Salary: $113,984.00 - $196,206.40 Annually
Location : Arlington, VA
Job Type: Full-Time Permanent
Job Number: 2960-24A-DES-DB
Department: Department of Environmental Services
Division: DES Water Sewer and Streets
Opening Date: 03/22/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Position Information

The is seeking a Chief Operating Engineer for the Water, Sewer, & Streets (WSS) Bureau. The WSS Bureau is organized into two (2) major sections: (1) Water (including Water Distribution and Water Maintenance sections), and (2) Sewer & Streets, each has a Chief Operating Engineer to oversee their respective sections.
The Chief Operating Engineer is responsible for managing the operation of the County's Water or Sewer & Streets infrastructure and will use effective communication, proven decision-making skills, and experience analyzing data and technology systems to guide practices and priorities. Each Chief Operating Engineer manages approximately 80 full-time employees comprised of technicians, equipment operators, and field supervisors, who provide continuous staffing on an ongoing, 24/7 basis, year-round. This includes directly interacting with and engaging operations staff in the field and in the office on a variety of routine and emergency situations.
Specific duties include:

• Providing planning, direction, management oversight and evaluation of assigned services and programs;
• Collaborating with staff, contractors, vendors, citizens and representatives of the state and other agencies to represent the County on a wide range of engineering and operational issues;
• Ensuring a safe working environment, practices, and equipment for operational staff;
• Providing professional engineering guidance, technical expertise and operational oversight to assigned services and programs;
• Responding to public works emergencies, including weather-related or otherwise, and to citizens complaints within assigned areas; and
• Interpreting, monitoring, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.

The ideal candidate will have technical or operational experience in the major program area(s), excellent oral and written communication skills to interpret complex technical material, write reports, proposals, policies, and procedures and to effectively manage employees. Thorough knowledge of civil engineering principles, County codes, standards and specifications and the ability to apply technology-based solutions are essential.
Selection Criteria

Minimum:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or related technical field;
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in managing programs, staff, and other resources, including technology applications, in a public works environment. Experience providing technical (engineering) and operational oversight in the areas of sewer, street and snow operations is essential. Also, must have direct supervisory experience of operations and emergency management.

Substitution: Any equivalent combination of education, training and qualifying experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Desirable: Preference may be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

• Managing a CDL fleet and/or drivers and managing employees under a collective bargaining agreement;
• Providing technical and operational oversight in public works and/or urban infrastructure systems (water, sanitary, storm, pavement, other);
• Local or state government experience in urban public works (engineering, water system operations and maintenance, storm sewer, sanitary sewer and/or streets maintenance);
• Managing emergency response operations in functional area assigned; and/or
• Using SCADA, utility billing, Asset Management, or Computerized Maintenance Management software or other specialized systems software.

Preferred Certification/Licensure:

• Registered as a Professional Engineer (PE) in the state of Virginia or state with reciprocity; and/or
• Waterworks or Wastewater Works Operator's License.

Special Requirements

Please note: As part of a complete application, please submit/attach a resume and cover letter detailing how your education and professional experience has prepared you for this position and include details of your management experience and strong record of achievement managing public works or urban infrastructure operations and maintenance. Please submit your cover letter as an attachment or use the space provided in the supplemental questionnaire.

A pre-hire background check will be made on all candidates who are selected for employment. It may include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You may be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.
This position requires assigned duties at locations other than the primary worksite. The selected candidate must possess a valid motor vehicle operator's license or have the ability to use alternative transportation methods and must provide or authorize Arlington County to obtain a copy of official state/district driving record. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon a favorable review of the applicant's driving record.
Completion of the Commonwealth of Virginia Statement of Economic Interest form will be required of the successful candidate upon hire and annually thereafter.
Additional Information

Work Hours: Core work hours are 6:30am to 3:00pm, Monday through Friday. Employees are subject to occasional shift rotation based on departmental need and must be available for call-back for emergency situations (i.e., traffic emergencies, snow removal, etc.).
This is not a remote opportunity.
Starting salary will depend upon the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected. This position is in the Arlington County Government's Extended Management Accountability Program (XMAP2), in which Senior Executives are eligible for a negotiated salary/benefits package and are evaluated and compensated based on a performance agreement linked to the County Management Plan, results achieved, and a multi-rater appraisal. XMAP is a flexible total rewards/compensation system directly linked to performance and the market.
For more information on Arlington's family friendly benefits,
This recruitment is open until the position is filled with a preferred filing date of April 12, 2024. Applications will be screened on a continuous basis. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible. Interviews will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the recruitment with candidates whose qualifications best fit our needs. The application process will close when the position has been filled or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Please complete each section of the application. Your responses to the supplemental questionnaire are considered part of the selection process and are required for this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
#LI-Onsite

