Waukegan, IL – City Engineer

CITY OF WAUKEGAN, IL

Job Title: City Engineer
Department/Division: Engineering Department
Reports to: Mayor
Supervises: Engineering Staff
FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt
Employee Group: Non-union

Minimum Education:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in civil engineering or related field.

Minimum Experience:

Must have five (5) years of professional civil engineering experience, two years of which were at a supervisory/managerial level.

Required Minimum Certifications:

Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the State of Illinois, or if registered outside of Illinois, have the ability to obtain within 6 months.

Other Requirements:

• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred:

• Bilingual (Spanish)

JOB SUMMARY:

This position manages, coordinates, and directs the engineering planning, design, and construction functions for the City of Waukegan. The City Engineer performs professional level engineering planning, design, and construction oversight on difficult, complex and/or sensitive construction.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are essential for this position.  However, they are not to be construed as exclusive or all–inclusive.  To be successful in this position, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily.  Other duties may also be required or assigned.

• Plans, organizes, assigns, supervises, reviews, and evaluates the work of engineers and technical support staff, normally through subordinate supervision.
• Develops and implements goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the department; prepares and administers the budget.
• Participates in long- and short-term departmental planning and policy formation.
• Conducts studies and reviews of site plans and projects; directs the development of engineering solutions to problems related to such areas as bridges, storm or sanitary sewers, roadways, water systems, flood control systems, and office or plant facility design and retrofitting; recommends alternative approaches, including the use of contract services and the incorporation of new methods and materials.
• Directs the preparation of project designs, cost estimates, specifications, and project schedules.
• Prepares requests for proposal and contract specifications for design and construction services; participates in the selection of contractors and administers professional service contracts.
• Maintains liaison with other departments, various utility and governmental agency and departmental staff; ensures that building codes are met in assigned projects.
• Administers contracts with and confers with architects and construction contractors; schedules projects; provides technical oversight, inspects work in progress and ensures that all work complies with contract specifications and applicable codes and standards.
• Directs the maintenance of accurate records and files and prepares a variety of periodic and special reports and correspondence.
• Drives a motor vehicle to conduct on-site inspections, attend off-site meetings and responds to emergency calls.
• Interpreting, applying, and explaining complex codes, ordinances and regulations related to the areas of responsibility.
• Preparing and directing the preparation of clear and concise reports, policies, procedures, correspondence, and other written materials.

Please take notice that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

• Understanding of municipal codes, ordinances, and regulatory standards related to public improvement projects.
• Proficiency in performing field inspections and surveys, including construction staking, layout services, and topographic mapping.
• Ability to recognize deviations from approved plans, specifications, and codes during inspections and recommend corrective actions.
• Strong analytical skills to review project plans, monitor construction progress, and identify potential issues.
• Expertise in preparing accurate reports, field notes, and quantity computations for construction projects.
• Effective communication skills to provide clear guidance to contractors, engineers, architects, and the public.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to handle multiple inspections and administrative tasks efficiently.
• Ability to collaborate with other City departments and agencies to coordinate repairs, maintenance, and compliance efforts.
• Familiarity with GIS concepts and technology for mapping and project documentation.
• Capacity to stay current with changes in industry standards, codes, and inspection technologies.
• Problem-solving skills to address and resolve construction-related challenges effectively.
• Commitment to maintaining professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive project data.
• Ability to work independently and make informed decisions in the field while adhering to City policies and regulations.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work has exposure to indoor and outdoor environmental conditions including inclement weather, heavy traffic conditions, fumes or airborne particles, and work near mechanical parts.
• Work is in a moderately noisy setting outdoors.

SALARY/HOW TO APPLY:

The starting salary is $155,000 – $180,000 annually.  If interested in this position, please submit your resume and cover letter to jobs@waukeganIL.gov and indicate City Engineer in the subject line.

The City of Waukegan is an Equal Opportunity Employer

For more information, contact:

Human Resources
HR@waukeganil.gov