Senior Engineer - Sewer Utility Programs & Investigations
Requisition ID: 46937
Organization
Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most liveable and environmentally sustainable cities. Recognized among BC’s Top Employers and Canada’s Greenest Employers, the City of Vancouver is seeking colleagues who can help advance our core commitments to exceptional public service, sustainability, equity, and an outstanding quality of life for all residents.
With a strong commitment to being a City of Reconciliation, we invite you to join our dedicated team and become part of an innovative, inclusive, and engaging workplace. A career with the City of Vancouver and within the broader public service, offers meaningful work where you play a key role in ensuring equitable access to services, upholding ethical governance, and supporting the needs of citizens with integrity and dedication.
Main Purpose and Function
This Senior Engineer position provides both strategic and operational leadership for the Sewer Utility Programs & Investigations team within the Sewers & Drainage Design Branch. The role serves as the senior technical lead for sewer investigations, inflow and infiltration (I&I), source control, pollution prevention and sewer utility regulatory programs. The position is responsible for identifying emerging sewer system issues, directing investigation programs, developing mitigation strategies, and translating operational and environmental findings into asset management priorities, capital investment decisions, and utility policies.
The Senior Engineer leads a multidisciplinary team responsible for sewer utility programs, investigations, public stewardship initiatives, and branch support and governance functions. The position is accountable for team performance, program delivery, budget oversight, regulatory compliance, stakeholder relationships, and continuous improvement across the sewer utility program portfolio.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for sewer utility programs related to inflow and infiltration (I&I), pollution prevention, source control, and sewer system investigations, ensuring achievement of program objectives and alignment with branch priorities.
- Acts as Deputy Sewage Control Manager (as appointed by the GVS&DD Board), with accountability for administering the GVS&DD Sewer Use Bylaw within the City, including oversight of Waste Discharge Permits, enforcement approaches, and regulatory coordination
- Oversee the Sewer and Watercourse Bylaw and associated policies, ensuring ongoing alignment regulatory requirements, organizational objectives, and industry standards.
- Represent the sewer utility at a senior level with internal and external partners, including Metro Vancouver, on matters related to regulatory compliance, source control, inflow and infiltration, and regional collaboration initiatives.
- Lead strategic integration of sewer utility program priorities, risks, performance insights, and emerging issues into asset management, capital planning, and investment decision-making processes.
- Lead and manage a multidisciplinary team, including Engineers, Project Managers, and Program Coordinators, providing direction, oversight, and accountability for performance management, labour and employee relations, disciplinary matters, conflict resolution, and professional development.
- Provide strategic oversight of the Branch's sewer utility program portfolio, establishing priorities, governance processes, resource allocation, and performance expectations to ensure alignment with regulatory requirements, corporate objectives, and long-term infrastructure planning.
- Provide leadership for program governance, safety, and risk management related to sewer utility programs, promoting effective risk controls, safe work practice and continuous improvement.
- Provide oversight of program and branch financial performance, including budget development, expenditure monitoring, forecasting, and reporting to support effective stewardship of operating and capital resources.
- Establish and oversee program and branch performance management frameworks, including accountability for performance metrics, dashboards, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives to support strategic planning and decision-making.
- Oversee public and stakeholder stewardship and outreach programs, including accountability for the effectiveness and alignment of the City’s Adopt a Catch Basin and Yellow Fish marking programs with City messaging, and ensuring appropriate responsiveness to public, media, and regulatory issues.
- Engage with senior City leadership as required to provide updates, briefings, and recommendations on program performance, risks, and emerging issues.
- Champion continuous improvement and operational optimization across program governance, processes, and delivery practices
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering with a Professional Engineering designation and a minimum six years’ related experience in municipal infrastructure industry, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience
- Registration or eligibility to register as a Professional Engineer in British Columbia
- Program management training is an asset
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Understanding of municipal sewer infrastructure and private plumbing systems
- Supervisory experience managing engineers and technicians including recruitment, selection, coaching, mentoring and performance management
- Considerable knowledge of Engineering operations, policies and procedures
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with experience working with the public, private contractors, consultant and staff across all city departments
- Considerable knowledge and application of project/program management principles
- Considerable knowledge of project and program management software (e.g. Excel, MS Project, etc.)
- Ability to write effectively, organize and maintain project documentation, prepare status reports and summaries
- Ability to work under pressure handling multiple tasks with frequent interruptions and changing priorities within tight time frames
- Ability to speak effectively in public through formal and informal meetings and presentations
- Organizational and prioritization skills
Business Unit/Department: Engineering Services
Affiliation: Exempt
Employment Type: Regular Full Time
Position Start Date: October, 2026
Salary Information: Pay Grade RNG-091: $117,909 to $147,377 per year
Application Close: September 13, 2026
At the City of Vancouver, we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that represents the community we so proudly serve. Indigenous peoples, people of colour, 2SLGBTQ+ persons including all genders and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Accommodations will be provided upon request during the selection process. Learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The City of Vancouver acknowledges that it is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).More about unceded traditional territories
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