POSITION DESCRIPTION

Ministry of Transportation
POSITION TITLE:
DIVISION:
(e.g., Division, Region, Department)
UNIT:
(e.g., Branch, Area, District)
SUPERVISORS TITLE:

SUPERVISORS CLASSIFICATION:

Senior Hydrotechnical Engineer LSO 4

POSITION
NUMBER(S):

00051667

Highway Operations
Engineering Branch , Bridge Engineering
Section
Senior Bridge Design and Construction
Engineer
LSO 5

LOCATION:

POSITION
NUMBER
PHONE NUMBER:

FOR AGENCY USE ONLY

NOC CODE:

APPROVED CLASSIFICATION:

CLASS CODE:

ENTERED BY:

PHONE NUMBER:

Victoria
51666
250 356-9862

PROGRAM (OPTIONAL)

The Engineering Branch develops, implements and maintains province wide engineering and environmental
guidelines, standards, policies and procedures; audits compliance of the application of those guidelines and
standards; provides support and expert advice to the Ministry and to allied organizations for the planning,
design, construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of Provincial transportation infrastructure; provides
leadership and support for assigned cross-government initiatives; ensures that MoT provides, receives and
implements engineering works that meet the requirements of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act and state of
the art practice.
The Bridge Engineering Section, as part of the Engineering Branch, develops and maintains policies,
standards and procedures related to planning, design, construction, inspection, evaluation, rehabilitation,
maintenance, seismic-structural, hydraulic, hydrologic and river engineering policies for bridges and related
highway structures to ensure safe and efficient delivery of cost-effective design, construction and rehabilitation
operations. The Bridge Engineering Section provides expert counsel to the Ministry, and provides specialised
services and expertise to support Highways and Partnerships Departments initiatives.
PURPOSE OF POSITION

The principal function of this position is the providing of technical leadership, technical direction and expertise
and to be the Ministry most senior technical expert for the hydrologic/hydraulic, drainage, scour, revetment,
coastal and river engineering aspects of Highway Engineering and Bridge Engineering design and
construction.
The position requires a strong ability to make judgements based on knowledge gained through extensive
experience and to conduct work at an advanced level, which is highly interpretive or analytical.

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NATURE OF WORK AND POSITION LINKS

The Senior Hydrotechnical Engineer reports through the Chief Bridge Engineer and has responsibility to provide
hydraulic engineering, hydrological engineering, river engineering and coastal engineering and other hydraulic
related engineering services for both highway engineering and bridge engineering issues.
The Senior Hydrotechnical Engineer is a specialist position providing a unique service, and assignments may
originate from any part of the Ministry. The Senior Hydrotechnical Engineer is the technical expert in this field
and as such operates independently.
The position has full responsibility for methodology, accuracy, soundness of recommendations, work planning
and scheduling. The position is the expert resource in Hydraulics, Hydrology Bridge Hydraulics, River
Engineering and Coastal Engineering and is the authority for decisions, resolution of problems and provides
guidance to contracted consultants, professionals, technicians and other specialists in Highway Engineering
and Bridge Engineering. It receives minimal guidance from the Chief Bridge Engineer who audits the duties to
ensure coordination with other functions and adherence to policy.
SPECIFIC ACCOUNTABILITIES / DELIVERABLES

1. Manages, plans, investigates, undertakes, implements, directs, and approves engineering studies to
resolve diverse, highly technical and complex hydraulic, hydrologic, drainage, scour, river and coastal
engineering problems which impact on highways and bridges, and transform the results into appropriate
designs of highways, bridges, drainage systems and culverts by;

