Dam Safety Regional Engineer

Title: Dam Safety Regional Engineer

State Role Title: Architect/Engineer II

Hiring Range: $115,000 - $125,000

Pay Band: 6

Agency: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Location: Dept Conservation & Recreation

Agency Website: www.dcr.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

Imagine shaping the safety of Virginia’s communities—one dam at a time. As a Regional Dam Safety Engineer serving northern Virginia, you will play a pivotal role in protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure across the Commonwealth.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is seeking to hire an experienced candidate to fill the role as a Dam Safety Regional Engineer. This position serves as the principal staff contact for dam owners, consulting engineers, and local, state, and federal partners within an assigned geographic region. The Dam Safety Regional Engineer ensures that impounding structures comply with the Dam Safety Act (§ 10.1‑604 et seq. of the Code of Virginia) and the Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Board’s Impounding Structure Regulations (4VAC50‑20). The role provides regulatory reviews, technical assistance, and engineering guidance to support safe and compliant dam operations throughout northern Virginia.

In the role, the selected candidate will:

• Fulfill the agency’s mission to protect lives and property.
• Participate in public engagement with state, local, federal, and community partners and is a critical team player in the delivery of relevant training, technical assistance, outreach, and education awareness messaging across the Commonwealth.
• Conduct and review safety inspections, issue operation and maintenance certificates and permits, monitor construction and alteration activities, and ensure technical documents meet regulatory standards in accordance with Code of Virginia.

The incumbent of this position may also staff an emergency operations center in Virginia during emergencies and will participate in dam-related emergency drills and exercises.

This position will remain open for a minimum of five calendar days, beginning on July 28, 2026. The position may be closed at any time after the five-day posting period once a suitable pool of applicants has been identified.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must possess and maintain a Professional Engineer’s License in Virginia. New hires have six months to obtain a Virginia PE if licensed in other States.
• Extensive experience and implementation of engineering principles in any of the following disciplines: hydrology, hydraulics, soils, foundations, dam design, or dam construction and operation.
• Ability to work in outdoor environments exposed to all weather conditions with minimum supervision.
• Must complete all applicable In-Service and other assigned training.
• Must maintain all applicable licenses and/or certifications required for the position including PDH requirements for licensure.

Additional Considerations

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of the Dam Safety Act and Virginia Impounding Structure Regulations.
• Extensive working experience, which demonstrates proficiency in GIS, word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation systems/software.
• Progressive dam safety engineering experience, which demonstrates the ability to make sound engineering decisions, and provide factual and sound engineering advice.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead, guide, develop, and manage professional level staff.
  
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and deploy large-scale training and education efforts, communicate complex legal and/or technical subjects and conduct research for continued program development.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, effectively articulating when providing customer service/technical assistance, delivering training, reviewing and completing technical documents and reports, and maintaining regulatory documents.
• Ability to effectively engage diverse groups and stakeholders, including access for persons with disabilities and underrepresente