Applicants who have questions or need assistance with the application may telephone (703) 228-3500 or visit the Human Resources Department. Our staff will be happy to work with you to enter your application into the system. Public access computers are available at all County Libraries, and in the Human Resources Department.
The examination process for this position may include: (1) training and experience evaluation; (2) written and oral examination; (3) personal interview; (4) performance test/work sample; and/or (5) physical examination.
Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process. Please call the ADA Coordinator at 703-228-3559 (voice) or email .
Eligibility for Arlington County Government employee benefits depends on your position type (permanent or temporary) and your status (full-time or part-time).
More detailed information on benefits and conditions of employment is available on the Arlington County Human Resources Department website: www.arlingtonva.us/pers.
Permanent, Full-Time Appointments
All jobs are permanent, full-time appointments unless otherwise stated in the announcement. The following benefits are available:
Paid Leave: Vacation leave is earned at the rate of five hours biweekly. Leave accrual increases gradually until eight hours of leave are earned biweekly for twelve or more years of service. Sick leave is earned at the rate of four hours biweekly. Paid parental and family leave benefits are also offered. Leave is pro-rated for part-time employees.
Holidays: There are eleven paid fixed holidays each year, as well as two floating holidays. Initial allotment of floating holidays may vary based on when you are hired.
Health and Dental Insurance: Four group health insurance plans are offered - a health maintenance organization, two plans with in-network only coverage, and a high-deductible plan with in and out-of-network coveerage, along with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Group dental insurance is also offered, with two options for coverage. The County pays a significant portion of the premium for these plans for employees and their dependents. The County also contributes to the HSA.
Life Insurance: Basic life insurance is provided at no cost to employees. The benefit is one times annual salary. Additional life insurance may be purchased for yourself, spouse, and/or children.
Retirement: The County retirement program is made up of three parts: a defined benefit (pension) plan, a defined contribution plan (401(a)), and a deferred compensation plan (457). The defined benefit plan provides a monthly retirement benefit based on your final average salary and years of service with the County. You contribute a portion of your salary on a pre-tax basis to this plan. General employees contribute 4% of pay; uniformed public safety employees contribute 7.5% of pay. The County also contributes to this plan. Employees become vested in the plan at five years of service.
For general employees, the County also contributes 4.2% of pay to a defined contribution plan (401(a)). The 457 deferred compensation plan allows you to save for retirement on either a pre-tax (457b) or post-tax (457 Roth) basis up to the IRS annual limit. New employees are automatically enrolled with a pre-tax contribution equal to 2% of your pay. A variety of investment options are available for the 401(a) and 457 plans.
Other Benefits: The County also offers health care, dependent care, and parking flexible spending accounts; adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement; transit and walk/bike to work subsidies; a college savings plan; wellness programs; training opportunities; and a variety of other benefits.
Permanent, Part-Time Appointments:
Part-time employees who work ten or more hours per week receive paid leave and benefits in proportion to the number of hours worked per week.
Limited Term Appointments:
Benefits are the same as permanent appointments except that the employees do not achieve permanent status.
Temporary Regular Appointments:
Temporary regular employees who work 30 hours or more per week are eligible for health, dental, and basic life insurance as described above. They are also eligible for vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.
Temporary Seasonal and Occasional Appointments:
Temporary employees who work on a seasonal basis or variable hours receive sick leave, but do not normally receive other paid leave or benefits. Exceptions are noted in individual announcements.
01

What is your highest level of education?

• Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or related technical field
• Bachelor's degree in unrelated field
• Master's degree (or higher) in civil engineering or related technical field
• Master's degree (or higher) in unrelated field
• None of the above

02

How much full-time, progressively responsible experience do you have in managing programs, staff, and public works or urban infrastructure operations and maintenance, or closely related area?

• None
• Less than 1 year
• 1 to less than 2 years
• 2 to less than 3 years
• 3 to less than 4 years
• 4 to less than 5 years
• 5 to less than 6 years
• 6 to less than 7 years
• 7 or more years

03

Select any experience and/or credentials you have with any of the following: Please ensure the detail of experience is reflected in your application.

• Managing a CDL fleet and/or drivers.
• Managing employees under a collective bargaining agreement.
• Public works and/or urban infrastructure systems management (water, sanitary, storm, pavement, other related).
• Local or state government experience in urban public works (engineering, water system operations and maintenance, storm sewer maintenance, sanitary sewer maintenance and/or street maintenance).
• Managing emergency responses.
• Implementing and/or utilizing an Asset Management software (AMS) or Computerized Maintenance Management (CMMS) such as Cartegraph.
• Using SCADA software
• Using Utility Billing software
• Registered Professional Engineer (PE) from the state of Virginia or state with reciprocity.
• Waterworks or Wastewater Works Operator's License.
• None of the above.

04

As noted in the job announcement, a complete application will include an attached resume and a cover letter.Please use the space below or attach a cover letter addressing how your experience and education have prepared you to meet the minimum and desirable qualifications of this position. Include details of your management experience and experience managing public works or urban infrastructure operations and maintenance, or closely related area.
05

I understand that a complete application will include a cover letter and a resume. I have included both documents as part of my completed application.

• Yes
• No

Required Question