Designer II

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities.  If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. 

Are you looking for a fantastic career at Aqua? We have a great opportunity for a Designer to join our Ohio team!

The Designer II is responsible for planning, designing and constructing water and sewer mainline capital projects, from initial planning stages through submitting final as built drawings. The designer will work closely with accounting, operations, public officials, contractors, and developers. The designer works in Aqua Ohio’s Engineering group and coordinates closely with the Operations group to manage the capital budget for water and sewer mainline replacement projects. This position is responsible for managing and planning replacement projects, commercial service applicants, developer extensions, and outside-party relocation projects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Identify, design, permit, bid, and construct replacement projects that meet Aqua Ohio’s capital budget.
• Estimate cost of projects and create a 5-year and 10-yr capital plan that will achieve Aqua’s goals. Review prospective projects with Aqua’s Operations group to ensure projects are justified and will maximize the benefit to our distribution and collection systems.
• Oversee construction activities by staying in close communication with inspectors and visiting job sites. Help problem-solve as issues arise during construction.
• Work with Aqua’s Engineering team and Operations group to create drawings that will be used during bidding, permitting, construction and as built work.
• During construction handle contractor change order requests, pay applications, and customer complaints.
• Prepare or direct the preparation of permit applications.
• Order materials for projects and track inventory.
• Bid replacement projects to contractors, award bids, prepare contract documents.
• Supervise third-party inspectors for multiple concurrent projects.
• Coordinate with Aqua Operations employees to perform waterline shutdowns, finalize as-built drawings, and track inventory.  
• Developer Projects - Aqua takes ownership of new developer mainlines. Designer must review these designs, set-up inspection services, and ensure agreements/easements are signed.
• Review construction plans for commercial and industrial services including commercial fire services, backflow devices, metering equipment, and domestic services.
• Provide information to outside companies and government agencies when requested to allow for accurate third-party design drawings. Review designs for compliance with state, local, and Aqua requirements.
• Closeout projects – verify material inventory installed, as-builts finalized, and asset retirements provided to accounting.
• Ensure compliance with required safety policies and programs during construction.
• May require short-term (1-2 night) travel within State of Ohio to attend trainings, meetings, and visit job sites.
• Represent Aqua Ohio at various state and local levels. Establish and maintain positive public relations with key customers, local officials, state regulators, other state agencies, and industry groups.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s degree in Civil/Environmental/Construction Engineering is preferred.
• A minimum of an associate degree in Engineering Technology (i.e. two-year degree) with two years of work experience in construction management will be considered. In lieu of a degree, 10 years of relevant work experience in construction management is necessary.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects within assigned divisions.
• Basic knowledge of contracts and accounting principles.
• Valid Ohio driver’s license is required.
• Must have computer skills with using Microsoft Office products.  
• Experience using Procore, AutoCAD Civil 3D, SAP, Power Plan programs or the ability to learn. 
• Experience with piping networks and Civil 3D in AutoCAD is a plus.
• Ability to analyze technical problems and express ideas technically.
• Ability to motivate oneself and others to accomplish needed tasks.
•  Ability to establish meaningful, timely and attainable goals.
• Manage projects in a manner which achieves Aqua’s best interests while fostering a partnership with contractors, government employees, and the communities which we serve.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.  If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).  
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.