Technical Program Assistant Jobs in Winnetka, IL

Job Description

This Municipal Engineer role provides in-house engineering support to a village, with a strong focus on municipal infrastructure, stormwater and drainage, capital improvement planning, and public works projects. You will prepare plans, specifications, and bid documents; oversee drainage and backyard programs; and provide technical expertise from preliminary design through construction. The position combines office-based design and documentation with regular site visits, direct interaction with residents, contractors, and agency officials, and active participation in a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed plans, specifications, and bid documents for a wide range of municipal infrastructure projects.
• Oversee the Village’s Backyard Drainage Program, including managing related drainage complaint investigations and developing practical solutions.
• Perform construction oversight and administration to ensure conformance with approved plans and specifications, advising appropriate personnel of variances that require correction.
• Interact regularly with village residents to respond to inquiries, explain project impacts, and assist in developing solutions to address their concerns.
• Coordinate with contractors regarding work performed, clarifying expectations, resolving issues, and ensuring adherence to project requirements and schedules.
• Maintain thorough and accurate project documentation, including records of design decisions, field observations, communications, and approvals.
• Conduct site investigations to assess existing conditions, identify issues, and gather data to support design and construction activities.
• Provide analyses and technical input for engineering reports, grant applications, and other funding-related documentation.
• Assist with the budgetary planning process and contribute technical expertise and analysis for the Capital Improvement Program.
• Assist with the management of permits from outside regulatory agencies and coordinate with such agencies throughout project lifecycles.
• Provide technical support at various stages of projects, including preliminary design, final design, and preparation of contract documents such as cost estimates and specifications.
• Develop memorandums and other written technical documents that clearly communicate engineering findings, recommendations, and decisions.
• Assist with reviewing plans, specifications, and bid packages prepared by others to ensure completeness, accuracy, and compliance with standards.
• Support projects by attending meetings and interacting with agency officials, contractors, and other stakeholders to represent the village’s engineering interests.
• Deliver effective public presentations and participate in meetings as needed to explain projects and engineering recommendations.
• Apply knowledge of industry and construction practices, methodologies, and best engineering practices to improve project outcomes and ensure quality.
• Maintain and promote adherence to office and field health and safety requirements and protocols.
• Manage smaller projects for the department, effectively leveraging experience and skills on increasingly complex assignments.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required to meet village needs and support the broader public works and municipal engineering program.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science (BS) in Civil Engineering.
• 5–6 years of municipal engineering experience.
• Professional Engineer (PE) licensure or the ability to obtain licensure within one year.
• Demonstrated experience in municipal engineering, including public works and village engineering functions.
• Strong background in stormwater, drainage, and backyard drainage programs.
• Proficiency in conducting site investigations and translating field observations into design and construction solutions.
• High level of proficiency with computer-aided design (CAD) software and other engineering-related software packages.
• Strong proficiency with general documentation software such as Microsoft Office Suite, Bluebeam, PowerPoint, and similar tools.
• Excellent technical writing and documentation skills, including the ability to prepare reports, memorandums, and specifications.
• Strong verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and in a timely manner to residents, colleagues, and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to build relationships and trust in a multi-disciplinary environment, collaborating effectively with internal and external professionals.
• Effective public speaking and presentation skills, including the ability to present technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated understanding of industry standards, construction practices, methodologies, and best engineering practices.
• Ability to manage smaller projects independently while contributing to more complex assignments.
• Ability to maintain a work schedule that supports team collaboration and project-specific requirements.
• Commitment to maintaining office and field health and safety protocols.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites as required.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting capital improvement programs, including budgeting and prioritization of municipal projects.
• Experience preparing and reviewing plans, specifications, and bid packages for public infrastructure projects.
• Experience coordinating with regulatory agencies and managing permits for municipal projects.
• Familiarity with stormwater management practices, drainage system design, and related public works infrastructure.
• Experience providing technical input for grant applications and funding programs.
• Demonstrated ability to interact professionally with residents, address concerns, and communicate project impacts in a clear and respectful manner.
• Leadership skills that support mentoring, guiding project teams, and representing engineering perspectives in meetings.
• Experience working within a collaborative, multi-disciplinary engineering environment.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, on-site position based at a village hall in Bolingbrook, IL. You will work in a professional office environment embedded with the client, collaborating closely with other on-site team members, including colleagues focused on construction. The role requires in-office presence five days per week, with approximately 20–30% of your time spent on site visits to active projects and field locations. A company vehicle is available for required site visits. The broader team culture emphasizes collaboration, strong relationships, and regular in-office social activities that bring colleagues together. Y

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

The pay range for this position is $97000.00 - $115000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

3 weeks of PTO to startCompany provides employees with a competitive benefits package. The health and wellbeing of our employees both professionally and personally is a top priority. Each year as we review our benefits, we strive to provide comprehensive benefits to assist employees in achieving work-life harmony and preparing themselves and their families for the future.Medical, Dental, and Vision InsuranceCompany offers three medical plans through Cigna Medical, one dental plan through The Standard, and one vision plan through EyeMed. Our plan year for these health benefits is April 1st through March 31st.The total amount that you pay for your benefits coverage depends on the plans and level of coverage you choose.Costs shown below are semi-monthly (per payroll period – 24 per year)

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 15, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.