District Engineer

City of Big Bear Lake Department of Water & Power

District Engineer

About the Community

The City of Big Bear Lake is nestled in the stunning San Bernardino Mountains. Big Bear Lake is defined by its rustic traditions, rich history, and pristine views. It is home to two of Southern California’s largest ski resorts, and provides four seasons of abundant recreational opportunities, including fishing, horseback riding, biking, camping, golfing, skiing, snowboarding, boating, and hiking. With its small-town atmosphere, Big Bear Lake offers its residents solitude and serenity with easy access to major metropolitan areas. The unsurpassed quality of life offered has attracted many people to have second homes in the area. The full-time population in Big Bear Valley is approximately 22,000. The City also has a Performing Arts Center with a state-of-the art 398-seat theater. The Center is dedicated to promoting and attracting both big names and local talent. Additionally, the City hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, including Oktoberfest, International Film Festival, mountain bike racing, jazz festivals, car shows, trout classics, and ski and snowboard competitions. The City also boasts an exceptional school system, and active service groups and churches.

The City of Big Bear Lake, Department of Water and Power (DWP) distributes its potable ground water supply through a distribution system consisting of four water systems, 180 miles of pipeline, 33 vertical wells, 22 slant wells, 15 reservoirs, 12 booster stations, 41 pressure reducing values, 26 chlorination stations, and 22 sample stations. DWP’s primary source of revenue is from water user fees.

About the Opportunity

The District Engineer reports to the General Manager and is responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the engineering activities of the Department. The incumbent oversees, directs, and participates in all short- and long-term planning, organizing, and managing of plans, specifications, designs, estimates, and schedules; coordinates project monitoring programs; participates in the development of DWP goals and objectives consistent with Capital Improvement Plans and ensures their effective execution.

The DWP has constructed $57 million of capital improvements over the last twelve years. The District Engineer will work closely with the design consultants during design and bidding of the projects. During construction the District Engineer will act as the project manager, overseeing the DWP’s two construction observers, reviewing payment and change order requests, and be responsible for final project acceptance.  

The District Engineer is a department director classification that leads, plans, organizes, oversees, coordinates, and manages engineering functions including oversight for DWP’s capital improvement projects, easements, development services, and capital projects; analyzes, reviews, identifies, prepares, and administers grant opportunities, and makes recommendations on programs and policies affecting the DWP’s infrastructure; provides complex and responsible support to the General Manager in areas of expertise. Knowledge of public policy, DWP functions, including the role of the Board of Commissioners, and the ability to develop, oversee, and implement projects and programs in a variety of areas is necessary.  Responsibilities include coordinating the activities within DWP and outside agencies and managing and overseeing the complex and varied functions of the department. The incumbent is accountable for accomplishing departmental planning and operational goals and objectives, and for furthering DWP goals and objectives within general policy guidelines.

About the Responsibilities

Some of the Engineer’s responsibilities will include but not be limited to the following:

• Plans, manages, and oversees daily engineering functions, operations, and activities including capital facilities design, easements, and development services.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for the DWP.
• Participates in the development, administration, and oversight of assigned project budgets.
• Develops and standardizes procedures and methods to improve and continuously monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of assigned programs, service delivery methods, and procedures; assesses and monitors workload, administrative, and support systems.
• Manages multi-disciplinary engineering projects and studies through all phases including planning, design, construction, and implementation, and start-up; leads project teams, consultants, and/or contractors in the execution of projects; develops or reviews and approves work plans including, scope of work, schedules, and baseline and/or service requirements; ensures project compliance with DWP safety requirements.
• Ensures established DWP standards, policies, and procedures, and engineering best practices are consistently applied; analyzes, interprets, and explains regulations and policies related to area(s) of assignment; researches and tracks legislative and regulatory developments; recommends, implements operations, compliance, and/or policy solutions.
• Facilitates the procurement process for contractors and consultants; prepares invitations for bids, request for proposals, bid analysis, and evaluation documents; reviews proposals and provides recommendation for selection; verifies compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and/or agreements; prepares and negotiates contracts.
• Performs field reviews of project activities; participates in conferences and discussions with various field personnel.   

Education, Experience, and Requirements

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in civil, mechanical, environmental engineering, or related field.
• Ten (10) years of increasingly responsible and diversified engineering experience including water planning, water utility engineering design and construction, and project management experience including three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.
• Possession of, or successful acquisition by time of appointment, a valid Registration as a Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of California, to be maintained throughout employment; or if license transferring from out-of-state, acquisition within six (6) months of appointment.

Compensation

The annual salary range is $174,425.07 to $212,014.76 depending on qualifications and experience.

The benefit package includes but is not limited to:

• Retirement with SBCERA (reciprocal with CalPers)
• 100% Employer paid Employee + family medical coverage at the HMO level (HealthNet or Kaiser)
• 100% Employer paid Dental and Vision coverage
• Employer paid life insurance of $50,000
• 9/80 optional alternative work schedule
• 14 paid holidays
• 80-120-160 hours of vacation per year (depends on number of years employed)
• 88 hours of sick leave
• 40 hours of administrative leave
• 16 hours of personal leave
• Employer 457 (b) matching contributions of up to 1%
• Employee paid supplemental benefits – life, accident, LTD, STD, cancer, critical illness, flexible spending account

For more information on the position, please go to: https://www.bbldwp.com

Important Application Information

To apply for this opportunity, please visit DWP’s website at www.bbldwp.com/jobs for more information. A cover letter and resume may be submitted to rfranklin@bbldwp.com or mailed to this address:

Big Bear Lake, DWP

PO Box 1929

Big Bear Lake, CA 92315

The information contained herein does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract, and these provisions are subject to change. EOE/ADA