Environmental and Geotechnical Engineering Advisor (Design and Construction)

The Role

Provides professional environmental and geotechnical engineering expertise and support to Design and Construction project management staff, with coordination across all Region Departments, for permitting, approvals, and regulatory requirements throughout the life of a project. Develops, implements, and maintains best management practices for all environmental regulatory requirements to ensure compliance.
 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and maintains best management practices in the areas of environmental and geotechnical engineering, including policies and procedures.
• Provides technical advice and professional expertise, and coordinates multi-disciplinary projects where needed to assess subsurface conditions, risks, and regulatory requirements to support the delivery of capital projects.
• Ensures the Division’s compliance with permitting, approval, and reporting requirements for all capital projects per applicable environmental regulator requirements including but not limited to Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA).
• Participates in planning, design, construction, and reporting as a member of the project team.
• Maintains and keeps up to date all regulatory websites with the authority to bind the Region.
• Maintains professional expertise and knowledge of applicable legislation, policies, procedures, and requirements of that legislation, including but not limited to planning, implementation through design/tendering/construction, monitoring, and reporting/filing.
• Liaises with regulatory agencies, consultants, colleagues, government officials, stakeholders, and the public.
• Assists project managers in preparing Requests for Proposals for consultant services or peer reviews pertaining to geotechnical/hydrogeological/excess soil assignments, and other specialized services related to potential environmental concerns.
• Reviews and provides updates to standard templates and documents (e.g., RFP documents, contract documents).
• Develops, maintains, and updates Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for both external and internal approval processes for all forms including but not limited to MECP: CLI – ECA sanitary and stormwater, Permit to Take Water (PTTW), Environmental Activity and Sector Registry (EASR), Form 1 and Form 2 for alterations/modifications to the Drinking Water System, ECA’s for Sewage Works, MNR: Species at Risk (SAR) permits, Lakes and Rivers Improvements Act permits and agreements under Endangered Species Act, On-site and Excess Soil Management (O.Reg. 406/19), GRCA Permits and Approvals, Permits under Federal jurisdiction such as Department of Fisheries and Ocean’s Fisheries Act or Canadian Navigable Waters Act. 
• Monitors, maintains, and provides attestation for Design and Construction submissions on the Region’s “My Ontario” Environmental Permissions account.
• Assists project managers in reviewing and managing consultant activities and progress towards deliverables, schedules, and budgets, ensuring consistency and integrating with the overall capital project objectives.
• Reviews and comments on geotechnical/hydrogeological/excess soil reports, environmental site assessments, and risk assessments completed by consultants with the aim of providing quality assurance and consistency.
• Provides input and guidance on the development of standard specifications.
• Guides and supports project managers in the development and review of project-specific technical specifications.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Participates in the tendering phases of capital projects by identifying environmental requirements and preparing/reviewing tender specifications.
• Assists project managers in construction quality assurance through periodic site reviews and inspections pertaining to environmental and geotechnical engineering standards for both linear and vertical infrastructure.
• Reviews progress reports related to environmental, excess soil management, geotechnical, and hydrogeological aspects throughout construction, including review/recommendation for payment on related contract items.
• Periodically attends site meetings between the Region, Contractor, and Consultant as required.
• Provides support, direction, and comments to project managers and recommends corrective action to ensure contract compliance with environmental regulations and requirements.
• Assists project managers with inspections/evaluations and accepting final work/reports at contract completion.
• Ensures compliance throughout the lifecycle of all Design and Construction capital works projects with all legislative requirements, including all reporting and filing.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are normally acquired through a degree in a related field, such as geotechnical or environmental engineering, plus progressively responsible related experience.
• Must be licensed and in good standing as a Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario, or be a member in good standing holding a Limited License in the area of practice(s), issued by the PEO. For those trained outside of Canada, equivalency will be determined by the PEO. Participates in activities to maintain professional license.
• Knowledge of environmental compliance and reporting, municipal capital project delivery requirements, and ability to interpret all relevant regulatory requirements. 
• Knowledge of industry standards, best practices, and innovations related to engineering design and construction of roads, sidewalks, drainage systems and structures, and water distribution and sewer systems.
• Knowledge of project management principles, methods, and practices. 
• Judgement, organizational, research, analytical, and problem-solving skills to manage contracts and multiple projects, and prepare and analyse technical reports. Ability to interact with regulators, legal professionals, and the public on geotechnical and environmental capital projects.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies and procedures. 
• Leadership skills to provide technical expertise and direction to design and construction engineering staff, and direct and guide consultants and staff. 
• Communication and human relation skills to coordinate and negotiate project requirements; prepare and present written and visual materials for public drop-in centres, open houses, and formal public meetings; conduct presentations to Committees, local municipalities and Councils; hold open houses and formal meetings for the media and public; respond to public inquiries; and participate as an effective team member.
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office, GIS, specialized systems, and computer models.
• Ability to write project correspondence, reports, contracts, agreements and project definition reports for consultants, committees, regional and local municipal councils, staff, the media, and the public where applicable. 
• Ability to read and interpret policy/procedure manuals, engineering/technical work-related journals, design specifications, contracts, reports, legal documents, and correspondence.
• Research skills and ability to interpret, analyze, and elevate issues, make decisions, and formulate recommendations.
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region. 
• Ability to adjust hours to attend public consultation meetings.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.
   

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities