Chief Engineer(Transportation Chief of Engineering and Construction Services)

Introduction

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is seeking an experienced professional to serve as Chief Engineer (Transportation Chief of Engineering and Construction Services). The Chief Engineer plays a key role in managing, administering, and implementing engineering and construction programs, projects, and operations at CTDOT.  

THE ROLE

As Chief Engineer, you will serve not only as the senior engineer for the agency, but also as the Bureau Chief for the Bureau of Engineering and Construction and will be based out of the CTDOT’s Newington Headquarters.  

Working as a member of the Commissioner’s executive team, you will advance the strategic direction of the Department and provide leadership to a hard-working and growing team of employees. This will be key to ensuring CTDOT effectively plans and executes the historic transportation investment authorized in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will transform the state’s transportation system for this generation and the next. 

In this role, you will oversee two primary branches of operations: 

• Pre-Construction - with separate offices involving Bridges and Structures, Traffic, Highways, Rights of Way, Facilities and Support Services; and 
• Construction - with five regional district offices. 

Both branches are involved in providing capital improvements to our infrastructure system in order to address public health and safety deficiencies on our transportation network.  

The Bureau of Engineering and Construction is a multi-modal, service centric bureau supporting the capital project needs of not only Engineering and Construction, but also the operating bureaus, in particular the Bureau of Public Transportation and the Bureau of Highway Operations. The Chief Engineer position is the unifying position administering a capital program valued at roughly $2 billion, and growing each year.  The capital program produces construction projects that help drive Connecticut’s economy, and help improve quality of life for all residents.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Delivery of the Department's capital program,
• Staffing decisions and consultant procurement decisions,
• Ensuring adherence to federal and state regulations regarding the design process and Right of Way procurement,
• Allocating funding and staff resources to ensure transportation assets, including 4,143 State and Federal road miles and 4000 bridges, as well as the Department's highway and transit facilities, are maintained in a state of good repair,
• Defining needed Capital Projects, ensuring proper preparation of contract plans, specifications and estimates and then ensuring the safe and efficient implementation of the construction efforts,
• Oversight across Bureaus on matters related to capital planning, asset management, and engineering to provide a consistent approach that promotes sustainability and economic vitality across the multi-modal transportation system,
• Coordinating Department-wide engineering activities and ensuring consistent focus on mission priorities,
• Consulting with the operating Bureaus in the development of a balanced capital program that supports the Department's strategic plan and the Commissioner's initiatives in maintaining and advancing all modes of transportation,
• Coordinating with the Bureau of Finance & Administration to apply strategies to the multi-modal Capital Program to optimize funding across all modes of transportation,
• Improving the integration of planning functions contained within the Bureaus of Policy and Planning and Public Transportation with the engineering functions contained within the Bureau of Engineering and Construction.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE:

• Extensive experience in transportation, engineering, or construction
• Leadership in achieving results through a performance and outcome-based management approach
• High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and decision making
• Understanding of, and familiarity with, public sector processes
• Drive and focus on all aspects of the state’s transportation system and the impact of the system on all residents and communities

The Chief Engineer may represent CTDOT and the Commissioner on various Boards and Commissions, attend regional and national meetings, collaborate with industry partners, and testify in front of the legislature.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must be flexible to meet the needs of the Commissioner and the Department, and must be available to travel for conferences, meetings, field reviews, etc., both within and outside of normal working hours, when necessary. A valid driver's license is required and must be maintained. Active Connecticut Professional Engineer (PE) licensure from the Department of Consumer Protection State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consistent with C.G.S.§20-302 is required and must be maintained.  

APPLICATION DETAILS

Please list your Connecticut Professional Engineer (PE) license number and expiration date and your Driver's license number, expiration date, and issuing State, and any other job-relevant licenses or certifications you hold, in the Licenses and Professional Certifications section of your application.

