Job Description

Posting number: 26-76419-03

Department: Department of Waste Resources

Division: Department of Waste Resources

Job classification: ENGINEERING PROJECT MANAGER

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Engineering, Waste Management, Wastewater

Summary

The County of Riverside Department of Waste Resources is seeking a highly skilled Engineering Project Manager (EPM) to join the Engineering Division. This role is responsible for leading complex environmental and infrastructure projects that support the County’s long-term waste management, environmental protection, and regulatory compliance goals.

The Engineering Project Manager will serve as the primary project lead, providing comprehensive engineering and administrative oversight for the design, bidding, permitting, construction support, and contract administration of major capital projects. These projects include landfill liner expansions, landfill closures, hazardous waste collection facilities, recycling and waste diversion infrastructure, site maintenance improvement projects, site infrastructure projects, and other high-impact environmental systems.

This position requires strong knowledge of engineering design principles, permitting, and regulatory frameworks, including compliance with federal and state funding and reporting requirements. The ideal candidate will demonstrate experience navigating technical project execution, complex environmental requirements, and multidisciplinary coordination.

Highly preferred qualifications include professional experience as a Civil or Environmental Engineer, along with demonstrated supervisory and management experience. The EPM will supervise and provide leadership to teams consisting of professional engineers, engineering technicians, equipment operators, and administrative staff. The role also includes strategic oversight of consultant and contractor procurement, contract negotiations, performance monitoring, and ensuring projects meet scope, schedule, and budget expectations.

Highly competitive candidates will have:

• Knowledge of Public Works Contracts, Construction Projects, and long-term development planning.
• Experience in civil or environmental engineering design and permitting.
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale, resource-intensive project
• Strong budget management and project delivery skills.
• Familiarity with regulatory compliance frameworks.

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs is required.

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead transformative infrastructure projects that directly support community safety, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.

Meet the Team!

The Department of Waste Resources serves the County's solid waste disposal needs by providing for efficient and effective landfilling of County non-hazardous waste, protecting the environment, and promoting recycling in order to ensure a safe and healthy community for current and future generations.

Banner promoting job benefits for the County of Riverside, featuring a cityscape background and the county seal.

Examples of duties

• Plans, organizes, directs and reviews the work of professional and technical staff, and consultants involved in the planning, environmental and regulatory processing, scheduling, design, operation, administration and construction of multiple, major Public Works Improvement Projects.
• Plans, prepares, and participates in consultant selection for design and construction engineering services for Public Works Projects and Programs; negotiates the scope, budget, and schedule with consultant firms and prepares the negotiated contract agreement for Board of Supervisor's approval; directs, reviews, and approves the preparation of the Project Management Plan; prioritizes and schedules major activities to ensure the most effective use of staff and equipment.
• Prepares, manages, and monitors project budgets and schedules; reviews consultant's monthly progress reports to ensure compliance with project scope and agreement provisions; prepares and negotiates Services Agreements and amendments and prepares the Form 11 for Board of Supervisor's approval; reviews and approves consultant's invoices for payment; reviews and recommends approval of Contract and/or Construction Change Orders, funding agreements and equipment within the limits of design and cost restrictions.
• Represents the Department before other County Departments, cities, governmental agencies, utility companies, stakeholders and the public to ensure proper communication, direction and coordination; prepares and processes cooperative agreements with government agencies such as the State Department of Transportation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and State Department of Water Resources for the design and construction of Public Works Improvement Projects; oversees and coordinates the preparation of cooperative and/or property acquisition agreements with developers, private property owners and government agencies.
• Directs the inspection and evaluation of contract or other construction work and enforces conformity to plans, specifications, and construction standards; coordinates with the consultant's team and Department engineers periodically to review and revise construction cost estimates; provides project information and cost data for funding applications with cities, other County Departments, and regional agencies such as the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the Western Riverside Council of Governments, the Santa Ana Watershed Authority, State and Federal agencies such as the the California Public Utilities Commission, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers; provides annual project cost estimates to update the Department's Capital Improvement Plans; prepares application and project certification documents to allocate and obligate funds for various phases of Federally and/or State funded projects; and reviews and approves invoices to appropriate funding agencies for cost recovery.

Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited college with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Geology, Planning, Transportation Planning, Public Administration, Urban Geography, Architecture, or closely related field.

Experience: Four years of professional engineering experience including two years of engineering experience in a lead, administrative or supervisory capacity that included project management responsibilities.

Knowledge of: The principles and practices of engineering especially as they apply to traffic, transportation planning, highway design, solid waste, hazardous waste, flood control infrastructure, hydraulics, hydrology, geotechnical, local, State and Federal environmental and regulatory requirements, and economic analysis; State and Federal standards concerning Public Works Projects design and construction; the principles and techniques of project and/or program management, engineering administration, personnel management, project funding and budgeting.

Ability to: Plan, organize, and direct the work of an engineering/technical unit; prioritize and supervise the work of professional engineers, technicians, inspectors, field construction staff and planners; prepare, manage and administer program budgets; perform or review difficult engineering calculations; prepare or direct the preparation of complex plans, specifications, and comprehensive technical reports; perform difficult technical research, to analyze situations accurately, and adopt effective courses of action; review, evaluate, recommend, and/or approve proposals and plans of complex Public Works Projects and/or Programs; establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.

Other Requirements

License/Certificate: Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Possession of a valid certificate of registration as a Civil Engineer issued by the California Department of Consumer Affairs.

Supplemental information

For questions regarding this recruitment:

Please contact Angela Tavaglione at atavaglione@rivco.org or (951) 966-3590. Please allow 1-2 business days for response.