Assistant County Engineer H E R N A N D O C O U N T Y , F L O R I D A

EXECUTIVE SEARCH PROVIDED BY

The Community

O riginally named in honor of Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto upon its establishment in 1843, Hernando County is now best known as Florida’s Adventure Coast. Located on the central-west coast of Florida in the geographic center of the state, the County draws residents and businesses alike because of its afordability, accessibility, abundant space, and incredible natural beauty.

The Adventure Coast was home to some of Florida’s very frst attractions, and today this dynamic destination delights thousands of visitors annually from across the world. From mermaids, manors, and museums, to state parks, freshwater springs, and scenic gardens, there is something for everyone in this county where community and commerce thrive.

Hernando County spans 472.5 square miles and is one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, currently home to just over 194,000 residents who enjoy one of the lowest costs of living in the Tampa Bay region. The average home value is $250,000, and the median household income exceeds $62,000. Brooksville is the county seat and only incorporated city in the County. Unincorporated areas include Weeki Wachee Springs, Spring Hill, Ridge Manor, Ridge Manor West, Masaryktown, Bayport, Aripeka, Lake Lindsey, and Hernando Beach.

More than 23,000 students in the region receive their education through the Hernando County School District, which features three charter schools and three technical/adult education centers in addition to its traditional campuses. Following graduation, the University of South Florida, Pasco-Hernando State College, and Saint Leo University ofer options for higher education close to home.

Traveling from the scenic coastal communities in this region to those known for their historic charm is easy thanks to Interstate 75, US 50, US 19, US 41, and the Suncoast Parkway. With so much to do, though, you may never want to leave.

From the Gulf of Mexico coastline, riversides, and lakeshores to state parks and preserves, freshwater rivers, and environmentally sensitive and deeply forested regions, a third of Hernando County’s land is devoted to outdoor recreation. Leave the roads behind and fnd fun at playgrounds, sports complexes, golf courses, recreation areas, the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens, the 408-acre Chinsegut Conservation Center, or one of the vast natural spaces awaiting your discovery on foot, bicycle, canoe, kayak, ATV, or horseback.

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The Community C O N T I N U E D

Stop by the headwaters of the Weeki Wachee River to catch a glimpse of the mermaids who have captivated audiences with their daily under-water performances for over 60 years, or enjoy a riverboat cruise, manatee watching, fshing, snorkeling, diving for scallops, or a visit to Florida’s only spring-fed water park, Buccaneer Bay.

Prefer living life in the fast lane? Lead Foot City is among the Florida Adventure Coast’s newest attractions and has been described as “Disneyland for car enthusiasts” thanks to its automotive shows, swap meets, and other popular gatherings. Other adrenaline-pumping activities in the region include the Adventure

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Coast Fun Park, the Croom Motorcycle Area, and the FLG X Extreme Adventure Course featuring over 70 rope bridges, swings, and ziplines.

If history and culture are more your speed, add the Brooksville 1885 Train Depot Museum, May-Stringer Museum, or Chinsegut Hill Historic Site to your list; explore one of the many antique stores or art galleries in the region showcasing unique treasures and one-of-a-kind creations, or catch a show at the Stage West Community Playhouse or Live Oak Theatre Company. When you are ready to wind down, one of the local taprooms, breweries, wineries, or distilleries will be happy to ofer a new adventure in every sip.

Hernando CountyMission Statement Hernando County provides the highest quality of life for all residents by delivering fscally sound, responsive services in a manner that is equitable, professional, and has the highest degree of integrity.

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Board of CountyCommissioner’s Goals

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Hernando County’s chief legislative body is a fve-member Board of County Commissioners, each elected by the voters at large to serve four-year terms

representing the geographical district in which they reside. The Board approves the budget, adopts local ordinances and resolutions, and establishes policies that

govern the County and ensure the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens. It also acts

Governance and Organization

as the Governing Board for the Hernando County Water & Sewer District, which serves residents within the County’s unincorporated areas.

A County Administrator under the Board’s direction manages day-to-day operations. Jef Rogers, P.E., joined Hernando County as the Deputy County Administrator in 2017 and has served as the Administrator since 2019. He has more than 10 years of local government experience with a concentration in administration, public works, budgeting, and overall operational leadership and organizational change.

Hernando County has roughly 825 employees and an approved fscal year budget of $539.9 million.

Hernando County Government is committed to providing a community of recognized stability and excellence for our citizens by:

• Managing public business in a responsive and efcient manner

• Preserving and enhancing public assets

• Ensuring a safe and healthy community

• Creating continuous improvement by means of a proactive exchange of ideas within the organization and with our customers

About the Department

The Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining safe, quality transportation infrastructure for the citizens and visitors who live, work, and travel throughout Hernando County. The County Engineering division contributes to those goals by providing civil, facility, and trafc engineering design and project management for the Commission, the County’s various divisions, other governmental agencies, and constitutional ofces. This includes:

• Designing and constructing transportation improvements throughout Hernando County

• Conducting trafc safety audits and related data

• Long-range space planning, construction, renovations, upgrades, and maintenance for government buildings

• Coordination with other government agencies

The Engineering Division is also responsible for reviewing land use petitions, commercial permit applications, and commercial and residential subdivision applications; assisting in the preparation and review of land development regulations as they relate to transportation, and of transportation studies, as they relate to development proposals; and providing feedback to developers and consulting engineering frms.

