Gas Utility Engineer in Charlottesville, Virginia at City of Charlottesville

The Charlottesville Gas Utility Engineer performs complex professional and difficult administrative work overseeing the planning and engineering of all gas utility projects; develops, analyzes, and implements strategies and policies for the purchase and sale of natural gas; protects the City's interest regarding regulatory, supply, and procurement issues; assists in overseeing the administration, maintenance, and operation of the municipal natural gas distribution system. Works with substantial discretion and within broad parameters. Reports to the Director or Deputy Director of Utilities.

The preferred hiring range for this position is $105,592.65 - $129,324.10 annually, with starting pay based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This full-time, exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package, health insurance with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities. This position is also eligible for the following leave and retirement benefits:

• Vacation Leave: 3.09 hours accrued bi-weekly (increases with YOS).
• Sick Leave: 4.62 hours accrued bi-weekly, approx. 120 hours per year with no limit on accumulation.
• 13 Paid Observed City Holidays
• 1 Floating Holiday which must be taken during the fiscal year (July 1 - June 30)
• Choice of retirement plan:
  • Defined Benefit Pension Plan: Provides a monthly benefit upon retirement, calculated using a defined formula based on earnings history, years of service, and age. The plan includes a 5-year vesting period and requires an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
  • Defined Contribution 401a Plan: Employer makes fixed contributions to an individual account, which are invested, and returns are credited to the account. The account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. Vesting occurs at 33% after one year, 67% after two years, and 100% after three years of service. No salary contribution is required.
• Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan

The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS; however, a Portability Agreement is available for eligible employees. For additional details, please refer to the “Benefits” tab within this posting or visit the City’s Employee Benefits webpage.

Note: This job opportunity is advertised with a closing date of "Continuous." If interested in being considered, an application should be submitted as soon as possible. Applications may no longer be considered once a reasonable number of applications has been received or once a candidate to fill the position is identified. Applications may be evaluated on a continuous basis and interviews may be conducted as soon as possible during the recruitment with candidates who are best qualified. This job announcement may close at any time after 7 calendar days.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

• Plans, organizes, coordinates, directs, and reviews the design and installation of all gas projects, and the development of material specifications.
• Prepares, reviews, and verifies design requirements and compliance, including with new construction, replacement and/or relocation.
• Supervises, directs, coaches, motivates, and evaluates the performance of assigned staff. Hires and trains staff, coordinates and monitors work activities, and administration of disciplinary action, and in accordance with established personnel policy and procedures.
• Provides technical expertise and assistance with complex problems/situations.
• Prepares specifications and participates in obtaining bids for gas projects and evaluating and selecting of contractors.
• Oversees all regulatory compliance with PHMSA, the State Corporation Commission (SCC), and state and local codes; serves as the subject matter expert and primary point of contact for audits, inspections, and requests for information from PHMSA, SCC, FERC, legal counsel, suppliers, and others as appropriate regarding natural gas issues.
• Oversees the inspection of all gas installations for compliance to Federal, State, and Local standards.
• Oversees standard operating procedures and implementation of O&M standards.
• Oversees the preparation of inventories and maps of the Public Utilities system including GIS and CAD operations.
• Develops and implements system improvement priorities. Conducts ongoing management, evaluation, improvement, and implementation of the Distribution Integrity Management Program.
• Manages the Operator Qualification Program, determining appropriate training content and evaluation criteria for staff.
• Meets with developers, customers and contractors, local and state officials to plan new installations and improvements and provides technical advice.
• Works with various City Departments, developers, other state and local agencies (Virginia Department of Transportation, Albemarle County, etc.) to facilitate the permitting and installation of all natural gas utility projects.
• Performs contract and project management, providing direction to contractors regarding performance and service delivery.
• Performs gas flow analysis through computer modeling.
• Oversees the maintenance and repair of specialized equipment such as telemetering devices and leakage indicators.
• Develops and enforces material, installation, and product standards.
• Develops and implements strategies for the purchase and supply of natural gas.
• Procures third-party gas from brokers and producers at the lowest possible cost to the City.
• Analyzes and makes recommendations relating to both suppliers' and the City's rate structure.
• Coordinates with the Finance Department to produce an annual rate study.
• Monitors gas purchases both from suppliers and by the City's customers.
• Subject to being called in to work in weather or non-weather emergencies or as needed to provide necessary services to the public. Must have the ability to be contacted and respond based on Departmental guidelines.
• Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
• Regular and reliable attendance.

