Assistant Traffic Engineer

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive
DEPARTMENT: Transportation
HOURS: Full-time
FULL SALARY RANGE: $88,458 - 138,216 (110 Grade Level)
LOCATION: Western Service Center, Apple Valley, MN
UNION: None
CLOSE DATE: This posting will remain open until filled. Apply early as the initial review of applications will occur on March 28th.

What You'll Do
The Dakota County Transportation Department is seeking a motivated individual to fill our Assistant Traffic Engineer who is responsible for providing professional engineering review for Transportation projects and activities. Additionally providing leadership, supervision, and direction to traffic engineering staff to improve roadway safety and mobility for the traveling public. This position is part of the Transportation Leadership Team.

Some specific job responsibilities may include: representation on project teams representing traffic, assessing intersections and recommending improvements such as a roundabout or traffic signal, oversight of funding applications for safety or mobility grants, addressing resident's safety concerns, managing projects to improve safety or signal operations. This position provides work direction to traffic staff and manages consultant contracts as needed to implement traffic projects and system operations. The Assistant Traffic Engineer has the discretion to determine priorities, investigate issues, make decisions, take appropriate action, and carryout work necessary to implement projects and improvements in coordination with the County Traffic Engineer.

* Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field AND Five years of experience in transportation\highway engineering (**see below).
OR
* Master's degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field AND Three years of experience in transportation\highway engineering (**see below).
AND
* Valid Driver's License
* Minnesota Professional Engineer License OR Professional Engineering License from another state and ability to obtain MN P.E. License within six months.

** Years of highway engineering experience should include a combination of work in one or more of the following work areas:

* managing roadway projects

* conducting transportation studies

* developing signal timing or assessing traffic safety

Nice to Have Qualifications
* Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (P.T.O.E.) certification is desirable.

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

1. Provide leadership, supervision and work direction to traffic staff in the preparation of studies, plans and evaluations.
2. Manage Capital Improvement Program (CIP) related to traffic including:
* Coordinate communications internally and externally for traffic issues for projects including coordinating traffic review of large projects.
* Determine design details including roadway alignments, traffic signal details, traffic control requirements, and data collection requirements to support design decisions.
* Coordinate the activities of consultants to ensure appropriate design details and contract delivery including managing consultant contracts.
* Prepare project agreements and resolutions authorizing agreements and contracts.

3. Oversee the traffic signal timing and operation program for the County.
* Set-up and monitor operation of the County's arterial coordinated signal systems.
* Supervise traffic design staff conducting evaluations and assessments to manage traffic safety and mobility of the county highway system.
4. Represent traffic on technical committees and participate in public involvement programs for planning, large design and corridor projects. Provide traffic engineering expertise by reviewing proposed study documents and working with the public and public agencies impacted by these projects.
5. Conduct research and analysis required for department activities/ programs and recommend appropriate actions including oversight of data collection, review and recommendations.
6. Oversee analysis and evaluation utilizing County safety assessment tools such as pedestrian crossing safety assessment, school travel safety assessment, and rural intersection assessment.
7. Provide evaluation and analysis for the CIP, participate in the CIP development process and prioritize/recommend traffic operation, aging signal replacement, and safety projects for the CIP.
8. Oversee the County's efforts in obtaining State/Federal funding for traffic related projects and support Transportation Department staff in obtaining State/Federal funding for transportation projects.

9. Review traffic engineering studies related to private site development for impacts to the County highway system and access management requirements.
10. Perform other duties as assigned including preparation of special studies requested by the County Transportation Director/County Engineer and County Traffic Engineer.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Duties 1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 are essential functions

• Comprehensive knowledge of transportation and engineering principles and practices and their application in the public sector.

• Demonstrate ability and skill in applying this knowledge.

• Demonstrate knowledge and experience in developing and coordinating the completion of complex transportation projects.

• Ability to work independent of direct supervision to complete complex projects.

• Demonstrate ability in the evaluation of planning goals/programs.

• Knowledge of federal and state highway design and traffic engineering standards, rules, and practices.

• Ability to coordinate and address multiple priorities and issues concurrently.

• Ability to develop effective cooperative working relationships with policy and technical staff of local, state, and regional authorities.

• Communication skills, both written and oral, to clearly and concisely convey complex issues to decision-makers in order to enhance effective decision-making.

• Demonstrated ability to prepare successful grant requests.

• Ability to lead and provide direction to manage the CIP program related to traffic and manages the signal system timings.

• Demonstrate ability in traffic operation including knowledge of traffic impacts studies, access management principals, and highway capacity analysis.

• Ability to analyze and interpret construction plans and specifications.

• Working knowledge of computers, including working knowledge of capacity analysis and signal system tools.

Work Environment

Location & Schedule

This is a hybrid position that offers a mix of telework and in-person work at our Western Service Center in Apple Valley, MN. Work is performed Monday through Friday during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

Benefits

• Comprehensive and affordable medical, dental, vision, and other benefits
• Excellent work-life balance
• Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year)
• Eleven paid holidays each year and one floating holiday
• Pension with a generous employer contribution
• Ability to work from home some of the time

Selection Process

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
• We assign you a score based on your qualifications
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
• We conduct background and reference checks before hiring