Public Works Consultant - Municipal Technical Advisory Service - 24000001KN

General Description:

Serves as public works, utilities, and engineering consultant responsible for providing professional advice and technical assistance on a wide range of public works, utilities, and engineering issues to Tennessee municipal officials (elected and appointed), and their staffs. Additionally, this position provides public works, utilities, and engineering advice and assistance to Tennessee professional associations and agencies such as the Tennessee Chapter of the American Public Works Association, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Tennessee Stormwater Association, Tennessee City Managers Association, Tennessee Municipal League, and Public Entity Partners, and Tennessee Wastewater Association.

Provides professional advice and technical assistance by direct basic field services, projects, and studies for individual municipalities, training program development and instruction, development of models, interpretation and application of public works and utility related laws, research associated with public works/utility management issues, and the publication and timely maintenance of articles, bulletins, and technical reports on critical public works issues. Public works consultants serve as in-house subject matter experts to MTAS staff. Performs other special work as assigned by the Program Manager and the Executive Director. Often collaborates with other consultants in the performance of projects and participates in team projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Provides professional advice and technical assistance primarily to elected and appointed municipal officials. Provides advice and assistance for non-municipal clients such as elected and staff members of the Tennessee General Assembly, employees of state agencies, staff of the Tennessee Municipal League, and officers of professional associations of municipal officials. Professional advice and technical assistance covers a broad range of emerging issues and problems and may include one or all of the following: scope of study, request for proposals and selections of firm, utility rate studies, equipment bid proposals, traffic counts/studies, solid waste and recycling studies, equipment specifications, drainage studies/evaluations, and personnel selection and recruitment. Also provides engineering support for grant applications. Develops and maintains close working relationships with both elected and appointed municipal officials for the assigned municipalities. This includes time at city hall, phone calls, emails, research, travel and writing time. Represents municipal viewpoint to TDEC on permitting, rules and regulations. Maintains an area (or areas) of specialization and serves as the in-house expert to MTAS staff in such areas as storm water permits and best management practices, public works standards and specifications, streets and transportation issues, fleet operations, wastewater collection systems, water plant distribution systems, recycling, and solid waste management.

Administration and Professional Development - Includes team meetings, agency meetings and retreats, IPS meetings and retreats, maintaining records on all relevant activities, including the agency databases for work products. Includes time spent to remain current in fields of expertise. This involves time at professional meetings and conferences, seminars and training classes, professional reading, and computer training.

Training - Design, development and instruction of training programs including technical and other training classes related to public works, utilities, and engineering. Makes technical presentations to city boards, professional associations, and other groups.

Publication Research and Development - Researches, drafts, and maintains published information on a variety of public works, utility and engineering issues.  This includes MTAS newsletter, Knowledgebase, MORe, articles for the Tennessee Municipal League's newspaper, Tennessee Town and City and for Tennessee Chapter of American Public Works Association magazine.

Required Qualifications:

Education:  

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field

Experience:   

Requires five (5) years in a municipal public works or engineering department, a state engineering department, or a private engineering consulting firm. Requires three (3) years as a municipal engineer, public works director, or comparable related leadership position.

Skills:  

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations pertaining to public works, water, and wastewater operations.
• Ability to apply and communicate applicable laws and regulations effectively.
• Knowledge of public works, utilities, and engineering management and operational best practices.
• Skill in developing innovative solutions to complex issues faced by municipal public works agencies.
• Skills in communications, especially active listening to understand skills.
• Skills in using Microsoft Office applications, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Skills in analyzing data, such as numbers and spreadsheets, and written information, such as laws and ordinances.
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize when responding to numerous and competing requests for assistance from customers.
• Ability to work with little direct supervision.
• Ability to develop and make effective presentations to elected officials and others.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to receive and understand detailed information through written and oral communication.
• Ability to create informative reports and reviews on municipal public works, utility, and engineering operations.
• Ability to process thoughts and solve problems.
• Ability to successfully manage a broad and varying range of issues on a daily, and sometimes hourly, basis.
• Knowledge of Public Works products, equipment, and operations with the ability to take complicated information and share it in plain language with customers.

Behaviors:

• Unquestioned integrity and trustworthiness.
• Commitment to MTAS’ mission and strategic plan
• Ability to make good, consistent, and fair decisions (based on fact and data).
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams and to foster teamwork.

Location:

Nashville, TN

Applicants are encouraged to review all position requirements prior to applying. Salary is based on a combination of professional experience and qualifications.

For best consideration, applications should be submitted by August 23, 2024. Applicants must submit a cover letter and a resume with a minimum of three references. Position is open until filled.

https://ut.taleo.net/careersection/ut_system/jobdetail.ftl?job=24000001KN&tz=GMT-04%3A00&tzname=America%2FNew_York

Job: Public Service

Primary Location: US-Tennessee-Nashville

Organization: Municipal Tech Adv Service

Schedule: Full-time

Campus/Institute: Knoxville

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.