Other Duties

• Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.

• Bachelor’s degree from an ABET accredited college with major work in mechanical or natural gas engineering AND at least 1 year of experience in the natural gas or petroleum industry, including thorough knowledge and experience in regulatory and gas supply and procurement issues.

• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.

Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:

• Within one year of employment, must possess an Engineer in Training (EIT) certification (Professional Engineer’s (PE) license preferred).
• Must obtain and maintain a valid Virginia Driver’s license and acceptable driving record according to city criteria.
• Must obtain and maintain all certifications required by applicable federal, state and local regulations.
• Subject to federal DOT drug and alcohol testing regulations.
• Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:
Job Knowledge

• Thorough knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws relating to gas service.
• Thorough knowledge of the theories, principles, and practices of mechanical engineering as applied to gas utility.
• Thorough knowledge of gas supply and procurement principles.
• Thorough knowledge of the materials and equipment utilized in gas service installations.
• Thorough knowledge of statistics and statistical analysis, cost studies and rate design issues.
• General knowledge of the regulatory and supply framework of the natural gas industry.
• General knowledge of procurement, negotiating contracts, and contract management.

Reading

• Advanced: Ability to read, understand, and interpret regulations, laws, complex technical plans and specifications, multi-step instruction manuals, reference materials, and legal documents. Ability to incorporate information into project planning and management.

Writing

• Advanced: Ability to organize and develop clear and concise complex written materials and reports such as plan/design of complex projects and documents including idea/inception, research, specifications, drawings, development, contracts, and monitoring. Ability to tailor writing to specific audiences and explain complex information and ideas.

Math

• Advanced: ability to apply fundamental concepts of theories, work with advanced mathematical operations methods and functions of real and complex variables. Ability to perform difficult engineering computations and to make comprehensive recommendations to engineering problems.

Communication Skills

• Advanced: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, subordinates, management, other City Departments, elected officials, state agencies, contractors, vendors, and others. Must communicate complex, technical information to a variety of customers. Recommends policy development and implementation and communicates current and revised policies. May involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations. Evaluates effectiveness, develops cooperative associations, and utilizes resources to continuously improve communications.

Independence and Decision-Making

• Requires Administrative Direction: normally completes work with substantial discretion and within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices. Overall results determine job performance.

Technical Skills

• Advanced: high level skills and extensive knowledge in approaches and systems, which affect the design and implementation of major programs and/or processes organization wide. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively. Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications, AutoCAD, ESRI ArcGIS, and other departmental systems/software.

Fiscal Responsibilities

• Coordinates with Finance Department to produce annual rate study.
• Oversees costly, complex, projects and/or programs. Has responsibility for monitoring, forecasting, and reporting on project budgets, contract expenditures, and preparing cost estimates; approving budgetary items within established guidelines.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Supervises and monitors performance for a regular group of employees. Responsible for hiring, discipline, work objectives/goals, performance evaluation and work assignments of assigned staff.

Other Characteristics

• Organization and time management skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
• Frequent change of tasks.
• Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Working closely with others as part of a team.
• Sound independent judgment in fast-paced and potentially stressful situations.
• Tedious or exacting work.
• May require additional hours outside of normal schedule and/or emergency response.
• Demonstrates patience and professionalism when assisting frustrated and/or upset individuals.

Physical Demands:

• Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Must be able to move about in an office and at construction sites with potentially uneven terrain.
• Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

• Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.

Work Environment:

• Most work is conducted in a standard office environment with exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare, and dust. Some inspection and liaison work must be conducted off-site and at sites typically of utilities construction/repair, which may have exposure to inclement weather, uneven terrain, in or around moving mechanical parts, in or around roadways, dust, and fumes. Noise level varies depending on work site.
• The employee is expected to use appropriate protective equipment for the assigned task (hard hat, safety vest, steel-toe shoes, etc.); and any other equipment as apparent or assigned.