**********************Application Fee Waiver**********************

Employees of Erie County CSEA collective bargaining unit shall have all fees associated with County provided promotional civil service examinations waived.

Residence Requirements:

THIS EXAMINATION IS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES OF Erie County Department of Public Works - Division of Highways.  At present there is one present vacancy.

The eligible list resulting from this examination will not supersede currently existing promotional eligible lists for this title, if any. The duration of all promotional eligible lists is four years from date of establishment unless otherwise indicated.

Examples of Duties:

A Principal Civil Engineer  supervises and participates in all aspects of the Civil Engineering work, in the Highway Division, which involves the planning, design and construction of highways, bridges and other closely allied structures or projects; 

Organizes, supervises and may participate in special studies to establish need, project cost, develop supporting data, etc., preliminary to formal commitment on highway and bridge projects;

Assists with site selection, schedules survey, prepares maps or other drawings, etc., for proposed construction;

Directs and participates in preparing plans, designs and the drafting of engineering specifications for anticipated construction;

Prepares contracts;

Directs and actively participates in inspection of contracted work in progress to assure adherence to specifications and satisfactory work progress;

Maintains liaison with engineering consultants engaged by the County to perform, design or survey work;

Attends meetings of interested governmental boards, agencies or officials and other groups to explain projects anticipated or in progress;

Assists in maintenance related work activities, as needed.

Qualifications:

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR TAKING THE TEST: Candidates must be permanently employed in the competitive class or non-competitive class and must be serving and have served continuously on a permanent or contingent permanent basis  for 24 months immediately preceding the date of the written test in the position of Senior Civil Engineer. 

Notes:

None. 

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However, candidates may find information in the publication 'General Guide to Written Tests' helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at:https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

Subjects of Examination:

Scopes / Subjects of examination: A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas.

Preparing written material

These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

Principles and practices of civil engineering

These questions test for knowledge of engineering concepts and their practical applications to the construction, operation and maintenance of public works projects, including roadways, bridges, buildings, water and sewage systems and similar types of infrastructure.

Engineering plans, specifications and estimates

These questions test for knowledge of and the ability to read and interpret construction drawings and technical specifications, and for the ability to calculate cost and quantity estimates from technical presentations and/or engineering and construction drawings. Knowledge of estimating techniques and the proper method of construction for specified projects will be required.

Methods and materials of construction

These questions test for knowledge of the proper procedures and materials used in the construction, maintenance and repair of various types of public works projects, including such typical construction work as excavations, roadways, embankments, and building and related structural improvements.

Construction and maintenance of highways, bridges, drainage systems and other related structures

These questions test for knowledge of the engineering concepts, practices, testing procedures, materials and computations used in the installation, repair and upkeep of roadways, overpasses, abutments, retaining walls, embankments, drainage structures and related appurtenances.

Principles of project management, including contracts, contract administration and construction economics

These questions test for knowledge of the concepts, terminology, proper procedures and computations used in the planning, scheduling and oversight of contractual agreements for public works projects, including economic and scheduling techniques such as cost/benefit analysis and the critical path method.

Administrative supervision

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and his/her subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives. These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES:  It is recommended that candidates use a quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculator.  Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited.  You may not bring books or other reference materials.

INFORMATION FOR PROMOTION CANDIDATES

Unless otherwise indicated, the eligible list resulting from this examination will have a duration of four years and will not supersede existing promotional lists, if any.

RATINGS REQUIRED:  Test is rated on a scale of 100 with a passing mark at 70.  Test instructions may further divide the tests into parts and set minimum standards for each part.

Points will be added to scores of candidates who achieve a passing mark as follows: Seniority:  For each year of service in the classified service:

Less than 1 year……………………..................…0 points

1 year up to 6 years…………….…........................1 point

Over 6 years up to 11 years.....………......….........2 points

Over 11 years up to 16 years….…........….........…3 points

Over 16 years up to 21 years………..................…4 points

Over 21 years………………………..................…5 points

VETERANS:  Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 5 and 2.5 points, respectively added to their earned scores if successful in the PROMOTIONAL examination.  You must claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment.  If you have already used these credits for a permanent position in NYS, you may not claim them again.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A None filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.