Whatcom County Public Works is seeking a proven leader to serve as Engineering Manager for the Traffic Section of Engineering Services. This critically important position will make professional recommendations to and directly support the County Engineer to ensure the safety of the travelling public on the County road system.

 In this role, you will have the opportunity to independently operate as a proactive driver of traffic safety and operations projects. The Traffic Section oversees the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) barrier removal program, provides review of private development Traffic Impact Analysis Reports, supports and coordinates with Public Works Maintenance & Operations staff on a variety of road maintenance projects, creates traffic control and protection plans in compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), interacts with Local/State/Federal/Tribal entities on a multitude of issues, presents ordinances/resolutions/policies to County Council, writes grants in order to obtain State and Federal funding, manages funding for engineering projects, and identifies and prioritizes multimodal transportation improvement projects.

 The Engineering Manager will lead the Traffic Section team to fulfill many of the State regulatory requirements of the Office of the County Engineer, provide current and accurate data to all County engineering staff, and facilitate the traffic count program and pavement management system.

 Essential Duties

The following list reflects the essential job duties and responsibilities of this classification, but should not be considered all-inclusive. The incumbent will be expected to perform other related duties as assigned.

• Directs, supervises and manages the activities of the Traffic Section of the Public Works Department, including planning, design, operations and maintenance of the County's traffic and transportation system and infrastructure and all related activities;

• Prepares and reviews plans and specifications for all traffic control devices, road and intersection projects, electrical equipment and materials, construction detours and street lighting - for both public capital and private development projects - to ensure proper layout, capacity, and traffic control elements are provided for all travel modes, and to ensure compliance with access management principles, identify violations of traffic codes and possible safety hazards, verify projects meet transportation concurrency requirements and assess mitigation requirements as appropriate;
• Performs short- and long-range transportation planning, including assisting with preparation of the County's Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) and Annual Construction Program (ACP);
• Prepares and reviews traffic and safety studies; determines improvements and corrections necessary to comply with law and ensure the safety of all citizens
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of grant applications including analyzing current and future traffic needs of the County and traffic related cost estimates;
• Develops, recommends and implements traffic and transportation engineering investigations, studies, use of appropriate traffic control devices, and detour patterns for construction projects;
• Assist in management and operation of the County's traffic control signal system, street light system, school and crosswalk signal systems, signing and markings program and traffic sign asset management and retro-reflectivity compliance;
• Receives and responds to traffic and transportation concerns and issues and determines and recommends appropriate resolutions to maintain positive community/customer relations for the Section, Department and County.
• Participates in meetings with other departments, outside agencies and commissions, citizen groups, etc. to provide information and direction in relation to Federal, State and County traffic and transportation engineering standards, requirements, guidelines, etc.
• Coordinates with the County's traffic safety, bicycle, pedestrian and transit programs;
• Acts as a mentor and technical resource for assigned staff;
• Develops and monitors Section goals and objectives to efficiently accomplish assigned tasks and responsibilities of the Traffic Section.
• Reviews the work of assigned staff and consultants to ensure conformance with sound engineering practices, and all applicable environmental and Federal, State and County standards and regulations;
• Assures that concerns and complaints from the public and others are adequately and timely addressed; analyzes solutions for problems and challenges and recommends corrective action, as needed;
• Develops proposals and oversees the selection, negotiation and administration of consulting engineering agreements;
• Prepares and monitors the Traffic Section budget;
• Prepares reports and presentations for the Department, County Council and other agencies;
• Supervises development of and revisions to County traffic related engineering standards and specifications;
• Provides for training and development of assigned staff;
• Conducts performance evaluations, administers discipline; participates in the hiring, termination and pay change recommendations of Section staff;

Supervisor: County Engineer or Natural Resources Program Manager

Hours of Work: Monday - Friday 8 AM - 5 PM 

The ideal candidate will have experience in a wide range of traffic and multimodal transportation issues and projects, have a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineeringor a related field AND five years of progressively responsible and related professional engineering experience INCLUDING two years of supervisory experience and one year as a Registered Professional Engineer.

The successful employee will think critically with a mind toward the safety of the travelling public, act proactively to anticipate needs of the citizens of Whatcom County to solve transportation issues, and bring a positive influence to the workgroup culture.

A valid Professional Traffic Operations Engineering (PTOE) certification is desirable.