Project Manager, Technical Services

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

The Wastewater Plant and Capital Delivery Unit, with the ES Division, has three (3) vacancies for a Technical Project Manager.

The Environmental Services (ES) Division has three (3) vacancies for a Project Manager, Technical Services (Project Manager), in the Interceptor Engineering group of the Capital Design and Delivery department.

The interceptor system is the sanitary sewer network of pipes, mains, and tunnels that intercept wastewater flow when it leaves one city and is conveyed through other cities enroute to one of the 9 wastewater reclamation/treatment facilities in the 7-County Metropolitan area. The interceptor system consists of 634 miles of gravity mains, force mains, and siphons; 231 billing and performance meters; and 60 lift stations. The interceptor system serves 2.8 million people from 111 communities.

The Interceptor Engineering group is responsible for the planning and design of capital projects to preserve, improve, and expand the interceptor system to meet our customer service goals. In addition, the Interceptor Engineering department supports the Construction Services group during capital project construction.

The Project Manager is responsible for managing capital program delivery associated with a specific subregional area and assists in the development of that program. The subregional groups for Interceptor Engineering include Minneapolis/St. Paul, North Area, West Area, and South Area. The current position openings are for the North Area, West Area, and South Area programs. The Project Manager will be responsible for the subregional capital projects while serving as project manager for the most technically challenging and/or complex projects. The Project Manager is responsible for technical review ensuring current standards and best practices are incorporated in all department work products. The Project Manager is also responsible for technical advising and mentoring of less experienced staff.

After an initial period of on-site work, this position is eligible for a hybrid (both remote and onsite) telework arrangement. The candidate's permanent residence must be in Minnesota or Wisconsin.

Note: Although the full salary range is displayed, the hiring salary will be determined based on the final candidate's qualifications, the Council's internal pay structures, and our total compensation package for the position.

• Lead, manage and deliver technically challenging interceptor system capital projects to ensure reliable service.
• Perform the duties similar to a Principal Engineer in the delivery of capital projects including reviewing facility evaluations and condition assessments, preparing written plans, managing project budgets and expenditures, approving invoices, preparing schedules, tracking approvals, preparing work scopes, developing technical solutions, reviewing work products, coordinating internal and external stakeholder input, managing project communications, preparing proposed contract changes, and tracking construction milestones including commissioning and project closeout.
• Prepare and deliver presentations in a public setting or before a governmental board or council.
• Ensure that all project designs are thoroughly vetted and accepted by maintenance and operations staff throughout the major project milestones.
• Ensure that design standards and best practices or standards of care are incorporated into all capital projects.
• Provide input for new and revised design standards.
• Ensure that department capital projects provide a regional benefit and meet ES Customer Level of Service goals.
• Ensure that facility evaluations and condition assessments are completed and system needs and deficiencies are prioritized for the creation of new capital projects.
• Prepare project proposals and costs for incorporating into the Capital Plan.
• Provide technical review of work products and advise department staff.
• Mentor new and less experienced engineers.
• Complete related duties as assigned.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Any of the following combinations of experience in the design and construction of large wastewater collection and treatment facilities and completed education (degree field of study in Chemical, Mechanical, Civil, or closely related field):

• Progressive experience in engineering evaluations, plans, and design reviews.
• Experience working with diverse populations of internal and external customers.
• Experience with engineering principles and construction practices for wastewater collection and treatment.
• Experience in project and program management principles and practices.
• Experience in wastewater collection and treatment operation and maintenance practices.
• Experience in conducting financial analysis and risk analysis sufficient to guide and make decisions.
• Experience presenting at public hearings and governmental board meetings or public audiences and council bodies
• Demonstrated skills sufficient to build trust, develop and maintain effective relationships with customers and stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization.
• Experience leading and guiding interdisciplinary teams to successful project completion.
• Experience in planning, organizing, and prioritizing work.
• Experience in commissioning facilities.

What knowledge, skills and abilities you should have within the first six (6) months of the job:

• Knowledge of engineering principles and construction practices for wastewater collection and treatment.
• Knowledge of project and program management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of wastewater collection and treatment operation and maintenance practices.
• Knowledge of the capital program design guides, standards, and work instructions related to the Capital Program.
• Knowledge of financial analysis and risk analysis sufficient to guide and make decisions.
• Verbal and written communication skills sufficient to communicate effectively with customers, stakeholders, contractors, and staff.
• Interpersonal skills sufficient to build trust, develop and maintain effective relationships with customers and stakeholders, both internal and external to the organization.
• Training and presentation skills.
• Ability to lead and guide interdisciplinary teams to successful project completion.
• Ability to coach and mentor staff.
• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work.
• Ability to make sound, timely, risk-based decisions with limited information.

Union/Grade: AFSCME/Grade J
FLSA Status: Exempt
Safety Sensitive: No
Full Salary Range: $48.56 -$78.77 hourly/ $101,005 - $163,842 Annually

What your work environment would be:
Work is typically performed in a standard office setting and at various project sites throughout the region. Periodic construction or project site visits will be required.
The responsibilities listed are typical of the positions included in the job classification; however, not all duties are necessarily performed by each specific position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position. Regular attendance is an essential responsibility.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.
2. We rate your education and experience.
3. We conduct a structured panel interview.
4. We conduct a selection interview.

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check which verifies education, employment, and criminal history. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the job. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they are related to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a criminal background check if the job you're applying for is safety sensitive, is a supervisory or management job, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards. A driving record check and/or physical may be conducted if applicable to the position.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.