Chief Dam Safety Engineer Job Whitefish area,Montana USA,Engineering

Chief Dam Safety Engineer

Full Time Manual Labor MT, US

30+ days ago Requisition

Scope of Role

As EKI’s Chief Dam Safety Engineer (CDSE), you will serve as the technical authority and strategic lead for EKI’s dam safety program and provide project management and engineering expertise as needed to manage capital and maintenance activities at the project. Thus, this position offers a unique blend of dam safety, high-level engineering and dynamic project management.

You will be expected to manage and have complete responsibility for all aspects of EKI’s dam safety program, as well as provide competent project management, particularly as it relates to dam safety. You will be trusted with significant autonomy, working under minimal supervision to ensure EKI’s hydropower plant operates safely and in compliance with FERC dam safety regulations.

Essential Duties

In this role you will work closely with the EKI management team. You will satisfy the requirements set out in 18 CFR Subpart F § 12.61 overseeing the implementation of the owners’ dam safety program (ODSP), and you will have primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of the SKQ and appurtenant and project works. All work will be discussed with the team, yielding concurrence on all plans, schedules and budgets before submission of plans and schedule to the FERC or discussion with the public or anyone outside of the management team.

The CDSE activities will occupy approximately 20 to 40 % of your time, depending on the year.

Specific CDSE responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Managing and implementing the ODSP.

Managing all FERC dam safety related correspondence.

Writing and submitting all FERC required annual reports, in particular the Dam Safety Surveillance and Monitoring Report (DSSMR). Timely, professional preparation and sealed submittal of the DSSMR is a key CDSE responsibility.

Inspecting the project at least every quarter, and more often in the first year. Remotely inspecting the project every month and preparing a monthly inspection report that includes a review of pertinent surveillance and plots monitoring data.

Preparing the Owner Inspection Form prior to annual FERC inspections.

Managing all aspects of the Emergency Action Plan, including annual the annual seminar, drill, and status report. Every 5 years you will manage all aspects of the EAP tabletop and functional exercises, including reporting.

Managing the review, update, and periodic submittal of the Supporting Technical Information Document (STID), including the digital project archive (DPA).

Managing all aspects of Part
12D inspections. In 2026, EKI has a comprehensive assessment.

As a member of the EKI management team, approximately 60 to 80 % of your time you will be expected to:

Provide project management on a variety of capital and O&M projects.

Provide engineering input and design input depending on your specific skill set.

Specific Skills, Knowledge, Experience & Education Required

At a minimum, the CDSE will have:

Eight years’ dam safety and engineering experience.

A Montana Professional Engineering License, or the ability to get one within 6 months.

A valid driver’s license.

Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

Expert knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, project management, presentation software and performance monitoring software.

Preference will be given to individuals with:

A comprehensive understanding of hydrology, hydraulics, structural engineering and design, geotechnical engineering, and monitoring as they relate to hydropower production dams and facilities.

Experience developing engineering alternatives for dam repairs, progressing selected designs to construction, and managing all aspects of construction, including preparation of the Quality Control and Inspection Plans (QCIPs), temporary EAPs, and construction failure modes analysis.

Structural engineering expertise on concrete dams, especially concrete arch dams.

Experience presenting dam safety information to lay-people, including elected Boards and the public.

Demonstrable skill in the evaluation of technical performance, identifying potential improvements, and determining and applying Best…