Clean Water Agency Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Overview:

Lead Facility Improvements That Support Valley Water’s Mission

At Valley Water, our facilities support the essential services that provide safe, clean water, environmental stewardship, flood protection, and emergency response capabilities throughout Santa Clara County. We are seeking an experienced and collaborative Associate Engineer – Civil (Facilities) to lead and support facility improvement, repair, deferred maintenance, and infrastructure projects that keep our workplaces, operational facilities, and public-facing sites safe, functional, resilient, and future-ready

The Associate Engineer – Civil (Facilities) performs professional civil engineering, project management, and construction coordination work in support of Valley Water’s facility improvement and infrastructure programs. This position manages facility-related projects through the full project lifecycle, including planning, design, procurement, construction, implementation, closeout, and warranty administration.

Working under general supervision, the incumbent serves as a technical resource and project manager for a diverse portfolio of facility-related projects, including:

• Facility conditions assessments and evaluations
• Building improvements and modernization projects 
• Tenant improvements 
• Building systems upgrades 
• Deferred maintenance initiatives 
• Facility renovations and operational facility enhancements 
• Facility infrastructure improvement projects 

The Associate Engineer collaborates closely with Facilities, Safety, Information Technology, Security, Watersheds, Water Utility Operations, Procurement, consultants, contractors, vendors, and other stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in alignment with Valley Water standards, operational requirements, and applicable regulation.

Our Commitment: 
We are committed to building and sustaining a working environment where all individuals are respected and valued. We believe every member of our team brings unique perspectives that enhance our ability to serve the public effectively. By fostering a workplace with employees from the communities we serve, we broaden our collective understanding of the world around us and strengthen our mission to equitably provide safe, clean water, natural flood protections, and environmental stewardship.
About Valley Water:
Valley Water is a public agency with an operating and capital budget of $964 million, and over 900 employees. With headquarters in San José, Valley Water provides water supply, enhances streams and watersheds through creek restoration and habitat protection, provides flood protection for homes, schools, businesses and roadways, and partners with other agencies to provide trails and open space for the community.
Who We Are:
To learn how Valley Water provides safe, clean water and environmental stewardship for the Santa Clara community, please click here

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Project Management & Engineering Support

• Manage assigned facility improvement, repair, and deferred maintenance projects from project initiation through closeout. 
• Develop project scopes of work, cost estimates, schedules, budgets, and project delivery plans. 
• Lead project teams and coordinate activities among internal stakeholders, consultants, contractors, and vendors. 
• Monitor project schedules, budgets, risks, and performance metrics to ensure successful delivery. 

Design & Technical Review

• Coordinate engineering and architectural design efforts with consultants and project stakeholders. 
• Review plans, specifications, calculations, and technical documents for: 
• • • Constructability 
    • Operational impacts 
    • Code compliance 
    • Safety requirements 
    • Valley Water standards and procedures 
• Provide technical recommendations and engineering solutions to project challenges. 

Construction Administration

• Support construction-phase activities, including: 
• • • Requests for Information (RFIs) 
    • Submittal reviews 
    • Change orders 
    • Pay applications 
    • Field coordination 
    • Progress meetings 
    • Punch lists 
    • Closeout documentation 
    • Warranty management 
• Coordinate project turnover to operations and maintenance staff. 

Contract & Consultant Management

• Manage on-call consultant contracts providing engineering design and construction management services. 
• Develop task orders, negotiate scopes and fees, monitor consultant performance, and oversee project budgets and schedules. 
• Support procurement activities, contract administration, and consultant selection processes. 

Project Controls & Reporting

• Prepare procurement documents, scopes of work, and evaluation materials. 
• Coordinate purchase orders, contract documentation, and project records. 
• Track project actions, schedules, budgets, and deliverables. 
• Prepare status reports and present project updates to management and stakeholders. 

Regulatory Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, codes, standards, and Valley Water policies. 
• Participate in safety planning and support Valley Water’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program. 

Ideal Candidate's Background Includes:

Applicants whose experience and background best match the ideal experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and education are considered ideal candidates for the position. To determine the top candidates, each applicant will be assessed based on the ideal candidate criteria as listed below.

Ideal Experience:

• Four (4) years of professional engineering experience.
• Experience managing facility, building, civil infrastructure, construction, or capital improvement projects from planning through closeout. 
• Experience coordinating consultants, contractors, architects, engineers, and multidisciplinary project teams. 
• Experience reviewing engineering plans, specifications, construction documents, and technical reports. 
• Experience supporting construction administration activities, including RFIs, submittals, change orders, and project closeout. 
• Experience with contract administration, procurement processes, consultant management, and project budgeting. 
• Experience working in public agencies, utilities, municipal infrastructure, facilities management, or related environments is highly desirable. 
• Experience balancing multiple projects and priorities while maintaining schedules and budgets.

Ideal Skills and Abilities:

• Independently manage engineering and facility improvement projects. 
• Analyze technical issues and develop practical, cost-effective solutions. 
• Review and interpret construction plans, specifications, drawings, and engineering documents. 
• Coordinate multiple stakeholders and build collaborative working relationships. 
• Prepare clear and concise technical reports, presentations, and correspondence. 
• Conduct engineering research, investigations, and technical analyses. 
• Manage project schedules, budgets, risks, and consultant performance. 
• Exercise sound judgment and make independent decisions within established guidelines. 
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with technical and non-technical audiences. 
• Organize competing priorities and meet critical deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Ideal Knowledge:

• Civil engineering principles, practices, and standards. 
• Facility planning, design, construction, and maintenance practices. 
• Building systems, infrastructure improvements, and deferred maintenance programs. 
• Project management methodologies, budgeting, scheduling, and cost estimation. 
• Construction administration and contract management practices. 
• Applicable building codes, accessibility standards, and safety regulations. 
• Procurement processes and public contracting principles. 
• Engineering design review, quality assurance, and quality control practices. 
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and permitting requirements. 
• Engineering software, project management tools, and Microsoft Office applications

Ideal Training and Education:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in Civil Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

OR

Possession of a valid California Engineer-in-Training (EIT) Certificate and two (2) years of associated paraprofessional engineering experience.

Required License or Certificate:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license. Individuals who do not meet the driver's license requirement due to a disability will be considered for a reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

• A valid California Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred, but not required, for this position. Candidates who do not possess a PE license are encouraged to apply if they meet the minimum qualifications.

To review the Classification Specification, please click here
Facilities Management Unit (Position Code 80) 
Valley Water Telework Program: Eligibility for telework will depend on the type of work performed, operational needs, and the ability for the employee to perform the essential functions of their job duties while teleworking. Employment with Valley Water requires employees to live within 150 miles of their primary physical work location located in San Jose, California by their start date.

This position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, typically working 40% remote and 60% onsite, after completion of the probationary period (one year).