The Town of Moraga is a small, family-oriented bedroom community offering a quiet semi-rural lifestyle within easy reach of big city amenities. Located 22 miles east of San Francisco and 10 miles from Oakland, Moraga offers a unique blend of residential areas, two shopping centers and open hillsides. Moraga is also the home of Saint Mary’s College.
Under general supervision, the Engineering Technician/Construction Inspector position provides a variety of paraprofessional engineering and transportation support; performs a variety of technical and administrative duties relating to the maintenance, plan check, engineering design, development of PS&Es, construction bidding, contract management, construction management, construction quality assurance, inspection, surveying, and ordinance enforcement regarding public infrastructure and private land development under public works review; receives, investigates, and responds to complaints; maintains and updates engineering maps, drawings, records, and files; and performs related duties as required.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Incumbents will provide technical assistance and support to professional staff and construction inspection on encroachment permits, land development and construction projects. The Engineering Technician/Inspector class is distinguished from the Assistant Engineer by more routine tasks and duties received and by less independence with which to perform.
Equipment, Methods and Guidelines
Uses Federal, State, County, and local standard plans, specifications, rules and regulations; personal computer for word processing, spreadsheets, time card entry, and similar applications; motor vehicle, hand levels, pocket scales, engineering tapes, calculators, printer, copier, telephone, personal protective, hand tools, and engineering and survey equipment.
Working Conditions
Office and inspection site environment in all types of weather. Work may involve inconsistent work schedules to accommodate construction activities and may include work during weekends, holidays, and overtime as required.
Physical Demands
Work is often performed in an outdoor construction environment with year-round exposure to varying weather conditions. Work is subject to construction site noise and environment including exposure to loud equipment and machinery. Work will include exposure to various conditions encountered in a construction environment, such as steep slopes; various plants and natural environments; moving machinery; marked changes or extremes in temperature/humidity; dust, fumes, smoke, gases, odors, mists, or other irritating particles; excessive noise; slippery or uneven walking surfaces; working below ground and in confined spaces; vibrations; radiation or electrical energy; solvents, greases, oils, or chemicals; flames or burning items. (Some specific tasks may require specialized training by the Town prior to undertaking said activities, such as confined space entry.) Work is performed at various remote locations. Positions may require occasional overtime and weekend work and travel is rare.
Supervision Received and Exercised
Works under close supervision and follows established procedures; work is reviewed frequently by the Senior Civil Engineer, or designated personnel, for progress and accuracy. Independently applies applicable codes and ordinances to ensure conformance. Control over work methods is general, rather than detailed in nature; makes independent decisions when issuing permit authorizations, approving construction start dates, stopping or rejecting work, or issuing citations for violations. Work assignments, including written reports and communications, are reviewed upon completion but before submission or distribution.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Performs field, office, and computer-aided basic engineering studies and activities.
- Prepares plans, specifications, and cost estimates under direction of engineer.
- Conduct construction inspections for Capital Improvement Projects, encroachments in public right of way, public facilities improvements, stormwater facilities, and land development projects.
- Performs measurements, staking, topographical work, leveling and other related land surveying duties.
- Performs field work such as conducting observations, making traffic counts, and analyzing traffic flow.
- Reviews accident reports and other documentation.
- Researches records and other data used to compile information for decision making.
- Assists in receiving sealed bids, attends bid openings as a public works representative, reviews bids for general completeness and responsiveness, and tabulates bids.
- Maintains engineering and traffic/transportation files, including plans, studies, inspections, surveys, maps and other data related to engineering and transportation projects; updates traffic maps, engineering drawings, standard details, and information recorded in GIS.
- Receives and responds to requests from developers, contractors, private engineers, title companies, real estate brokers, and others for base maps, property line information, encroachment permits, benchmarks, copies of maps, confirming street information and other geographical data.
- Provides excellent customer service; responds to routine citizen inquiries and complaints relating to the Town’s infrastructure, including researching archival information from the Town’s files, seeking input from other departments as necessary, and communicating issues to appropriate supervisory or management staff for feedback or direction.
- Processes encroachment permits to ensure compliance with Town policy, codes, and regulations and fee, insurance, and bond requirements; coordinates and communicates with contractors, residents, other agencies, and other Town staff.
- Uses clearly defined practices and procedures to inspect the methods and materials used in encroachment permit work, construction projects, construction surveys, construction safety precautions, traffic control, and erosion and sediment control.
- Coordinates material testing and analyzes material test results including relative compaction tests, graduation of aggregates, slump tests, and resistant value of soils; Inspects producers of construction materials and its sources.
- Reviews and interprets construction plans, specifications, encroachment permits, and other documents affecting assigned projects; maintains daily diary and field records of construction activities, contractor crew, equipment, materials and quantities.
- Participates in meetings to discuss construction details and resolves issues with contractors, other departments, other agencies, and the public; identifies construction problems, monitors the corrections of project deficiencies, and recommends approval of necessary contract change orders and plan adjustments.
- Conducts compliance review of public’s maintenance responsibilities of sidewalk, curb, gutter, private storm drainage conveyance systems, and creeks; posts liens, required repairs, and construction notices.
- Can handle multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously; has handled a wide variety of assignments in past and/or current position.
- Assists in the administration of public works contracts including contract costs, materials verification, and compliance with State and Federal regulations.
- Assists in preparing documentation related to obtaining and administering Federal and State grants.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
