The Transportation/Programs Section Manager is responsible for the program elements of Public Works Engineering. This includes the establishment and implementation of policies that ensure the most efficient management of the funds and workforce involved in the Programs. This position directs the project development for County transportation projects from inception through completion. This person manages all Transportation assets including bridges, roadways, storm drainage facilities, and certain Transportation activities, such as vehicle crash investigation, traffic studies, traffic counts, funding, grants, reporting, and budget review. This person must understand how demographic, political, economic, and cultural differences impact transportation programs and practices in Skagit County.

Ensure continued compliance with State and Federal-Aid programs and their requirements as they relate to Public Works and program development. File reports and follow regulations of State agencies to assure that state and federally funded projects are administered by the County in accordance with applicable rules and regulations, which ensures the County retains eligibility for gas tax revenue and our Washington State Department of Transportation Certification Acceptance status.

Liaise with other governmental agencies, resource agencies, Tribal Governments, and environmental groups to negotiate terms of interlocal agreements and partnership projects to provide services to the community by cost sharing. Projects include both motorized and active-transportation networks, transit systems, water resources, and surface water projects.

• Salary upon hire is step 1 through 3 ($8,339.04/month - $8,932.14/month) dependent upon qualifications.
• Progressive increases are based on years of service with Skagit County, up to 10 total steps (top step $11,088.60/month). The Transportation/Programs Section Manager is range 31 of the General (Non-Union) salary schedule.

Programming: Direct “needs identification” and “programming functions” of the Public Works Department. Programming functions include the Transportation System Plan, the Active Transportation Plan, the 14-Year Ferry Plan and the Six-Year Bridge Program. Assist in preparing the annual Development Review, Design & Construction, Transportation/Programs Division budgets. Prepare and implement the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program, the Annual Construction Program, and the County Arterial Preservation Program. Direct management of the Gismo Database and participate in the Gismo/Geographic Information System (GIS) coordination project. Supervise County Road Administration Board (CRAB) reporting and serve as the Public Works Title VI Coordinator.

Contribute to the Transportation Element of the County’s Comprehensive Plan and assist Planning and Development Services staff with transportation issues and questions.

Lead and direct funding and grant acquisition efforts for the roads, bridges, traffic safety improvements, and related projects County-wide. Evaluate projects for applicable grant criteria and prepare and/or direct preparation of grant applications. Monitor and manage fulfillment of funding allocations from State and Federal governments and submit, manage, and report on grants. Obligate funding of federally funded projects through Washington State Department of Transportation Highways & Local Programs.

Oversee grant management and reporting requirements to retain our Washington State Department of Transportation Certification Acceptance status.

Administer the Bridge Inspection and Maintenance Program for Skagit County’s bridges. Staffing consists of engineering technicians and certified bridge inspectors. Oversee production and submittal of the yearly Bridge Report required by WAC 136-20-060 to the County Road Administration Board. Develop and administer the seismic preparedness Bridge Emergency Inspection Plan.

May serve as the the Skagit County representative on the County Road Administration Board’s (CRAB) seven-county Northwest Region Rural Arterial Program committee that presents program and funding recommendations to CRAB about the Rural Arterial Trust Account Rural Arterial Program grant program and statutory changes.

Represents Skagit County on behalf of the County Engineer on the Skagit Council of Governments (SCOG) Technical Advisory Committee of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) to plan regional multimodal transportation projects, advise the MPO Board on policy matters, decide MPO funding allocation policy, and grant application procedures.

Respond to inquiries from the public regarding specific issues of project programming and funding of road. traffic safety, and paving projects.

Assist in the program management and project development in the direction of transportation, safety, and mobility investments over the next six-year period. Prepare and manage the budgets for the Transportation/Programs Section.

Serve as a Section Manager to accomplish Departmental goals and objectives and to independently develop project work plans for the Public Works Department.

Identify and develop funding sources for road, bridge, ferry, traffic safety improvements, and paving projects in conjunction with the Engineering Division, Operations Division, Ferry Division, and Natural Resource Division.

Establish County Road Projects (CRPs). Establish and monitor Engineering job charge numbers. Monitor and manage the County Forces Limit and publish information in the County’s newspaper of record.

Supervise submittal of Quarterly Project Reports on federally funded transportation projects to the Washington State Department of Transportation Highways and Local Programs.

Direct management of County road right’s-of-way including permits, franchise agreements, vacations, road establishments, and annexations.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical path to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Accounting, or Civil Engineering is strongly desired.
• Minimum of 8 or more years of progressively responsible experience required.
• Requires knowledge of transportation programming principles and methods, public involvement methods and techniques, and management methods and techniques such as hiring and evaluating personnel.

Requires knowledge of:

·Effective verbal and written communication, project management and documentation, contract administration, consultant management, research, grant acquisition and administration, programming methods development, work program development, and budgeting.

·County government methods, policies, procedures, personnel practices, and functional and organizational structure. County, State, and Federal policies, procedures and functions of staff.

·Public Works methods, policies, procedures, and functional and organizational structure.

·Skagit County’s road system.

·Federal Title VI regulations and reporting requirements.

·General accounting principles, financial planning, and the ability to produce budgets for the road construction program, and transportation program planning.

·Vehicle collision documentation.

·Grant applications and administration processes.

·Program development.

·Accounting and contracting process for local agencies in Washington State.

Requires the ability to:

·Work with multi-jurisdictional and inter-departmental efforts.

·Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

·Supervise a team of professionals.

·Work with multi-jurisdictional and inter-departmental efforts.

·Operate a computer and learn new computer programs.

·Carry out plans, solve problems, and make independent decisions.

·Offer excellent customer service and respond to questions and requests quickly.

·Adapt to ever-changing situations and priorities.

Licenses and/or Certifications:

·Valid Washington State driver’s license required

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Frequent field trips to locations throughout the county to make site visits, attend meetings, or coordinate work activities, walking on steep or uneven terrain, and lifting up to 50 pounds is required. Meetings or project requirements may involve working evenings, weekends, or holidays as necessary.

Hazards: Those present in a normal office environment with exposure to traffic situations while performing fieldwork and documenting vehicle crash sites.