CITY OF MENLO PARK, CA
Menlo Park, CA, USA
May 16, 2024
Full Time
THE DEPARTMENT The Public Works department consists of approximately 72 full time employees and is responsible for maintaining and improving the city’s streets, parks, water and stormwater systems, traffic signals, trees, fleet and public buildings. The Engineering Division is responsible for managing the City’s capital improvement program and for the review of development projects for compliance with city standards, ordinances, permits, regulations, and statutes. Public Works is responsible for building and maintaining the City’s infrastructure and facilities, and for providing many of the basic services affecting the daily lives of everyone living, working, visiting, and commuting within the City, including: 26 City-owned buildings/facilities and their grounds A fleet of over 250 vehicles and pieces of equipment 97 miles of streets Drinking water delivery for 16,000 customers Flood protection and stormwater management programs particularly along the San Francisco Bay, San Francisquito Creek and Atherton Channel 14 parks, 2 open spaces, 14 playgrounds, 2 dog parks, 9 sports fields, and 14 tennis/pickleball courts Efforts to preserve and expand the urban canopy, including 20,000 public trees Multimodal transportation services including 42 traffic signals, safe routes to schools and citywide shuttle programs. The department has 72 full-time equivalent staff members and a nearly $40 million operating budget supported by over 25 different special/dedicated funding sources for the varied programs and services provided to the community. In addition, the City has an approximately $100 million capital program, in part due to a successful track record in pursuing grants from a variety of local, state and federal sources. Some of the exciting efforts on the horizon include efforts to protect the San Francisco Bay shoreline and adjacent community from sea level rise; efforts to eliminate the City’s reliance on fossil fuels through building and fleet electrification; making investments in transportation safety through strategic quick-build projects and large infrastructure changes like a pedestrian/bicycle undercrossing at Caltrain; and ensuring the equitable delivery of services throughout the entire city in alignment with the goals and programs developed as part of the city’s first environmental justice element underway. THE POSITION Are your customer service skills top notch? Love helping people? Be on the front lines, helping to deliver outstanding service to residents and contractors requesting permits for development projects in Menlo Park. The City of Menlo Park is now accepting applications for an Engineering Technician I/II in the Public Works Department in the Land Development section. Engineering Technician I This is the entry-level class in the paraprofessional engineering technician series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents with basic technical engineering experience perform work such as responding to inquiries and complaints, maintaining engineering records, performing basic engineering calculations, performing field observations and surveys, researching engineering topics, assisting in the review and issuance of permits, and updating maps and drawings, in addition to performing office and field work related to assigned engineering and transportation projects and programs. Positions at this level usually perform most of the duties required of the II level, but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. Exceptions or changes in procedures are explained in detail as they arise. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and are performed with greater independence. Engineering Technician II This is the journey-level class in the paraprofessional engineering technician series. Incumbents perform the full range of technical work in all of the following areas: field observations and surveys, researching engineering topics, review and issue of permits, and updating maps and drawings, in addition to performing office and field work related to assigned engineering and transportation projects and programs. Positions at this level are distinguished from the I level by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned, working independently, and exercising judgment and initiative. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. This class is distinguished from the Senior Engineering Technician in that the latter is responsible for technical and functional supervision of lower-level engineering technician staff and performs the most complex duties assigned to the series. Job Announcement URL: https://menlopark.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/administrative-services/documents/human-resources/job-classifications/seiu/engineering-technician-i-ii.pdf Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and the ability to work well with others within the Public Works department, contractors, outside agencies, and the public resulting in the implementation of quality projects through the construction phase. He/she shall approach challenges with a problem-solving attitude and look for innovative strategies to reduce project costs and deliver quality work products. Training will be provided as needed. Minimum Qualifications Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Engineering Technician I: Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade; supplemented two (2) years of college-level coursework in engineering, drafting, surveying, mathematics, or a related field. Experience: Two (2) years of paraprofessional experience in civil engineering, transportation or traffic engineering, drafting, surveying, or related field. Engineering Technician II: Education: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade; supplemented two (2) years of college-level coursework in engineering, drafting, surveying, mathematics, or a related field. Experience: Four (4) years of increasingly responsible paraprofessional experience in civil engineering, drafting, surveying, or related field. License and certifications Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver's License by time of appointment. Benefits The City offers an excellent benefit package consisting of: Health Insurance: City contribution up to $2,655 per month towards a Cafeteria Plan which can be used to purchase medical insurance and participate in a flexible spending account for health care and/or child care reimbursement Dental: City-paid coverage for employee and dependents Vision: City-paid coverage for employee and dependents Vacation: 88 - 176 hours of vacation leave accrual each year, depending on length of service Sick Leave: 96 hours of sick leave accrued each year Holidays: 11 official holidays; 34 hours of floating holiday time per year; 8 “Day of Reflection” hours per year in recognition of holidays of individual and community importance Retirement: CalPERS: For classic members 2.0% @ 60 formula. For all others, 2.0% @ 62 formula. Deferred Compensation: Voluntary participation in City Plans. Life Insurance: City-paid policy equal to 1.5 times regular annual wage Long Term Disability: City-paid coverage Educational leave and tuition reimbursement A City-paid Caltrain GoPass. The Menlo Park campus is centrally located within walking distance from Caltrain and downtown Menlo Park. A City-paid BayPass. This pilot program offers employees unlimited travel in 2024 for both work and personal trips on 25 Bay Area transit agencies that use the Clipper card. A transportation allowance program provides employees with $1.50 per day when they walk, bicycle or carpool to work at least once per week. Employees are provided with access to an on-site gym at no cost. For additional benefit information, visit www.menlopark.gov and review the City of Menlo Park and SEIU Memorandum of Understanding. Special Instructions IMPORTANT: Please be sure to fill out the required City application completely, including all relevant work experience. Applications with “See Resume” as a substitution for the work experience description and/or unclear past employment information will not be considered. The deadline for this announcement is Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Applications will be screened according to the qualifications outlined in this announcement. Not all applications which may meet the minimum requirements will proceed to the next phase of the recruitment process. If 25 or fewer applications are received, the eligibility list will be established based on application review. If 26 or more applications are received, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Panel examination. All applicants will be notified by email as to whether or not they are invited to participate further in the selection process. Potential Oral Board Panel Examination Date: TBD An Eligible List will be established as a result of this examination process and will be valid for a period of six months. The list may be extended up to a maximum of two years. The hiring department will review the Eligible List to determine which candidates will be invited to the department selection process. The City of Menlo Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the City of Menlo Park not to discriminate against all qualified applicants or employees. We will make reasonable efforts in the selection process to accommodate persons with disabilities. Please contact Human Resources at jobs@menlopark.gov prior to the closing date for accommodation requests. Before receiving an offer of employment, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a criminal conviction history questionnaire, DOJ fingerprinting, and an Occuscreen background check. Applicants must be successful in all phases of the selection process to be considered for this position. In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act, all potential employees are required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States. The City will not sponsor applicants for work visas. Closing Date/Time: 6/5/2024 at 11:59pm