Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Senior Engineer (Drainage) |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Place |
Service |
Civil & Structural Engineering |
Business unit |
Engineering Services |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Engineering Service Manager |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Engineering Service Manager |
Salary grade |
L |
JE ref |
RES137 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To organise and directly manage the delivery of projects in the Drainage Section in order to provide an efficient, economic and effective service, reporting directly to the Engineering Service Manager.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- Ensure that the Council's duties under the various Acts of Parliament relating to flood risk management and drainage are complied with.
- All projects undertaken by the Drainage section are designed and constructed in a technically competent and professional manner.
- Provide clients and the public with professional advice in order to reduce the risk of flooding to people and property.
- Actively seek opportunities with new private and public sector organisations, to assist in the expansion of the Engineering team’s client bases and regional presence.
- Promote the status of the Engineering team through the provision of highly specialist hydraulic modelling design services.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- Provide advice and technical support to the council and members of the public on drainage/flooding and civil engineering matters.
- Carry out feasibility, surveying, design, tendering, contract preparation and supervision of urban drainage and other civil engineering related schemes.
- Partnership working with other local authorities and government bodies.
- Provide management and technical support to technicians within section.
- Produce strategic/ technical reports and policy for Engineering Department.
- Resolve emergency situations (flooding/asset collapse etc.).
- Managing a variety of schemes and projects in such a manner to ensure that an efficient and cost-effective service is provided to meet the needs and priorities of the client, keeping the Service Manager regularly advised as to progress, future requirements and problem areas.
- Deliver effective line management of the Drainage section including monitoring performance, sickness/holidays and maintaining appropriate records.
- Ensuring all staff within the Drainage section comply with Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, Statutory Obligations and other relevant provisions.
- Assist with freedom of information requests from the public which often relate to sensitive and contentious matters.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
- Ensuring that systems of budgetary, accountancy and financial control are properly understood, used and developed.
- Exercising effective financial monitoring, planning and control of the Drainage sections projects and budgets.
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
- Team leadership/management of technical staff in the Drainage section. This involves direct line management of the whole drainage team, including co-ordination of training and professional development, staff appraisals and all aspects of performance management.
- This post directly performance/line manages:
- Technician Engineer (Drainage) – grade I.
- Infrastructure Engineer (Drainage) – grade J.
- Management of external consultants and contractors working on behalf of clients.
- Responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of health and safety of their team members.
- Ensure that team members receive adequate instruction and training for them to carry out their duties competently and safely.
- Ensure that risk assessments are undertaken to eliminate or control risk, and to ensure safe working practices are developed and implemented to minimise risks so far as is reasonably practicable.
- Ensure that all personnel adhere to safe working practices.
- Ensure that the Engineering Managers are advised of any defect or hazard which they cannot rectify themselves.
- Ensure that accidents/incidents involving team members are reported and investigated.
- They will ensure that effective supervision of employees is maintained at all times and particularly with new or inexperienced people.
- Provide management cover for the Engineering Managers during periods of absence and offer technical support and guidance to Engineering team colleagues.
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- General office-based design, attendance at meetings in other offices within Torbay and attendance at site meetings on local and regional projects.
- Work on construction sites inside Torbay at all times of the year.
- Working outside surveying/inspecting watercourses and main rivers.
- Working outside adjacent to a live public highway.
- Working outside in varied weather conditions during/after a flooding event.
- Normal working environment and conditions when in the design office.
7. Physical demands of the post
- The postholder will be required to attend site often daily and provide cover across different engineering disciplines (coastal, highways, drainage, structures) which require periods of intense physical demand.
- The post requires the inspection the various structures, watercourses and main rivers within Torbay, often involving intense effort on foot to reach Torbay Council assets. Some of these assets are in awkward to reach places i.e. down embankments, in overgrown areas or across fields etc.
- The above may require site attendance during periods of adverse weather conditions, possibly outside daylight hours and/or weekends during winter months to react to unexpected flood events. This will involve exposure to moderate noise, heat, cold and potentially uncomfortable or difficult surroundings / conditions.
- The post holder should be prepared for the regular occurrence of these events during periods of sustained adverse weather, as Torbay is a Critical Drainage Area.
8. Specific resources used by the post
- Surveying Equipment to undertake a variety of engineering functions – ranging in value from £500 to £25,000. Frequency of use is dependent on projects that are being undertaken but could be daily/weekly.
- Specialist computer software.
9. Key contacts and relationships
External:
- Working closely with colleagues within the Engineering section and within Torbay Council to achieve outputs as required by clients.
- Liaising with Council Members when necessary.
- Managing external consultants and contractors working on behalf of Torbay Council.
- Liaising with Statutory Undertakers and other individuals or bodies affected by the works.
- Dealing with members of the public through providing technical advice, enforcing land drainage law, consultations and supervision of contracts on site.
- Advising Council departments on a range of technical issues.
- Dealing with various government agencies.
Internal:
- Liaising with Torbay Council Departments regarding the preparation of urban, highway, coastal and civil/structural engineering designs and contracts.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Childrens Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
- This post is office based at Moose Hall but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If this post is a customer facing role and meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
- If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Senior Engineer (Drainage) |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Place |
Service |
Civil & Structural Engineering |
Business unit |
Engineering Services |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Effective communication skills, including correspondence and report preparation.
- IT skills including use of Microsoft packages, specialist design software, including Micro drainage, AutoCAD and general drainage packages.
- Ability to manage, monitor and review performance to meet targets.
- Ability to deal firmly but fairly with contractors on site, have an unbiased approach to people and an ability to deal tactfully and diplomatically with people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Ability to effectively prioritise workload and work on a diverse range of projects simultaneously.
- Ability to effectively persuade and negotiate with tact and diplomacy to minimise disputes and opposition and maintain effective relationships.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Project management skills.
- Presentation skills.
- Effective negotiation skills.
- Financial management skills.
- Competent in the use of GIS Software.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Detailed knowledge and understanding of civil engineering especially in relation to urban drainage.
- Advanced knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation and statutory obligations in relation to urban drainage.
- Extensive knowledge of sound engineering practices.
- Knowledge of Civil Engineering Method of Measurement.
- Knowledge of contract law.
- Financial monitoring and budgetary control.
Desirable knowledge
- Knowledge of Procurement process.
- Basic understanding of contract procedures and contract law.
- Knowledge of hydraulic modelling principles.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Extensive experience of civil engineering design, survey, taking-off quantities and contract preparation including use of modern computer techniques.
- Line management/team leader experience.
- Proven or demonstrable track record of supervising contractors and of administering contracts, measurements and accounts.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Experience of working with external organisations and other interest groups.
- Experience of Design and Supervision of urban drainage schemes.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Degree in Civil/Structural Engineering.
- Incorporated Engineer Status (or working towards IEng/CEng status with equivalent industry experience).
- Member of relevant professional association such as ICE or IStructE.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Academic and/or vocational qualifications in civil engineering design or related subjects.
- Chartered Engineer Status.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling).
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
- Ability to accommodate hybrid working and occasional out-of-hours working.
- DBS checked.