SENIOR LOCAL BRIDGE LIAISON ENGINEER

CIVIL ENGINEER IV – SENIOR LOCAL BRIDGE LIAISON ENGINEER - IPR#46781

Agency : Department of Transportation 
Closing Date/Time: 06/27/2024 
Salary:  $6,098 - $9,507 MONTHLY

Anticipated Salary Range: $6,098 - $7,598 MONTHLY
Job Type: Salaried 
County:  Sangamon
Number of Vacancies: 2
Plan/BU:  NR916 Teamsters

*This position is covered by the Revolving Door Prohibition policy.

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

Agency Mission Statement

The Illinois Department of Transportation is seeking to hire Senior Local Bridge Liaison Engineers.

The IDOT team works diligently to provide safe, cost-effective transportation for Illinois in ways that enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity and protect our environment. We are problem solvers and leaders, constantly searching for innovations and improvements in support of our commitment to providing the best multimodal transportation system for Illinois.

Our team fosters a culture of inclusivity. We value diversity and hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards as we work together for a common purpose. Team members frequently collaborate with colleagues and others outside the department to best meet customer needs. 

The department offers extensive training and career advancement opportunities.  Employees also receive a robust benefit package including:

• Monday-Friday work schedule
• Flexible work schedules are available in many program areas.
• Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Pension Plan
• (10) Weeks paid Maternity/Paternity Leave
• Deferred Compensation Program and other pre-tax benefit programs (Medical/Daycare)
• Employees earn (12) paid Sick Days annually.
• New Employees earn (10) paid Vacation Days their first year of service and can earn up to (25) paid Vacation Days annually.
• Employees earn (3) paid Personal Days annually.
• (13-14) paid holidays annually (based on start date)
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program and/or mental health resources

We invite qualified applicants to apply to become part of our team. We are confident that you will take pride in serving Illinois and its residents and visitors.

Job Responsibilities

The purpose of this position is to provide the technical expertise and practical working knowledge of structural inspection, load rating, and posting of bridges in administering the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) and state statutes.

Operating expenses: $90,000
Bridge inspections: 300
Bridge ratings: 300 - 500
Local roads training courses: 2

This position reports to the Local Bridge Unit Chief. There are no subordinates reporting to this position.

The environment of this position is characterized by the individual's direct contact and working arrangement with the representatives of local agencies and coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) district offices. This contact is made while investigating structures to be inspected or requiring a load rating. The impression the incumbent imparts is a direct reflection of the department. The incumbent coordinates with the Local Bridge Unit’s bridge liaison technicians to closely work with local officials, districts, and the central bureaus to coordinate load rating inspections and obtain plans and structural records of bridges to be investigated. The incumbent determines when structure conditions (deterioration, impact, collision, foundations) have reached a critical state resulting in danger to the traveling public and insist corrective action be taken by the appropriate authority. Thorough familiarity with numerous bridge design and construction features is essential to assess the observed conditions regarding their load-carrying capacity.

The greatest challenge of this position is to protect the motoring public from structurally deficient bridges. Typical problems include assisting the IDOT Bridge Management and Inspection Unit to ensure local agency bridge inspections are done in compliance with the NBIS and safeguarding bridges by determining the maximum loads which can safely traverse them.

The incumbent oversees scheduling and performs or supervises load rating inspections of local agency bridges. The incumbent is responsible for oversight of accurate field measurements, drawings, and photographs and determines factors contributing to changes in the load-carrying capacity and safety of these bridges. The incumbent performs computations based on this field data to determine the safe load capacity and allowable weight restrictions for these bridges. The incumbent may provide training to district and local agency personnel in bridge load rating and repair by participating in classes throughout the state. The incumbent works with the local bridge liaison technicians within the Local Bridge Unit. These technicians are responsible for the physical inspection of local agency bridges. They prepare the field measurements, drawings, and photographs to determine and record the structural deterioration, and submit this data to the incumbent for structural capacity determination. The incumbent reviews load ratings completed by consultants working for local agencies, analyzes permit loads, and completes load ratings for changes in dead load, such as overlay requests.

Job Responsibilities Continued

The incumbent is given wide latitude to accomplish accountabilities. Problems referred to the Local Bridge Unit Chief with a recommendation for approval of the incumbent's solution include, but are not limited to, determining appropriate material stress levels and alternative analysis techniques on structures where significant deterioration has occurred and recommending load posting requirements.

Internal contacts include a close working relationship with the district Bureau of Local Roads and Streets, central Bureau of Local Roads and Streets, and the Office of Planning and Programming. These contacts are for transferring information and possibly coordinating inspections. Occasional statewide travel with overnight stays is required.

The incumbent's effectiveness is measured by the expertise displayed in making technical decisions
in safeguarding the motoring public and reducing overall cost in taxpayer’s monies for repair and
maintenance of structures in Illinois. Effectiveness is also measured by the number of structures inspected, number and quality of condition drawings, accuracy of load ratings, number of load ratings completed, and timeliness of the review of consultants' recommendations for posting.

Principal Accountabilities

1. Ensures accurate detailed plans, photographs, and sketches are produced for structural evaluation of local agency structures.
2. Performs structural capacity determination of local agency structures to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
3. Provides advice concerning bridge-related matters to district personnel and local agencies, consistent with departmental policies and procedures.
4. Assists the district Bridge Management and Inspection Unit to ensure the Local Agency Bridge Inspection Program operates such that the department is in compliance with federal NBIS and state statutes.
5. Monitors scheduling of inspections on a priority of need and most efficient use of manpower.
6. Provides expertise and instruction to district and local agency personnel concerning bridge inspection techniques and documentation.
7. Trains and motivates bridge liaison technicians to ensure well-developed and competent staff.
8. Reviews load ratings completed by consultants working for local agencies.
9. Performs load ratings for permit analysis and overlay requests.
10. Performs duties in compliance with departmental safety rules. Performs all duties in a manner conducive to the fair and equitable treatment of all employees.
11. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Position Requirements

• Current registration as a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Illinois
• Four years of experience in civil engineering of which three years should be in structural design analysis and inspection load ratings
• Valid driver’s license
• Occasional statewide travel with overnight stays
• Successful completion of a background screening.

Position Desirables

• Approved by the department under National Bridge Inspection Standards as a team leader or program manager
• Successful completion of the 3-day National Highway Institute Fractural Critical class
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Current Structural Engineer Illinois license

Work Hours: 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M. Monday - Friday
Work Location:  2300 S Dirksen Pkwy Springfield, IL 62764-0001

Office: Office of Highways Project Implementation/Bureau of Bridges & Structures/Structural Services
Agency Contact:  

Posting Group:  Transportation ; Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during State employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (“OEIG”) or may be subject to a fine..

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

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State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the  Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. 

Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the  Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.

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