Water Analyst (Engineering and Planning)

The Role

Plans, implements, and coordinates water and wastewater projects and studies. Reviews and assesses serviceability of development planning applications. Coordinates assumption, develops design standards, and administers operational and financial requirements of private communal water and sewage systems.

Creates, maintains, and operates computerized simulation models and databases, including the integration of GIS and historical data. Models and monitors data for sanitary sewer collection systems in the townships, and models and monitors data for water distribution systems throughout the Region. Creates, maintains, and manages asset inventory databases for asset management activities. Identifies, recommends, and maintains new software and equipment to assist others to more effectively design, operate, and maintain water and wastewater systems.

Coordinates some infrastructure installation and expansion projects in area municipalities.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Integrates GIS technology with existing and new data management tools to improve reliability and accuracy of records available for use across the Division. Creates tools to automate, analyze, run scenarios on, and report information, including integration with hydraulic modelling. 
• Operates, models, and monitors data for sanitary sewer collection systems in Region-owned systems. Operates, models, and monitors data for water distribution systems throughout the Region. Creates reports and studies, including auditing, editing, analyzing, and reporting data in asset management database. Investigates and resolves issues related to inconsistent data. Initiates and implements programs, and coordinates projects to reduce extraneous flows in collection systems and detect/rectify leaks in water distribution systems. 
• Prepares and oversees RFQ/RFP contracts relating to maintenance and upkeep of the Region's geospatial data, hydraulic modelling systems, and engineering studies. Coordinates and participates in the consultant selection process, preparing and reviewing terms of reference, scope of work, evaluating submissions, short-listing, selection, and conducting interviews. Reviews and negotiates work plans and budgets with consultants. Ensures signing, sealing, and provision of insurance certificates for legal consulting services agreements. Prepares consultant award recommendations for Committee and Council.
• Coordinates construction projects, including monitoring and overseeing work of consultants involved with project planning, design, and construction; leading public information centres; and administering contracts.
• Prepares water and wastewater projects and studies or coordinates preparation by consultants. Prepares scope, schedules, budgets, work plans, terms of reference, reports, presentations, and meeting minutes for Council and Committees. Represents the Division in construction projects, and collaborates with Design & Construction staff and consultants in the preparation of tender documents and construction drawings to ensure divisional interests and concerns are adequately addressed.
• Reviews and comments on water and wastewater servicing for development plan applications and other planning applications, and on existing and proposed area municipal water distribution and wastewater collection works, using tools (e.g., GIS, water demand databases, simulation models) to evaluate system performance and capacity. Coordinates with area municipalities for jointly owned infrastructure, and provides feedback and direction regarding distribution system information integrity. Participates on project teams (e.g., construction, master plans, environmental assessments).
• Creates, maintains, and administers development plan application tracking systems integral to the capacity allocation program to ensure growth is managed sustainably with respect to the Region’s water supply and wastewater treatment facilities. Coordinates with the Regional Growth, Development, and Sustainability Services Division and area municipalities to exchange development plan application data.  
• Creates, maintains, and operates hydraulic, water quality, land use, and water demand simulation models and databases for operational, planning, and development purposes. Prepares, reads, interprets, and analyzes technical drawings including collecting and preparing input data for water/wastewater hydraulic models (e.g., InfoWater Pro/InfoWorks ICM), from engineering drawings (e.g. plan and profile, details, sections), field measurement data, and survey notes.