CONTINUE TO ENJOY

• Visit our newState Employee Benefits Overview page! 
• A healthy work-life balance to all employees
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• Continue to work for a Forbes top company - ‘Forbes’: State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
• Remain with an award winning agency! CTDOT has been recently awarded the Employer of the Year award by the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers (CSCE) and named the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) CT Employer of the Year for 2024!

WHO WE ARE

As one of Connecticut's largest State agencies, DOT employs approximately 3,300 individuals statewide in five bureaus. It is the DOT's mission to improve quality of life through transportation. We have a significant transportation infrastructure system that is essential to maintaining mobility for Connecticut residents and businesses and supporting economic and community development while preserving environmental and cultural resources. The Department of Transportation is committed to cultivating a diverse staff that is representative of the communities we serve. Applications from individuals having diverse backgrounds and life experiences are strongly encouraged.

Learn more about our mission, vison, and values by clicking here!

Selection Plan

To Apply:

• In order to be considered for this job opening you must be a current State of CT employee of the agency listed above for at least six (6) months of full-time service or full-time equivalent service, absent any applicable collective bargaining language, and meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on the job opening.  You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Please ensure that your application is complete before submitting it. Applicants will be unable to make revisions once their application is submitted into the JobAps system. Applicants who submit and subsequently withdraw their application will not be able to resubmit for the same posting.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period.  It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception.  Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

For Assistance In Applying:

• Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

Important Next Step Information for After You Apply:

• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the question's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position.  These documents may include:  a cover letter, resume, transcripts, diplomas, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• The immediate vacancies are listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from branch to branch but it does not impact your state service credit.
• Candidates who are offered and accept a position with the State of Connecticut are bound by the State Code of Ethics for Public Officials and State Employees which is available at www.ct.gov/ethics

Connect With Us:

Due to the large volume of applications received, the State of Connecticut is unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment please contact Hayley Newhouse at Hayley.Newhouse@ct.gov.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Transportation, Bureau of Engineering and Construction Services this class is accountable for administering the engineering and construction programs and operations for the department in the development and implementation of a comprehensive, long range master transportation plan and the operations necessary to maintain the transportation infrastructure.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Administers staff and operations of the Bureau of Engineering and Construction Services in design, construction and reconstruction of state transportation network and engineering projects; 
• Develops, implements and evaluates bureau policies, goals and objectives; 
• Designs and develops bureau programs and activities; 
• Implements new procedures and procedural revisions pertaining to policies, personnel regulations, expenditures and administrative methods; 
• Determines appropriate staffing levels and directs management and coordination of staff;
• Designs and implements performance review standards for bureau staff; 
• Prepares bureau budget;
• Maintains contacts with department, state, federal and local individuals regarding policy or program activities who impact on policy or program activities including the Governor's Office, the Legislature, municipal officials, regulatory organizations, construction organizationsand the general public;
• Responds to inquiries regarding scope, funding, priority, scheduling and status of transportation program projects;
• Directs execution of transportation contracts;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • principles and practices of civil engineering as applied to planning, design, construction and reconstruction of highways, bridges and other transportation facilities and/or transportation projects;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Twelve (12) years of professional experience in the planning and execution of complex transportation engineering projects.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Three (3) years of the General Experience must have been in a managerial capacity with responsibility for policy formulation and complex project management.

NOTE:

• Managerial capacity is defined as full time managerial responsibility for major programs. Position will have supervisory responsibilities but the emphasis should be on management activities: planning, organizing, directing and controlling resources of a major subdivision of an agency or organization.
• For state employees, this experience is interpreted at the level of a Transportation Division Chief.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years in transportation, engineering, or construction;
• Work experience in a managerial capacity with direct responsibility for managing, designing, or delivering large capital projects or programs;
• Work experience with the implementation of innovative programs/strategies;
• Work experience interacting with and coordinating among high-level stakeholders, including within government;
• Work experience communicating in writing and verbally to diverse populations and skill levels;
• Work experience solving complex problems and exercising effective judgment and decision making.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class must possess Professional Engineer (PE) licensure from the Department of Consumer Protection State Board of Examiners for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors consistent with C.G.S.§20-302.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes.  As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.