Salary: $87,367.00 - $135,428.00 Annually
Location : 1600 Mist Lake Dr., Durham, NC
Job Type: Full time with benefits
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26-06059
Department: Water Management
Opening Date: 08/05/2026
Position DescriptionWork. Serve. Thrive. With the City of DurhamAdvance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.
Hiring Range: $87,367 - $135,428. This position is eligible for a one-time $5,000 sign-on bonus that will be paid upon successful completion of the new hire's six-month probationary period. Internal promotional/transfer hires are not eligible for bonus.
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., flexible
The City of Durham's Department of Water Management (DWM) wants YOU to join our team of more than 380 talented and dedicated employees that provide critical water and sewer services for the residents and businesses of Durham. Our mission is to provide cost-effective water and wastewater services that meet customers' expectations and all regulatory requirements. If you have a passion for managing vital water resources, protecting the environment, and providing excellent customer service, then bring your skills and talent to Durham!
DWM owns and operates two surface water treatment plants, two large high hazard dams, two water reclamation facilities, approximately 1,300 miles of water mains, six water storage tanks, and a collection system with 1,200 miles of gravity mains, 33,000 manholes, and 65 lift stations. The Utility Engineering Division is made up of a highly engaged team of professionals that manage capital projects aimed at improving, expanding, and maintaining these critical assets. We are seeking a self-motivated principal engineer/project manager to assist in this effort. This position will focus primarily on improvements to our collection and distribution systems. With a five-year capital budget of 2.4 billion dollars, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to be part of a wide variety of interesting and important projects.
The selected candidate will act as an owner representative for a variety of water/wastewater capital projects from inception to completion. This includes management through all project phases including, but not limited to, scope and budget development, procurement of consultants/contractors, contract administration, engineering evaluation/planning, preliminary engineering, detailed design, permitting, land/easement acquisition, construction bidding, construction, and project close out. Responsibilities will also include preparing agenda items for City Council consideration, negotiating change orders and contract amendments, assisting the Senior Engineering Manager with development of the 10-year CIP budget, coordinating with operations and maintenance divisions, providing support on various environmental regulatory issues, conducing public hearings or outreach efforts, and assisting with staff training.
The position requires independent evaluation and analysis of complex engineering issues, and the exercise of professional judgment to progress projects to completion within required timeframes and approved budgets. The position requires working closely with a diverse group of professionals such as inspectors, operations and maintenance staff, finance/accounting staff, and attorneys.
Duties/Responsibilities - Serves as a lead for capital project management on large, complex projects and/or multiple projects
- Prepares, reviews, and analyzes engineering request for proposals/qualifications, contracts, agreements, reports, studies, presentations, plans, specifications, bids, and other documentation
- Develops and administers contracts; develops project scope, budgets, and schedules; reviews design submittals from internal and external staff; provides technical expertise and consultation to City departments and external agencies
- Drafts City Council and public communications; assists with the coordination of and/or attends public meetings
- Oversees data collection and analysis; maintains records, logs, and databases; tracks post-implementation project progress and requirements
- Designs, implements, and evaluates special projects
- Manages projects, programs, and assigned department operations; develops operational policies and procedures; establishes project and unit goals; creates work plans and processes; identifies locations/areas requiring improvement
- As assigned, serve as a lead worker, assigning work and monitoring work completion or supervising paraprofessional and support staff.
Minimum Qualifications & Experience - Bachelor's degree in engineering
- Five years of engineering experience in the water/wastewater industry or a closely related field
- A North Carolina Professional Engineer Registration or equivalent as determined by the City (or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire)
Additional Preferred Skills - 2 or more years of experience managing public bids for collection and distribution capital projects either in the private or public sector
- Knowledge of methods used in design and operation of collection and distribution systems
- Knowledge of applicable laws and regulatory codes relevant to design, permitting, and operation of collection and distribution systems
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
Benefits - General Full-Time Employees - 12-13 paid holidays per year
- 13 standard work days of vacation per year
- 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement
- 2 weeks paid military leave per year
- Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans
- State and City retirement plans
- Short and long term disability plans
- Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions
- City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System
- Paid funeral leave
- Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling
- Paid life insurance equal to annual salary
- 48 hours for volunteer work each year*
- 4 hours parental leave each year
- Workman's Compensation Insurance
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plans
Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year) - 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan
Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period) - 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)
- State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire
- Dental and life insurance, after one year of service
- Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service
01
Where did you first hear about this opportunity?
- City of Durham Website
- Walk in
- Job fair
- Employee referral
- Professional organization ***Please list the organization in "other" box below***
- Internet posting ***Please list the specific web site in the "other" box below***
- Craig's List
- Facebook
- LinkedIn
- GlassDoor
- governmentjobs.com
- Monster.com
- Indeed.com
- Employment Security Commission
- Magazine/Newspaper
- Other
02
If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.
03
Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.
- Less than a High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
- High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)
- Associates Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- Doctoral Degree (PhD, Juris Doctorate)
04
Is your Bachelor's degree (or graduate degree) in engineering?
05
How many years of related engineering experience do you have?
- No related experience
- Less than 1 year of related experience
- 1 year but less than 5 years related experience
- 5 years but less than 9 years related experience
- 9 years but less than 13 years related experience
- 13 or more years related experience
06
Do you have a North Carolina Professional Engineer Registration or equivalent as determined by the City (or the willingness and ability to obtain within 6 months of hire)?
- Yes, I currently have a North Carolina Professional Engineer Registration or equivalent as determined by the City
- No, I do NOT have a North Carolina Professional Engineer Registration or equivalent as determined by the City, but I AM willing and able to obtain within 6 months of hire
- No, I do NOT have a North Carolina Professional Engineer Registration or equivalent as determined by the City, and I AM NOT willing or able to obtain within 6 months of hire
07
Have you performed water/wastewater project engineering or project management for a client or employer?
Required Question
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