Additional Duties/Responsibilities

• Develops or assists management to develop short and long-term project planning strategies, contingency and emergency plans, information systems and databases, and procedures, guidelines, protocols, and standards.
• Updates and maintains the Division's linear infrastructure asset inventory and digital engineering drawing management system to support internal and external information sharing between area municipalities, consultants, contractors, and third party infrastructure locating partners.
• Provides technical guidance and assistance to divisional and department staff, consultants, area municipalities, and developers regarding projects. 
• Participates to recruit, interview, select, and evaluate co-op students year-round. Mentors, and assigns, coordinates, directs, and reviews the work of students on divisional workflow. 
• Prepares budget estimates, financial reports, purchase orders, payment release forms, and cheque requisitions for projects and studies; checks expenditures and consultant/supplier invoices for completeness and accuracy, and submits to management for approval. Has signing authority to release payments to consultants, contractors, and suppliers. 
• Ensures developers meet conditions prior to release of Letters of Credit and Subdivision Agreements. 
• Recommends and purchases supplies and materials for public information centres and meeting presentations. 
• Recommends budgeting allowances and payment of leases of the Division’s facilities and easements. 
• Consults with government ministries, conservation authority, post-secondary institutions, First Nations Indigenous groups, and other agencies to exchange technical information and discuss engineering standards, policies, and regulations. 
• Prepares budget estimates, financial reports, purchase orders, payment release forms, and cheque requisitions for projects and studies; checks expenditures and consultant/supplier invoices for completeness and accuracy, and submits to management for approval. Has signing authority to release payments to consultants, contractors, and suppliers. 
• Consults with government ministries, conservation authority, post-secondary institutions, First Nations Indigenous groups, and other agencies to exchange technical information and discuss engineering standards, policies, and regulations. 
• Works with building inspectors to investigate residential piping and cross connections. Requests information from area municipalities to investigate water consumption issues. Investigates water consumption issues with Finance staff involved with billing.
• Coordinates with locator service providers so the physical location of infrastructure is correctly identified to minimize risk to critical regional infrastructure. 
• Exchanges information and discusses project issues with developers, private/public companies, and the public. Participates in public meetings and information centres, and responds to general inquires related to development questions, servicing capacity, and projects. 
• Collaborates with ITS regarding database administration and GIS integration technical issues. 
• Keeps skills and knowledge current. 
• Resolves complex problems and issues in consultation with management, peers, and/or industry experts.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are acquired through a 3-year college diploma in Civil Engineering Technology or university degree in a related field, plus 4 years of directly related experience.
• Must have membership/eligibility for membership in the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) at the Technologist level.
• Knowledge and experience working with water and wastewater systems similar to those operated by the Region.
• Knowledge and skill in hydraulics, computerized water and wastewater modeling, civil engineering technology, construction procedures, costs and inspection, mathematics, interpretation of statistical data, GIS, asset management principles, and project management. 
• Thorough knowledge of water distribution, supply and treatment, and wastewater collection and treatment design principles.
• Knowledge of and ability to comply with policies, procedures, standards, regulations, and legislation including but not limited to the Fire Underwriters Survey, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Environmental Protection Act, Ontario Drinking Water Standards, Ministry of the Environment Regulations, Municipal Engineer's Association Regulations, Ministry of Natural Resources Regulations, Environmental Assessment Act, Municipal Act, Planning Act, and any new legislation related to development and planning.
• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of database management and GIS integration, including GIS model building. Proficiency using computerized hydraulic and transient analysis models, relational databases, Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Power BI), graphical and charting packages (Visio), Adobe Acrobat, and computer peripherals such as scanners, digital cameras, and digital data loggers. 
• Proficiency in computer programming (Python, SQL, Arcade) to develop tools and models related to GIS, automation, and data visualization. 

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Organization and problem solving skills to work with minimal supervision, prioritize work, and deliver on simultaneous projects, studies, and programs.
• Analytical and technical skills to handle complex issues involving engineering, finances, legal, and planning; develop tools to analyze computer model data, asset management, and GIS; and make decisions regarding development applications and water supply and wastewater issues.
• Ability to take initiative in the absence of established methods and guidelines to understand and synthesize issues involving engineering, financial, and environmental concerns, public perception, and politics, and use judgment and experience to make decisions.    
• Communication and human relations skills to discuss, clarify, and convey project and study information to regional and area municipal Councils, Committees, staff, consultants, the media, and the public; conduct presentations, information centres, and training; and participate as an effective team member.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise reports, documentation, letters, memos, and meeting minutes for technical and non-technical audiences. 
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply legislation, technical journals, manuals, design drawings, specifications, by-laws, correspondence, and reports.
• Ability to travel within Waterloo Region. 
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values