Drainage Superintendent
Deadline to apply: August 6 2025, 11:59pm EST. Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent has an opening for a temporary full-time drainage superintendent in the Engineering Services division. This temporary full-time opportunity is for a period up to May 2026.
Job description
The Drainage Superintendent will administer the Drainage Act and deal with all matters under the auspices of the Drainage Act, including ensuring the legal conformance to and adequate construction, maintenance and assessment of Municipal Drains.
Essential responsibilities
- Demonstrate Chatham-Kent’s core values and competencies.
- Administer the Drainage Act and all processes and procedures within and as prescribed.
- Direct the operation of pumped drainage systems, including monitoring activities of the Pumping Commissioners, dealing with equipment and high water problems, reviewing expenditures and monitoring drainage contractors performing spraying, brushing, and excavating.
- Advises on matters dealing with petitions being received and recommends actions to be taken as appropriate.
- Prepare and call tenders, inspect, and coordinate construction/maintenance activities of the contractor in accordance with the by-law, Engineers Report, municipal standards, and all applicable legislation, including the Tile Drainage Act and the Agricultural Drainage Installation Act.
- Undertake contract administration for drainage construction projects.
- Apply sound project management practices and methods to monitor drainage projects and Key Performance Indicators, including overseeing of project budgets, schedules and scope.
- Review and coordinate municipal approvals for the installation of new utilities adjacent to and crossing municipal drains.
- Ensure compliance with legislation, standards and regulated authorities including but not limited to, local Conservation Authorities, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of the Environment Climate and Parks, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
- Prepare an annual drainage budget for construction and maintenance activities and ensure compliance with the budget.
- Oversee applications for available grants related to drainage works, including the Agricultural Drainage Infrastructure Program.
- Work with Drainage Analysts to ensure that property owners are properly billed for the cost of maintenance and construction projects.
- Inform property owners of their rights and responsibilities under the Drainage Act; ensuring that issues are dealt with promptly and correctly to foster good public relations for the municipality.
- Coordinate new construction projects with utility officials; work with Public Works to solve drainage issues and coordinate construction activities.
- Respond to and investigate drainage problems or emergency calls from property owners, councillors, police, utilities, other levels of government and the public.
- Liaise with internal departments (such as Infrastructure & Engineering Services, Accounting, Finance, Legal), Council, ratepayers, engineers, contractors, and solicitors on drainage, environmental and pollution issues.
- Liaise with external organizations (such as Conservation Authorities, OMAFRA, Oceans and Fisheries Canada).
- Direct on-site meetings and receive input from property owners when maintenance of drainage works is required.
- Represent the municipality with regard to the legal requirements of the Drainage Act and testify before the Drainage Tribunal and Referee if required.
- Demonstrate strategic thinking and sound judgement to prioritize and organize various project phases in line with customers, Municipal and Drainage Act requirements, reflecting Corporate priorities and risk management.
- Ensure drainage projects are performed according to applicable municipal standards and policies, including municipal safety standards, provincial and federal standards and legislation including Drainage Act, ESA, Occupational Health and Safety Act, WHMIS, Traffic control, etc.
- Coordinate with Public Works staff to complete drain maintenance activities.
Essential qualifications
- Degree or diploma in Civil Engineering or a related field.
- Two (2) years to four (4) years of related experience.
- Related experience with managing municipal drains in accordance with and familiarity with the Drainage Act is an asset.
- Experience with engineering design and construction, including stormwater management/drainage infrastructure
- Experience dealing with drainage equipment and high water problems.
- Experience preparing requests for proposals and tender documents for consultant and construction assignments.
- Experience working with operating and capital budgets.
- Working knowledge of the Drainage Act, Tile Drainage Act and the Agricultural Drainage Installation Act, Ontario Endangered Species Act, and the Agricultural Drainage Installation Conservation Authority Act.
- Ability to interpret technical issues and explain to all levels of the organization and the public in an understandable, clear and concise manner.
- Knowledge of the latest developments and leading practices in linear/stormwater infrastructure engineering industry and profession, and familiarity with best practices.
