Construction Engineer

Description

Join Metroparks Toledo as a Construction Engineer and lead construction administration for the Riverwalk and Vistula Meadows. Bring your engineering judgment, construction expertise, and leadership to projects that create world-class facilities and uphold our “Clean, Safe, and Natural” promise. This is a temporary, full-time, non-exempt position through December 2028.

A day in the life

From pre-construction meetings to final closeout, you’ll keep projects moving in the office and in the field. You’ll oversee inspections and quality assurance, manage schedules and budgets, review payment requests and change orders, and resolve construction issues. You’ll supervise construction personnel and coordinate with contractors, consultants, Metroparks teams, and public agencies to deliver our 20th Metroparks in our centennial year.

Why you’ll love working at Metroparks

• Make a lasting impact by building the future of Toledo and Lucas County’s parks and public spaces.
• Work with a small, close-knit team of professionals committed to creating an exceptional park district.
• Expand your professional network and expertise while working locally.
• Competitive pay, health care, retirement, and time off. Explore our benefits here.
• Student loan forgiveness opportunities through Public Student Loan Forgiveness program.

You'll love this job if

• You want to put your construction and engineering experience to work creating parks and public spaces that connect people to nature.
• You enjoy moving between the office and active construction sites, staying close to the details from project kickoff through closeout.
• You like bringing people together, guiding field teams, and working through challenges with contractors, consultants, and public agencies.
• You thrive on balancing schedules, budgets, quality, and safety across projects of varying size and complexity.
• You find satisfaction in solving technical problems while protecting natural resources and delivering lasting improvements for the community.

Job Summary

Advance Metroparks Toledo’s core conservation mission by overseeing construction administration of the Riverwalk.

Duties and Responsibilities

Construction Administration & Financial Management

• Oversee all construction administration activities upon award of construction contract. Initiates project kickoff with pre-construction meeting and set expectations for all parties to have a complete and successful project.
• Directs field inspections and quality-assurance activities to ensure compliance with approved plans, specifications, safety requirements, material standards, and testing procedures.
• Perform supervision and management of construction inspector, intern and other assigned construction personnel.
• Monitors project schedules, budgets, costs, capital priorities, and contractor performance; applies sound engineering judgment to resolve design and construction issues and maintain cost control.
• Plans, assigns, coordinates, and evaluates inspection, construction surveying, testing, documentation, and construction activities.
• Ensures timely project delivery and closeout, compliance with regulatory and contractual requirements, accurate recordkeeping, and completion of required reports and final documentation.
• Administers construction contract payment requests, change orders, quantity documentation, and corrective actions.

Grants, Regulatory & Special Projects

• Manage construction aspects of grant-funded projects, ensuring compliance with deadlines, reporting requirements, and funding regulations.
• Serve as Local Public Agency (LPA) Construction Engineer for DOT-funded projects, including final approvals and documentation.
• Support asset management efforts, including facility condition assessments and coordination with insurance providers.

Stakeholder Coordination & Communication

• Coordinate and communicate with staff, departments, contractors, consultants, and external stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.
• Provide regular project construction status updates to internal and external stakeholders.
• Coordinates utility conflicts, permits, and field changes with contractors, public agencies, property owners, and other stakeholders.

Leadership & Organizational Support

• Direct, oversee and review the work of field staff, contractors, and consultants.
• Foster a safe work environment for employees and contractors.
• Maintain positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Other duties as assigned.

Equipment Used

• General office equipment and field equipment
• Software & Apps: Microsoft365, Bluebeam Revu, Construction Management software
• Park vehicles, including utility vehicles and trucks

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Schedule: 40-hour workweek that may require work in the evenings, weekends, and/or holidays
• Home Work Location: Glass City Metropark with regular visitation of active construction sites throughout the district in all weather conditions
• May require business use of personal vehicle to travel between Metroparks locations.
• Limited (<10%) travel outside Lucas County.
• Requires occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds; ability to walk and work outdoors over uneven terrain in all types of weather including extreme heat and cold to inspect construction sites.

Requirements

Job Requirements

1. Must be 18 years of age and possess a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
2. Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, or related field.
3. Experience: At least 10 years of progressive experience in engineering or construction.
4. Certifications: Must obtain the following certifications and fulfill re-qualification and recertification requirements:
5. Professional Engineer (PE) License, State of Ohio
6. First Aid/CPR within 1 year
7. OSHA 30 hour within 1 year
8. ODOT Local Public Agency (LPA) training modules within 3 months

Alternates to the position requirements may be made as Metroparks finds appropriate and acceptable.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Demonstrated appreciation for enhancing quality of life and conserving the region’s natural resources through clean, safe and natural parks and open spaces.

Knowledge

• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to building codes, permitting, project development sequence and construction requirements.
• Demonstrated proficiency of various construction methods and materials, their characteristics, installation procedures and tolerances, costs, scheduling, estimating, purchasing and engineering principles and techniques.
• Knowledge of ODOT requirements for LPA Local Let Projects, including NEPA compliance, right of way clearance, construction administration, and complete project delivery.
• Understanding of the principles and practices of parks, trails, open space and recreation planning and design, and the management and protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources.
• General understanding of park maintenance for buildings and grounds; HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.
• Understanding of PERRP and OSHA compliance requirements.

Skills

• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to monitor, assess, and coach performance to motivate team, make improvements, and/or take corrective action.
• Project Management skills; ability to manage multiple projects, make decisive decisions, meet deadlines and deliver strong, measurable results.
• Strong technical skills; ability to read technical specs, submittals, architecture and engineering drawings, and surveys.
• In depth computer skills to use software noted above.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills. Ability to speak and write clearly, graphically, concisely and persuasively with ability to communicate one-on-one or in group settings in a way that inspires confidence and motivates engagement with the Metroparks.
• Complex Problem-Solving skills; ability to conduct fact-based root cause analysis and apply continuous improvement methodologies. Ability to gather, organize and evaluate data; formulate recommendations and develop successful strategies.
• Budget Management skills; ability to create, maintain, and manage budgets for construction projects.

Abilities

• Ability to be a trusted advisor, build consensus, make informed decisions, and manage change.
• Ability to research, plan, implement, problem-solve and evaluate construction techniques, activities and operations. Ability to discern relevant issues and effectively address them, trouble-shoot and adopt creative solutions.
• Ability to think creatively and develop unique, park-like, and whimsical solutions.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective professional relationships with all stakeholders, including employees, volunteers and the public.

Metroparks Toledo is an Equal Opportunity Employer.