Job Responsibilities

This position is accountable for investigating, reviewing and processing all district permits for highway access and road closures and reviewing the design and construction of access facilities placed on the state right-of-way under permit.

Value of Construction: $3-$5 million annually

Subordinate Personnel: 2-direct

Volume of Work: 300-400 permits per year

Geographic Area 7 counties, including 3 metropolitan areas

This position reports to the Operations Plans/Design Engineer. Reporting to this position is the Permits Technician, the Permits Field Technician, and other technicians on a part-time or seasonal basis.

The permits process includes reviewing plans, coordinating a field review, preparing permit forms, preparing bond forms, and other permit correspondence. This position is unique in that after issuance of a permit, this position continues to coordinate on-site inspections of completed work with field maintenance personnel, addresses permit deficiencies and determines if a final permit approval should be given. This position requires tact and diplomacy, as daily contact is required with all categories of public and private sectors. Within this environment, the incumbent must ensure that permit matters are expeditiously and efficiently resolved. The incumbent along with the Operations Plans/Design Engineer advise the Regional Engineer and the Operations Engineer on matters in their technical area.

Typical problems include maintaining personal knowledge of current regulations and procedures, collecting accurate field data, and explaining technical permit requirements to the applicants. The greatest challenge is to provide prompt and tactful permit service to a profit/time-oriented community while maintaining the affect and authority of the permit procedure.

The incumbent is responsible for coordinating all activities involved with highway permitting of private work or activities within state-controlled rights-of-way. Permitting effort ranges from access for commercial or private entrances, subdivision and streets, utilities, planting and vegetation control, temporary highway closures, and other private activity requests. The incumbent shall ensure that all permits comply with federal and state laws and policies and if not in compliance, s/he must advise requestors of deficiencies and corrective action necessary. The incumbent will personally coordinate efforts to process and issue permits for access to commercial property, high volume generators, and new public roads and streets.

(Job Responsibilities continued)

This position will refer to road construction plans, right-of-way documents, and the district’s planning programs in the completion of these duties.

The incumbent accomplishes his/her accountabilities with the following staff:

Permits Technician who processes and issues permits for private entrances and utility work.

Permits Field Technician who is accountable for collecting, maintaining, updating, and distributing information for the bureau’s permit, roadway data and inventory files.

The incumbent has wide latitude in determining if a permit should be approved and in applying technical knowledge in prescribing materials, geometrics, hydraulics, and other specifications for permit construction. The incumbent, along with the Operations Plans/Design Engineer will review consultant plans for fundamental hydraulic and geometric design and work with Program Development units on these issues. The incumbent is governed by federal and state directives and has authority to interpret them in approving permit requests. Problems referred to supervisors involve legal aspects, directing access to large commercial developments and any negotiation disagreements that involve political intervention.

The position has frequent contact with the central Bureau of Operations in matters of special permits and daily contact with members of the general public with regard to permit applications. The incumbent has frequent contacts with Maintenance Operations and the district Bureaus of Program Development and Project Implementation to coordinate permit requests with existing and proposed department plans, programs, and Maintenance Operations. The incumbent also has frequent contact with municipal officials, consulting engineers, and contractors with regard to construction, access permits and drainage ways along state highways. This position requires a valid driver’s license; travel within the district and some outside of the district; limited overnight travel outside the district; and limited overtime.

The effectiveness of this position can be measured by timely and efficient completion of the permit process and the ability to assure conformance with federal and state policies relative to permits.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Maintains knowledge of the various policies, projects, and programs in the Bureaus of Operations, Program Development, and Project Implementation as they relate to permit matters.
2. Investigates, prepares, issues, records, and files highway permits in accordance with prescribed time schedules.
3. Ensures that all permit requests meet department objectives with regard to the safety of the traveling public.
4. Provides direction, review, and motivation of subordinate personnel.
5. Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
6. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Position Requirements

• Education/Experience:

• Completion of two years of college in civil engineering technology, pre-engineering or a job related technical/science curriculum PLUS six years of engineering experience; OR
• Eight years of engineering experience

• Valid driver’s license
• Districtwide travel and occasional statewide travel; limited overnight travel and overtime

Position Desirables

• Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of civil engineering related to the design, construction and maintenance of transportation projects
• Three years of experience in a supervisory position
• Ability to plan, organize and execute administrative or technical program requirements
• Ability to plan and direct efforts of work for efficient accomplishments of program objectives
• Ability to maintain harmonious relationships with employees, agency officials and the public
• Strong oral and written communication skills