- Familiarity with Ontario Provincial Standards, and working knowledge of relevant municipal, provincial and federal government processes, acts and legislation such as the Occupational Health & Safety Act, Highway Traffic Act, and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and related Standards.
- Working experience with word processing, spreadsheets, tax and billing programs (i.e. OnPoint, Mr. Sid) or other similar software programs.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate with internal teams, technical stakeholders externally and the public.
- Strong computer skills, specifically Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, email and internet (or similar software programs).
Other qualifications
- Experience working with Pump Commissioners appointed under the Drainage Act is considered an asset.
- Experience in a municipal or other government setting is considered an asset.
- Supervisory experience, preferably in a municipal environment, is considered an asset.
- Experience performing hydraulic modeling analysis of municipal drainage infrastructure networks is considered an asset.
- Ability to build trust and credibility in a politically sensitive role with competing demands and priorities.
- Strong knowledge of the Municipality’s policies, procedures, by-laws and applicable legislation and regulations is considered an asset.
- Proficient in the use of surveying equipment is considered an asset.
- Experience with AutoCAD and ArcGIS or other similar software programs is considered an asset.
- Experience with tax and billing programs/software is considered an asset.
Certifications, memberships, licenses
- Successful completion of the OMAFRA Drainage Superintendents course is considered an asset.
- Licensure through Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) or Certification through Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) is considered an asset.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is considered an asset.
Work environment/hours of work
- This position works both indoors and outdoors.
- This position works weekdays, with occasional evening and weekend hours, and on call after hours and on weekends.
Working Remotely
This position has been approved for remote working, at the discretion of the supervisor based on the Working Remotely Policy.
This position may be required to attend on-site meetings in order to complete essential responsibilities of the role. As per the Working Remotely Policy, employees scheduled to work remotely on a certain day may occasionally be called to a municipal onsite work location on short notice. Employees must remain flexible to accommodate municipal requirements and be prepared to be called in on short notice.
Driver’s licence/vehicle requirements
Because of the responsibilities, this position requires the successful candidate to have a valid class G (or higher) Ontario driver’s licence; a driver’s abstract will be conducted by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. An acceptable driver’s abstract will: be an original document and current (within the previous thirty (30) days); have no more than four (4) demerit points; have no more than two (2) convictions for the same offence; have no criminal code convictions; have no ‘non-medical or administrative’ license suspension in the preceding three (3) years; because this position may be required to drive their own vehicle, a reliable vehicle is also required.
Background check requirements
Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check prior to commencement of employment. A background check may include the following: education/certification verification and employment reference check.
Essential physical and/or safety requirements
- This position requires the employee have the ability to traverse over rough terrain and climb in and out of drains/culverts
- Walking: frequent walking on level surface; constant walking on rough surface (inspecting a drain or culvert)
- Sitting: frequent sitting in a chair, stool, vehicle seat (reviewing tenders, drainage reports, invoices, etc.)
- Lifting: frequent pushing – below shoulder, pulling – at or above shoulder (4.05 to 13.64 kgs or 10 to 30 lbs) (inspecting/working on a drain or culvert)
- Standing: frequent standing outside (conducting on-site meetings)
- Foot action: frequent one and two foot action
- Hands: frequent fine finger dexterity (movement), gripping, pinching, mousing
Benefits
This temporary full-time position has an hourly wage of $53.163 to $60.112 and will receive 15% in lieu of benefits (which includes group benefits, statutory & non-statutory holidays, and non-enrolment in OMERS) and 4% vacation pay. Where a permanent employee is receiving benefits and is the successful candidate for a temporary vacancy, benefits will remain as per the policy manual.
Notice to Internal Municipal Employees only
When internal employees are applying to temporary vacancy and want to maintain their permanent status: positions posted as “temporary” may be filled with permanent employees (full-time, part-time and call-in) who want to keep their permanent status provided their ability to be released to a temporary position is reviewed and approved with their current manager/supervisor before submitting an application.
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The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees in a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the diverse community we serve.
Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources & Organizational Development (HROD) at 519-360-1998. Applicant information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation and will be used strictly for the purpose of candidate selection.