conducting investigations, hydrologic and hydraulic analyses, frequency analysis, numerical modeling on
bridge replacement projects, bridge and highway scour concerns for remedial action by District and
Regional personnel throughout the province;
assisting with Districts maintenance and rehabilitation needs on routine remedial works related to scour
problems at bridge abutments and piers, river bank and coastal erosion on highways, evaluation of
drainage capacities on under-performing culverts and related drainage concerns;
providing terms of reference for engineering studies, design/build projects, asset inventory and condition
surveys by consultants, standard specifications for highway construction, bridge hydraulics and drainage
evaluations to Regions, Districts, Branches and other external agencies:
reviewing and auditing hydrotechnical and subdivision drainage reports;
directing and/or participating in multi-discipline programs in river training, drainage works, debris torrent
control, erosion control, and dyking systems, water supply and sewerage systems;
selecting and instructing consultants to conduct research in numerical modeling to simulate estuarial and
river behaviour and other hydraulic related issues;
reviewing and recommending approval of project budgets and time schedules for studies, and directs the
progress of long term studies;
responding immediately to floods and washouts on highway infrastructure with on-site inspections,
assessing affected bridges, culverts and highways; and providing recommendations for mitigation and
restoration works.

2. Provides design services, expert advice and opinion to Regions, Districts, Branches and other officials
throughout the Ministry and to other external agencies by;

participating as a member of project teams and liaison with engineers in other Branches to resolve
technical and other project issues.
providing interpretation of bridge design codes and Ministry guidelines, standards and policy
reviewing justifications for and approving of deviations from the guidelines and standards
investigating means of resolving complex practical and theoretical design problems
preparing design reports and recommendations for projects involving hydraulics, hydrological and river
engineering;

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performing feasibility studies review and giving advice on potential projects

writing contract specifications, terms of reference, Requests for Proposals, analyzing consultants'
proposals, reviewing consultants deliverables and checking costs feasibility, critical paths and technical
standards to ensure Ministry objectives will be met;
exercising technical direction, supervision and control over groups of professional and technical staff and in
working with contracted consultants, senior professionals and interdisciplinary teams on major highway
and bridge design projects;
recommending approval of or amendments to the designs and proposals from Ministry and Consultants for
the hydraulic engineering aspects of highway and bridge design as the Ministrys Hydraulic Engineering
authority;
reviewing and auditing terms of reference for design/build projects and asset inventory condition studies
from consultants
recognizing and investigating the complexity of a wide range of hydraulic and hydrologic problems
throughout the province and initiates and organizes consultant studies to find solutions.
reviewing and approving technically advanced, or unusual, consultant designed drainage systems for
subdivisions, referred by Regional or District staff;
providing expert opinion and advice to the Executive, Directors and Regional Directors on conflicts
between the Ministry of Transportation and other government agencies, municipal authorities, and the
public regarding complex hydrological and hydraulic issues;
carrying out adjudications for consultants offering appropriate services registering under culvert hydraulics,
river engineering, numerical modeling and coastal engineering categories in the R.I.S.P. system.

3. Reviews the results from the Ministry underwater bridge inspection program to monitor the safety of
underwater foundations by:

assisting in reviewing the extent, scope and standards of the underwater bridge inspection program;
reviewing data submitted by the Bridge Sounding Contractor/Engineer and recommending if repairs or
maintenance is required to preserve the integrity of the structure under investigation.

4. Develops, prepares and sets standards, policies, hydraulic design guidelines and procedures based on
research, judgement and experience in the fields of hydrology, hydraulics, drainage, river and coastal
engineering, consolidated streamflow frequency analysis and numerical modeling as the Ministry's expert
in these disciplines by:

maintaining state of the art expertise to ensure decisions on policies and standards, advice and
recommendations are sound
examining and identifying potential cost saving by developing appropriate policies, standards and/or
guidelines which would not jeopardize public safety or compromise structural integrity
comparing with other jurisdictions to ensure the established standards are in line with the current advances
investigating of structures either completed or under construction for performance
participating as a member of technical committees
identifying incompatibilities and shortcomings in the Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code for revision
based on experience gained through the application and observations of the code.
exchanging ideas and information with the Hydraulic/Hydrologic specialists in other Ministries and the
private sector, to be aware of the state-of-the-art, and maintain the level of expertise within Highways
Engineering Branch.
Reviewing current technical literature and attending relevant seminars and conferences;
liaising closely with the Executive, Directors, Regional Directors and District Transportation Managers to
detect critical factors, not readily discernable. Discussing problems regularly with peers to search out
solutions and utilizing technical meetings to implement remedial projects;
preparing technical papers for publication and making presentations to specialists; giving instructional
lectures on Ministry and inter-Ministry training programs in the use and application of hydraulic and
hydrological techniques; writing and issuing instructional manuals, standards and procedures;

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acting as the Ministry's expert witness in court proceedings and litigation matters and assisting in case
preparation and the provision of advice to Counsel.

