Dam Safety Engineer IV Hydrology and Hydraulics (Virtual Opportunity)

Job Title:   Dam Safety Engineer IV – Hydrologic and Hydraulics

Job Summary:

Cognitell is seeking a full-time dam safety engineer to join our team with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Safety of Dams Program on-site in Lakewood, Colorado.   While having a primary focus on hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to support various dam safety related activities, this position has responsibilities in all aspects of dam safety, including: 1) Risk analysis, risk management and risk reduction, 2) Emergency management, including Emergency Action Plans and Early Warning Systems, 3) Dam security, 4) Dam design and construction, 5) Environmental compliance, 6) Dam inspections and evaluations, and 6) Dam maintenance and repairs.  Staff are primarily located in Lakewood, Colorado. This individual will assist with supporting the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ comprehensive and periodic reviews and hazard classifications as well as emergency management and dam failure inundation modeling needs. The individual who takes this role will be excellent at public speaking, as well as developing complex, multi-disciplinary documents that require nuanced and specialized analytical and modeling-based information. The individual who takes this role will be excellent at interfacing with the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ field staff as well as stakeholders including tribal clientele. This position will be altered based on the qualified candidate’s experience level.

This can be a virtual or hybrid role, depending on the US location. 

This supports a federal program, therefore requiring US citizenship.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Prepares and reviews technical work products (75%)

• Contributes to the development of, prepares, and reviews technical work products with multiple facets of dam safety, primarily performing open channel hydraulic and general hydrologic modeling, but also including: 1) Risk analysis, risk management and risk reduction, 2) Emergency management, including Emergency Action Plans and Early Warning Systems, 3) Dam security, 4) Dam design and construction, 5) Dam inspections and evaluations, 6) Environmental compliance and 7) Dam maintenance and repairs.
• Develops extensive knowledge of the various activities and organization of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and its workflow process to integrate with technical work efforts and provide support to Bureau of Indian Affairs programs and functions. 
• Ability to obtain and interpret elevation model data from a variety of sources to create input surfaces for hydrologic and hydraulic modeling.
• Ability to create multi-disciplinary technical documents that reflect research, agency needs, downstream community needs, as they relate to the unique dam needs.
• Provides technical direction in dam safety engineering and emergency management based on extensive technical knowledge and experience, while incorporating existing Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of the Interior guidelines, regulations, and policy as necessary.
• Reviews budgets and develops budget estimates for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Safety of Dams Program design, construction, operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation. 
• Meets, cooperates, and consults with personnel in the other bureaus and services in the Department of the Interior, Federal and non-federal agencies regarding the Bureau of Indian Affairs Safety of Dams Program issues of common interest and makes specific recommendations to achieve proper goals.
• Provides technical guidance and assistance to the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Regional, Tribal, and Field personnel.
• Visits field locations on an as-needed basis, which may entail multiple day durations and travel to remote locations.
• Creates and delivers oral presentations to governmental conferences, tribal groups, and other organizations as required and directed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Safety of Dams Branch Chief related to the Safety of Dams Program.

Provides Technical Guidance, Policy Development, and Oversight to SOD Programs (25%)

• Assists and advises the Bureau of Indian Affairs Safety of Dam Branch Chief and staff in the development, implementation, and oversight of guidelines for risk analysis, emergency management, and evaluation of existing dams. 
• Provides oversight and guidance on Bureau of Indian Affairs dam safety program areas. 
• Provides professional and technical direction in dam safety activities based on extensive technical knowledge and experience, while incorporating existing Bureau of Indian Affairs guidelines, regulations, and policy is necessary.
• Evaluates policy relating to Bureau of Indian Affairs dam safety issues, including risk analysis, emergency management, and evaluation of existing dams. 
• Writes justifications, and answers questions from the Congress, Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of the Interior to support requests of the Bureau of Indian Affairs for funding
• Continuously appraises policy and effectiveness of operations for the purpose of recommending adjustments to programs based on available funds and conformance to Bureau of Indian Affairs policies, procedures, and professional technical standards, and for reviewing, drafting, and keeping current the regulations, delegations of authority, and other directives controlling the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ dam safety operations. 
• Provides statistical and other reports in support of the program and oversees revision of contract and other forms necessary to accomplish Bureau of Indian Affairs Safety of Dams Program activities.
• Works with Bureau of Indian Affairs employees and Managed Business Solutions staff to develop, update, modernize, and maintain a multi-discipline comprehensive Emergency Action Planning Program to reflect the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ emergency management needs.
• Reports to and takes lead from Bureau of Indian Affairs Safety of Dams Program employees and Managed Business Solutions staff.
• Writes documents to support dam safety.
• Performs hydrologic and hydraulic modeling.
• Assists with other Bureau of Indian Affairs dam safety program needs as they arise.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Must be able to demonstrate skills and interest in water resources, or power generation or distribution.
• Must be able to demonstrate skills in conceiving, planning and problem solving in areas of considerable scope and complexity requiring unconventional or novel approaches and sophisticated techniques. 
• Must demonstrate excellent communication and writing skills. 
• Must demonstrate ability to work independently but also within a team environment.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor of Science in Civil, Agricultural, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering or similar from an ABET Accredited Institution or higher-level degree in a science or management field.
• Evidence of obtaining professional engineering licensure (P.E.) in any state is required.
• At least 15 years of experience participating in design/inspection or analysis of water resource, dam construction, or dam safety related efforts required. The position offer will be adjusted based on the individual’s experience level.
• At least 10 years of experience with Federal Dam Safety standards for federally owned or operated dams is required
• Experience with Federal Design standards of dams, levees and/or associated infrastructure is required.
• If a more senior level position, at least 3 years of experience leading technical efforts related to dam safety, emergency action or related efforts is required.

Physical Requirements:

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

The physical and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk, use hands to finger, handle objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; bending or crouching; talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Some lifting of files, opening cabinets.
• Bending or standing as necessary.

• Must be able to lift 60 pounds.
• Must be able to be on your feet in an outdoor setting 8-10 hours a day in adverse weather conditions and uneven or difficult terrain in a remote environment.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions and other elements prevalent at the time.  This position will be mostly stationary requiring some movement around the office and frequent communication with others. The average working hours will be 8 hours per day for this position. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

This description is not intended to be, nor should it be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. It is intended to accurately

Review the Benefits associated with this position: https://www.sealaska.com/benefits/

What To Know

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Who is Sealaska? Established in 1972, Sealaska is the Alaska Native regional corporation for Southeast Alaska. Our 23,000 shareholders are Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people with more than 10,000 years of ancestral ties to the oceans, forests and communities of Southeast Alaska. We serve the twin goals of economic prosperity and environmental protection. 

We are committed to providing the best possible climate for maximum development and goal achievement for all our employees.  As a Native-owned company, Sealaska Corporation is proud to promote an inclusive and diverse workplace, with respect for the cultural traditions in the communities where we operate.

Sealaska Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. However, preference may be extended to an enrolled member of a federally-recognized Indian Tribe.*

*“Indian Tribe” means an Indian Tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 668; 43 U.S.C. 1601) which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.