There is one position with Yakima County Public Services, Water Resources Division.  This position is responsible for providing project administration and engineering technical support services for all Water Resources projects through compilation, distribution and tracking of consistent contracting, legal and permitting procedures across projects for the Water Resources Division. Maintains levee database and activities for compliance within federal programs.

Essential Duties:

Supports Flood Control Zone District projects by providing contract administration and compliance across all Water Resources projects. Drafts and prepares contracts and contract documents (resolutions, change orders, amendments, etc.), permit applications and standard land agreements in accordance with project scope, specifications, and contracting guidelines, for review and presentation to project manager and management.

Acts as county liaison with contractors, state and county employees and entities, and with the public in regards to contract administration and compliance.

Provides guidance for standard requirements and support for suggested project deviations. Provides guidance, instruction, and updates as needed to departmental employees.

Tracks and reviews actual expenditures of projects (payroll hours, materials, services, etc.) and construction progress compared to contracts and year to date budget totals to ensure no overruns and unallowable costs are incurred and that the work reported as performed is in compliance to State and County regulations as outlined in the contract and notifies management. Builds and maintains reports, charts, and tables for budget, contracting, and project tracking.

Verifies pay applications and services are acceptable prior to management review. Submits invoices to manager for submission to Financial Services Accounting for processing payments.

When corrective action needed for project, recommends communication either written or verbal with appropriate departments, organizations, contractors, agencies, etc., regarding matters pertaining to construction projects.    

Provides project updates and annual project summaries for publication.

Supports Water Resources land and easement acquisitions and project permitting by researching available mechanisms to meet project goals and requirements, communicating with management, and coordinating with project managers. Coordinates legal description activities between department sections or with utility companies and governmental agencies. Identifies County owned and other public Water Resources land and easements.

Conducts independent construction site review and other investigation of levee issues to ensure compliance with regulations.

Reviews Corps of Engineers periodic inspections for accuracy and inspects federal levee to ensure satisfaction of accreditation requirements.

Coordinates mapping, data collection and maintenance activities between department sections or with utility companies and governmental agencies.

Evaluates completeness of maps, studies and maintenance of County owned and other public levee facilities.

Monitors and archives studies, FEMA models, maps on GIS and data on the County’s federal levee program.

Supports Water Resources project permit applications through consistency with past practices and deviations for current project. Develops planning and agency knowledge to meet requirements. Provides consistent guidance to meet grant requirements.

Compiles, in cooperation with the manager, Water Resources division manual of procedures for contract administration, easements, acquisitions and permit applications to ensure consistency in a changing environment.

Manages the Water Resources assets. Identifies items requiring asset numbers and ID’s and generates the required forms and preventive maintenance procedures according to the Operation & Maintenance procedures. Identifies items for disposal or auction and recommends to Water Resources Manager. Prepares and submits required asset documentation forms for disposal or auction to Financial Services.

Manages the employee badge requests and new/change user forms.

Other duties as assigned, including flood response.

Education and Experience: Associate degree or two-year technical certificate in Engineering, Environmental Sciences Construction Management, Business Management or related field and four (4) years engineering experience / construction project development administration or the equivalent combination of education and experience to perform the essential duties of the job.

Required:

• Valid WA State driver’s license and proof of insurance, if requested.

• Successful completion of a financial background investigation and general employment verification

• Computer skills using Microsoft Office Software (Word, Excel and Outlook)

• Volunteer or paid work experience using the rules and regulations related to surface water management; surveying theories and principles

Preferred:

• Experience drafting and administering engineering construction work contracts

• Work / volunteer experience and basic understanding of the following regulations, codes and programs: Clean Water Act, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System – Phase II, Safe Drinking Water Act, Underground Injection Control Program, National Flood Insurance Program, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, State Environmental Policy Act, Hydraulic Project Approval, Tribal Water Code, Water Rights Laws, Critical Areas Ordinance, Shoreline Management Act and Growth Management Act.

This position is a Yakima County Clerical, Technical and Professional Employees Group position.

Equipment Used: Desktop/Laptop computers, spreadsheets, data logs, GIS, field vehicle, GPS equipment, camera, scanner, waders and miscellaneous surveying equipment.

Working Conditions: Environmental Demands: excessive noise, exposure to weather, extreme temperatures, travel, field work; may be required to work outside of standard business hours and at alternate work locations including field. Physical Demands: bending, carrying, lifting, reaching, sitting, standing, walking, fingering, hearing, talking, visual acuity. Intellectual Demands: ability to multitask, confidentiality, ability to work under pressure, ability to articulate and communicate information in conversations, ability to follow written and verbal instruction. Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Knowledge:

• Using a computer and applicable software; designing and executing technical environmental studies; writing reports and plans; reading maps, interpreting blueprints, schematics and plans; working as part of a team and establishing effective interpersonal relationships at all organizational levels and with the public;

• Knowledge of Department of Revenue laws, LNI laws, Federal laws and requirements in order to administer contracts, check certified payrolls, file reports, organize files and collect necessary documentation to support information;

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting systems, procedures and practices (GASB);

• Knowledge of auditing and internal control techniques and principles;

• Knowledge of project management techniques and principles;

• Knowledge of personnel management techniques and principles;

• Knowledge of data processing systems support practices and techniques as applied to accounting, cost accounting and database management.

• Oral and written communication sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction

Skills (and abilities):

• Skill in developing and maintaining spreadsheets, math skills

• Skill in drafting contracts, interpreting and applying regulations

• Independently work under pressure and meet routine and periodic deadlines

• Monitor and evaluate operations and take effective action to correct deficiencies and resolve problems

• Read, interpret and apply relevant federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations as they apply to department operations and/or inter and intra governmental agreements

• Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with state and county officials; department heads, peers, associates, subordinates, officials of other agencies, and with the general public.