5. Selects, adapts and tests new technology and methods in engineering hydrology, hydraulics, bridge
hydraulics, streamflow frequency analysis, numerical modeling, pier scour estimation and protection,
highway drainage, coastal engineering and associated ancillary systems by:

assessing new design concepts

reviewing and assessing research papers and reports of related topics
attending technical seminars and courses to keep up to date technical knowledge
identifying and recommending areas of study by a research agency or institution
reviewing technological advances, selecting those adaptable to highway engineering and bridge
construction, and arranging field tests;
planning and designing new and improved analytical techniques, instrumentation and applications; defining
and drafting computer program requirements and hard/software utilization for data analysis;
devising data reduction and analysis systems, and planning and designing new data analysis programs
specifically for highway engineering operations;
researching and developing design methods for predicting, and providing solutions to the problem of excess
water on highway surfaces, to reduce the incidence of hydro-planing.

6. Performs other related duties as required.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

DIRECT SUPERVISION (i.e., responsibility for signing the employee appraisal form)
Role

# of Regular FTEs

# of Auxiliary FTEs

Directly supervises staff

Supervises staff through subordinate supervisors
PROJECT /TEAM LEADERSHIP OR TRAINING (Check the appropriate boxes)
Role

# of FTEs

Role

Supervises students or volunteers

.5

Provides formal training to other staff

Lead project teams

Assigns, monitors and examines the work of staff

# of FTEs

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Current registration as a Professional Engineer.

TOOLS / EQUIPMENT

WORKING CONDITIONS
Travel is a requirement for the position for site visits and meetings

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WORK EXAMPLES

COMMENTS

PREPARED BY
NAME:

DATE:

EXCLUDED MANAGER AUTHORIZATION

I confirm that:
1. the accountabilities / deliverables were assigned to this position effective: May 24, 2005.
2. the information in this position description reflects the actual work performed.
3. a copy has / will be provided to the incumbent(s).
NAME:

SIGNATURE:

DATE:

ORGANIZATION CHART
Assistant Deputy Minister, Highway Operations
Chief Engineer, ML 8, #00051633
Chief Bridge Engineer, ML7, #00051663
Senior Bridge Design and Construction Engineer, LSO 5, #00051666
Senior Hydrotechnical Engineer, LSO 4, #00051667

SELECTION CRITERIA

EDUCATIONAL AND/OR OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATION

A Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering plus 7 years directly related experience or Masters degree and 5
years directly related experience. Current registration as a Professional Engineer. Directly related
experience would include Hydraulics, Hydrology, River Engineering, and the hydraulic aspects of civil or
municipal engineering.
EXPERIENCE AND/OR ACHIEVEMENTS
Extensive experience in the design and construction of bridge hydraulics works, erosion protection works,
flood control, river training works, storm sewers, culverts, debris torrent control structures, coastal protection,
hydraulic modeling and experience of hydrological predictions and flood-flow estimating.
RATED QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge
Candidates must have advanced knowledge of the science of Hydraulics and Hydrology, especially as related
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to river engineering, bridge hydraulics and hydraulic structures.

Skills and Abilities
Ability to function, and make on-site decisions, independently with no technical assistance from within
government. Superior judgement as to the nature, extent and significance of problems is required in order to
assign priority and importance to questions and issues to reach timely solutions. Sound interpersonal skills
required in dealing with the public, consultants and other agency professionals.
Desirable Qualifications
Provisos
Will be required to travel to sites throughout the province for site visits and meetings.

COMPETENCIES

Competencies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Service Orientation
Results Orientation
Teamwork and Co-operation
Expertise
Analytical Thinking
Innovation
Problem Solving/Judgement
Flexibility

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