The Division additionally manages the County’s stormwater program, including providing information regarding topography, drainage, watershed

management plans, food study data, NPDES program, and capital improvement projects; responding to food complaints; ensuring

stormwater system maintenance; and overseeing the County’s related volunteer programs and outreach campaigns.

This fscal year, the Department of Public Works comprises about 140 employees — 16 of which are assigned to Engineering and Stormwater responsibilities — with more than $75.8 million in funding.

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The Assistant County Engineer reports to the Director of Public Works/County Engineer and manages 15 employees in the areas of engineering and stormwater responsible for the design, construction, reconstruction, operation, and maintenance of County roadway, trafc, and stormwater systems.

This position acts as a resource to both internal and external stakeholders, ensures that public and private infrastructure complies with County regulations, and coordinates land development review. This position may also serve as Engineer of Record for in-house designs; manages a fve-year capital improvements plan; prepares and reviews scope and bid documents; serves as a liaison to public utilities, other municipalities and counties, and state and federal agencies; and supports the Development Review Committee by ensuring developers, consultants, and contractors comply with the requirements of Hernando County’s Development Code and Facilities Design Guidelines.

About the Position

As a supervisor, the Assistant County Engineer is also responsible for budget development and administration, long-range strategies for enhancing the department’s policies and procedures, and staf development.

Opportunities and Challenges Hernando County recently approved a new Strategic Plan focused on three value areas - Economic Viability, Environmental Sustainability, and Strengthening Community. These plans include several initiatives that will involve the Department of Public Works, including:

• Preparing and implementing a comprehensive, long-range infrastructure plan including parking, streets and roads, sewers, water mains, lighting, signs, trafc signals, alleys, pavement markings, sidewalks, and bridges

• Increasing the County’s roadway network capacity in key areas, including working with the Florida Department of Transportation to prioritize the widening of I-75 and SR-50 and improvements to County Line Road

• Completing a 20-year, multi-modal transportation plan, promoting energy-efcient and non-automotive systems

• Conducting road surface assessments on a three-year rotating basis to inform a fve-year maintenance program

• Initiating a stormwater and erosion control project for Nobleton Wayside Park

• Streamlining and enhancing the permit process, including implementation of an electronic plan review program, expansion of the online permitting system, and reviewing and revising permit workfows

• Improving coordination eforts between the Department of Public Works, Mosquito Control, and Utilities for joint enforcement eforts

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Ideal Candidate

Hernando County seeks a skilled and dynamic leader who can work successfully alongside employees across the organization and respond efectively to changing goals,

priorities, and needs. The ideal candidate is an experienced problem solver who can keep projects on time and within

budget, and a reliable team member who is driven to mentor and develop their staf members. The incoming Assistant County

Engineer should feel comfortable pursuing grant opportunities, communicating with elected ofcials and the public, and taking on the

responsibilities of the Director of Public Works/County Engineer in their absence.

Qualifcations for this position include:

• Knowledge of modern civil and environmental engineering principles, practices, and methods, particularly in the area of transportation planning, design, and engineering

• Understanding of applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the standards and regulations of the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Southwest Florida Water Management District

• Ability to establish and maintain efective working relationships with County Commissioners and employees as well as developers, consultants, contractors, government agency representatives, and the public

• Skills in preparing, analyzing, and presenting public works plans, studies, contracts, grant applications, and reports containing fndings and recommendations

• Ability to successfully lead, develop, and evaluate personnel, building a sense of team spirit that inspires staf members to remain focused on the big picture of their contributions to the county and its stakeholders

• Knowledge of CAD and GIS applications, and of federal, state, and local laws governing zoning, comprehensive planning, and land development

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Education and Experience

This position requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a concentration in civil engineering, environmental engineering, or a related feld. The County desires candidates with at least seven years of highly responsible experience in the feld of civil engineering, roadway design, and/or construction, and at least three years of supervisory experience.

Candidates should be licensed as a Professional Engineer for the State of Florida or possess certifcation from a state that Florida recognizes with a reciprocal licensing agreement. Out-of-state candidates will need to obtain a Florida license within six months of hire.

The successful candidate will also be required to complete a selection of National Incident Management System courses within one year of employment, and obtain their Florida Department of Transportation Intermediate Training Maintenance of Trafc Certifcation within two years.

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Compensation and Benefits

dependent on qualifcations and experience. Hernando County ofers a robust benefts package including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, PTO, paid holidays, short- and long-term disability, and the option to participate in a 457 deferred compensation program. The County participates in the Florida Retirement System.

The salary range for this position is $79,289.60 to $128,460.80

Application Process For more information please visit https://www.hernandocounty.us/home

To apply, interested candidates should send a letter of application and resume to: Michelle Posewitz, Human Resources Director mposewitz@co.hernando.f.us 352-540-6448

Please note that the Florida State Supreme Court has ruled all information supplied as part of an employment application with state, county, and municipal entities and agencies is considered public record.

Hernando County is an Equal Opportunity Multicultural Employer and strives to enhance its diverse workforce. Hernando County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, marital status, or disability in employment or the provision of services.

Resources Hernando County www.hernandocounty.us

Department of Public Works www.hernandocounty.us/departments/departments-n-z/public-works

Engineering Division www.hernandocounty.us/departments/departments-n-z/public-works/engineering

Hernando County Tourism www.foridasadventurecoast.com

Hernando County Economic Development www.hernandobusiness.com

Hernando Chamber of Commerce www.hernandochamber.com

Hernando County School District www.hernandoschools.org