events as required/assigned.

EXPERIENCE
•    Minimum of seven (7) years previous experience as a professional engineer leading municipal water and wastewater projects and system analysis, including some experience in a supervisory/management capacity.

EFFORT
•    Visual and mental effort required when attending meetings, reviewing statistical data, etc.

WORKING CONDITIONS
•    Regular office environment.

•    Occasional travel to outdoor locations and project sites.

•    Ability to work remotely if required.