Engineering Specialist II​/III, Soil Conservation

Position Summary

The Howard Soil Conservation District is seeking an Engineering Specialist II/III to review various types of grading and development plans. The position requires considerable knowledge of the Howard County development review process, including all aspects of sediment and erosion control plan compliance. An understanding of AutoCAD, GIS, and the County’s PDOX plan review system is preferred. The position requires a Bachelor of Science degree and three (3) years of experience in development plan review, engineering, or other related field.

Work experience may be substituted for education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

This is professional engineering work at the full performance level, reviewing various types of subdivision and site development plans, for private and public projects. Employee reviews plans for compliance with State and County standards relating to sediment control, temporary storm water management, forest harvests, and impacts to environmentally sensitive areas. Work includes occasional technical advice and assistance directly to county residents for purposes of solving drainage or erosion problems.

Work is performed with general supervision from a technical or administrative supervisor. Assignments require evaluative thinking and are carried out in accordance with accepted planning and engineering standards and applicable regulations. The work requires regular and important contacts with other County personnel, the general public, engineers, developers, builders, representatives of various State and Federal agencies and the overall business community.

Performs professional level engineering work, with considerable independence but under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior. Work includes reviewing complex engineering plans, resolving difficult design analysis, and preparing planning and engineering documents. Work at this level is distinguished by unique engineering analysis and expertise in areas such as civil, geotechnical and structural engineering; in-depth experience in the development, design and construction of best management practices (BMP);

in-depth review of stormwater management devices that involve complex analyses of hydrology, hydraulics and geotechnical computations; interpretation of soil groups, types, and their properties.

Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Reviews sediment and erosion control plans for feasibility and for compliance with approved standards and specifications.
• Coordinates District plan review responsibilities with the Howard County Planning office and other departments.
• Reviews and develops pond designs for compliance with Maryland Small Pond Law and State Pond Safety Standards.
• Reviews plans for compliance with temporary storm water requirements.
• Conducts field investigations of environmentally sensitive areas such as floodplains, streams, wetlands and their buffers to determine category and extent.
• Occasionally delineates wetlands for Capital Projects and for certain agricultural or forestry uses.
• Attends Subdivision Plan Review Committee meetings, project meetings and other meetings as requested to represent the District.
• Prepares various reports and summaries and performs data entry.
• Skill in using standard computer programs such as TR-55, TR-20 and HEC-RAS, for calculating hydrologic and hydraulic quantities and characteristics.
• Proficiency in office software such as Word, Excel, and Adobe.
• Experience in soil conservation practice standards design and engineering.
• Confers with engineers, developers, inspectors, and citizens to help resolve violations, complaints or other problems associated with sediment and erosion control, storm water management and environmental impacts.

Occasionally supervise others for survey or design.

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Civil, Environmental, Agricultural or similar) and three (3) years of experience.

• Knowledge of State and County Sediment Control laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of the Maryland Standards and Specifications of Erosion and Sediment Control.
• Knowledge of the soil characteristics (Soil Survey) of the County.
• Knowledge of District policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of standard conservation practices and of the criteria utilized in various conservation studies.
• Knowledge of conservation planning concepts.
• Experience in design and construction of ponds and agricultural conservation practices.
• Knowledge of the laws and regulations related to the construction of ponds, flood plain encroachments, wetland impacts, and stream changes; and of storm water management concepts.
• Knowledge of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Technical Manuals.
• Knowledge of the Howard County subdivision plan review process.
• Ability to interpret graphs, charts, and nomograms, and to solve algebraic formulas.
• Ability to read and interpret plan drawings. Emphasis on…