Civil Engineer II (Structural Engineer - Facilities)

Main Purpose and Function

This position is responsible for providing technical support to facility operations teams related to structural needs/issues, establishing and validating building structural systems inventory and condition, interpreting and providing reviews as an owner’s representative of technical submissions (reports, designs, guidelines, standards, including seismic assessments), supporting the on-going Building Condition Assessment program, managing the roster of pre-qualified structural consultants, and developing and managing a post-earthquake assessment program for City owned and City operated facilities. This includes acting as project manager on smaller-scale system upgrade projects and special initiatives.

The position is part of the Facilities Sustainment group of Business Initiatives and Operations Excellence (BIOE) in the Facilities Management and Operational Excellence (FMOE) division. This position works closely with numerous directors, managers, supervisors, superintendents, tradespeople, and technical staff to establish awareness of structural engineering needs, and to plan and prioritize actions that requires effective working relationships with subject matter experts and stakeholders. This position may be assigned to supervise engineering, technical or administrative staff within the Facilities Sustainment group.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

System Inspections

• Conducts detailed facility reviews or inspections on envelope and building structural system components to establish and update asset inventory and condition for use in maintenance and replacement planning scenarios (e.g. foundations, glazing, cladding, wall assembly, roofing, membranes, superstructure, substructure).
• Using observations of indicators of failure, advises on optimal system component renewal intervals.
• Undertakes failure mode analysis and root cause analysis to mitigate future risks of unacceptable system component failure events.

Maintenance & Replacement Scoping & Prioritization

• In collaboration with REFM Trade Shops, Facilities Planning and Development, and other stakeholders, leads/supports the prioritization of maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement requirements for building envelope and structural system components, including communicating risks in a manner that allows for prioritization across multiple systems and building components.
• Provides input into and validates the prioritization of planned capital upgrades for existing building system assets within the capital plan and annual capital maintenance program.
• Supports the development of updated and standardized maintenance specifications.
• Recommends adjustments to the planned maintenance of building envelope and structural assets based on Building Condition Assessment findings, detailed audit findings, and changes in regulatory requirements.
• Supports the use and sustainment of corporate IT systems to manage asset information.

Project Management

• Serves as project manager on smaller-scale system upgrade projects and initiatives aimed at improving asset condition awareness including developing Request for Proposals, Request for Quotations and/or Invitations to Tender, reviewing proposals, quotations, and tenders, defining specifications and guidelines, overseeing the work of vendors and consultants, and managing of scope, schedule and budget.
• Coordinates the collection and collation of building-specific data and input into externally delivered assessments such as ongoing high-level Building Condition Assessments at a frequency of 75-100 sites per year.
• Reviews technical findings from externally delivered reports, such as Building Condition Assessments, regulatory audits, design documents, reports, and specific building system assessments, validates findings and assists with coordination of follow-up studies as required.
• Summarizes and presents findings and recommendations from both internal and externally delivered initiatives to internal stakeholders.
• In collaboration with the REFM carpentry, and paint shop, identifies, escalates, and manages risks and issues as they arise, including leading internal audits and/or the procurement of specialized studies as necessary.

Technical Advisory, Strategic & Continuous Improvement

• Leads the development of new strategies, operating procedures, guidelines, check-sheets, reference tools, and/or specifications to support and advance the standardization of data collection, cross-team collaboration, document management, building systems design, and internally-led facility inspections/audits.
• Establishes and maintains technical design standards and specifications, and review and advise on commissioning standards for new construction and major renovations of City-buildings.
• Advises on regulatory requirements (e.g. VBBL, BCBC, WSBC, etc.) and industry best practices pertaining to the inspection, testing, maintenance and replacement of building systems assets.
• Supports facility stakeholders, in a technical capacity, in developing and implementing strategies to upgrade assets to comply with new regulations.
• Advises on the acceptability of potential variances and approve variances to code requirements where necessary and warranted.
• Analyzes annual maintenance activities, rehabilitation initiatives and costs to determine optimal financial lifecycles for city assets and provide expert and financial guidance regarding economic impacts on component/equipment alternatives and overall building envelope costs; provides additional technical and strategic support pertaining to building envelope and structural assets within facilities as required.
• Performs other duties/responsibilities as required.

Qualification
Education and Experience:

• Completion of a university degree in Engineering.
• Registration (or immediate eligibility for registration) as a Professional Engineer in the province of British Columbia (EGBC).
• Minimum of 5- 7 years of current and relevant professional experience pertaining to asset management, project management, and structural engineering with demonstrated experience with structural assessment (condition, and seismic), and repairs/rehabilitation of building structures.
• Registration as a Designated Structural Engineer (Struct. Eng.) with EGBC is considered an asset.
• Supervisory experience is considered an asset.
• Structural design experience is considered an asset.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of building structural engineering principles, standards, and specifications, as they relate to facilities in a municipal environment.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of effective asset management including conducting building condition assessments, establishing accurate asset inventory, establishing maintenance and replacement standards, strategies and plans meeting regulatory requirements and best practice standards, and conducting audits on assets, procedures, documentation and maintenance records.
• Ability to prepare technical design specifications, commissioning plans, safety and operations and maintenance documentation for complex facilities.
• Considerable knowledge of local Building Codes, WSBC, CSA and other industry standards and requirements pertaining to building envelope, structural systems, and safety.
• Working knowledge of quality management systems such as EGBC’s Professional Practice Management Plan system.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft 365 suite of office applications, familiarity with SAP or similar maintenance and costing system is considered an asset.
• Ability to take on a leadership role and be proactive in resolving project conflicts and inefficiencies in a timely and effective manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Organizational and time management skills in a high volume and high stress environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
• Ability to work and think strategically, including experience with business case composition and evaluation, lifecycle cost analysis, strategic planning and development and implementation of Key Performance Indicators.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision.
• Experience leading in a unionized environment considered an asset.

Driver’s License and Record Checks:

• A current and valid class 5 BC Driver’s License and a satisfactory driving record is required (or immediate eligibility to obtain a Class 5 BC driver’s license if current driver’s license is from outside of BC).
• If you have less than five years driving experience in BC, a request must be made for out of province/country abstract and claims history.

Business Unit/Department: Real Estate, Environment and Facilities Management