Civil Engineer (Highway) (Construction Program Manager) (Direct Hire)

As a Civil Engineer (Highway) (Construction Program Manager), you will: Represent the Division at Senior leadership and staff level meetings with Caltrans, local public agencies, other federal agencies and industry partners.

Participate in task forces or other committees to provide engineering expertise, develop policy, and assist in resolving complex Construction Program problems involving program management implementation.

Develop, implement, and monitor the Construction Program-related elements of the Stewardship and Oversight Agreement and for Discretionary Grant funded non-state DOT/direct recipient projects. Determine program progress and success in meeting overall agency goals. Recommend improvements and develop improvement action plans as needed.

Provide engineering expertise, technical assistance, and recommendations to Division staff on construction project related matters in accordance with the Division's risk-based stewardship and oversight initiatives.

Lead and/or participate in program reviews of the Construction Program procedures and processes used by Caltrans to implement Federal-aid projects. This may include researching background information and performing risk assessments.

Conduct continuous process improvement guidelines, analyzing the existing process, performing data analysis, mapping processes, writing reports, and involvement in the resolution of findings and recommendations. Share Construction Program related information and coordinate with internal FHWA staff.

Provide expertise and advice to Transportation Engineers, Financial Specialists, and other technical specialists in resolving Construction Program related issues that have programmatic implications. Review and approve annual updates to the Caltrans Construction Manual and updates to Office Bulletins.

Coordinate FHWA comments on draft updates to the Caltrans Construction Manual and Office Bulletins from FHWA functional and program specialists in related program areas. Approve Caltrans Specifications and Standard Plans.

Monitor and analyze Division activities to identify Construction Program trends and recurring issues, report those issues to the Executive Leadership Team, and recommend actions to enhance opportunities and/or mitigate threats The ideal candidate is a mid-career professional who has experience administering Highway Engineering and Construction programs at a national, statewide, or local transportation system level applying construction methods, alternative contracting strategies, and sound engineering principles and techniques in delivering highway and bridge construction projects to manage performance and track the health of the federal-aid program.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must (1) meet the Education Requirement for the series, (2) provide a copy of transcripts for verification, AND (3) meet the specialized experience requirements.

To qualify for the GS-12, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-11, it must include: Experience conducting highway construction engineering reviews and managing related programs; AND Experience providing guidance on strategies, regulations, policies and procedures relating to highway construction programs.

To qualify for the GS-13, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-12, it must include: Experience managing or leading highway, transportation and construction programs; AND Experience in applying theories and application of strategies in highway and bridge engineering, construction methods, construction management, alternative contracting methods, traffic control, materials, schedules, contract plans, specifications, cost estimating, change orders, regulations, contract interpretation and conflict resolution, and construction performance reviews and tracking; AND Experience in advocating, providing guidance, and facilitating complex construction problems in areas of highway and transportation engineering and construction management.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Civil Engineering - Knowledge of the concepts, principles, theories, and methods required to plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain facilities such as buildings, transportation systems, water and sanitary systems, and other public works systems.

Contracting/Procurement - Knowledge of various types of contracts, techniques, or requirements (for example, Federal Acquisitions Regulations) for contracting or procurement, and contract negotiation and administration.

Partnering - Develops networks and builds alliances; collaborates across boundaries to build strategic relationships and achieve common goals.

Project Management - Knowledge of the principles, methods, or tools for developing, scheduling, coordinating, and managing projects and resources, including monitoring and inspecting costs, work, and contractor performance.

Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/employment-faq/federal-hiring/how-do-i-apply-for-federal-jobs/ All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.