THE CITY OF VENICE, FLORIDA

Invites your interest in the position of

CITY ENGINEER

The City of Venice is located in Sarasota County on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Venice enjoys a semi-tropical climate with an average high temperature of 82 degrees and an average daily low of 64 degrees. The City is known for its beautiful beaches and coastal charm. The City covers 18 square miles and serves a population of 28,967 full-time residents as well as an additional 10,000 in season (November through May). The economy of the City and Sarasota County is a blend of tourism, retirement industries, service industries, light manufacturing, and construction.

Venice operates under the council-manager government. Policymaking and legislative authority are vested in the City Council consisting of the Mayor and six other Council members. The City Council is responsible for hiring the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for carrying out the policies and ordinances adopted by the Council, for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the City, and for appointing all department heads.

In addition to Engineering and Stormwater, the City provides a full range of municipal services which include public safety, utilities, and a general aviation airport. The City’s total budget is $180,113,955 of which $51,990,998 comprises the General Fund. The budget supports 402 City employees.

The Engineering and Stormwater Utility Department is managed and directed by the City Engineer. The Department is responsible for contract administration of capital projects including project management, field supervision, grant management and project tracking for other City departments.

Engineering design work is provided by in-house staff complimented by consultants hired for specialty work or large-scale design and construction engineering and inspection (CEI) services. With support from the Finance Department, Engineering actively seeks external funding, including grants. The Stormwater Management Utility was established as an enterprise for stormwater management and related expenses. The FY 2025 Engineering Department budget is $577,808 and the Stormwater Utility budget is $4,511,641. The Department is budgeted for eight (8) full time employee’s .

The City Engineer is appointed by the City Manager and reports on a daily basis to the Assistant City Manager. The City Engineer’s overall responsibility is to plan, manage, and direct the Engineering Department by overseeing all engineering and stormwater utility operations.

Among other duties, the City Engineer:

· Manages the review of engineering plans and specifications for all public improvements submitted by developers, consultants, or developed by City Engineering staff.

· Serves as the Stormwater Utility Director including financial management, implementation of the stormwater management plan to mitigate flooding and erosion and maintaining compliance with environmental regulations.

· Prepares and administers the departmental annual budget.

· Manages the development of plans and specifications for invitations to bid and participates in pre-bid and pre-construction meetings.

· Develops and approves agenda items for City Council, attends Council meetings, and makes presentations to Council and members of the public, as necessary.

· Actively engages with the community; attends public meetings to explain infrastructure projects, answer questions, and address concerns from residents and business owners.

· Is responsible for hiring, firing, transfer, suspension, promotion, discharge, discipline, and evaluation of all department employees.

· Serves as an active member at the Emergency Operation Center during declared emergencies and recovery lead for infrastructure assessment and repairs.

Requirements include:

A Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an accredited college or university with seven (7) years' experience, or a Master of Science in Engineering from an accredited college or university with five (5) years' experience. Three (3) years' experience in a supervisory capacity. Registration as a Professional Engineer in Florida or a reciprocal state with ability to obtain a Florida PE License within 6 months from the date of hire. Certification as a Floodplain Manager with experience with beach renourishment and coastal systems and familiarity with Community Ratings System and FEMA regulations is preferred. Possession of a valid Florida driver's license free of any serious violations or ability to obtain within thirty (30) days from date of hire.

Strengths & Attributes of the Ideal Candidate

· Team-oriented, reflecting the City’s strong culture of collaboration.

· Strategic planning experience and long-term vision.

· Skilled communicator, verbally, in writing, and in public speaking.

· Proactive and motivational leader who inspires high performance.

· Experienced in project management including budget, scheduling, and design oversight.

· Effectively delegates and holds team members accountable.

· Is proficient in grant writing and management.

· Strong time management skills, both personally and when setting expectations for others.

· Experience with beach nourishment and stormwater is highly desirable.

· Experience with assigning and directing work, evaluating performance, providing guidance and discipline, setting individual goals, direct hire/fire authority or significant influence over hiring and termination decisions.

A comprehensive recruitment profile for this position is available on our website at www.slavinweb.net

Compensation and Benefits

Starting compensation is negotiable based on qualifications and experience. The current annual salary range is $106,744 to $176,129.

The City provides excellent employee benefits which include generous paid time off; medical/dental/vision coverage; pension (Florida Retirement System); employer paid life/ADD, flexible spending accounts; an employee assistance program and a wellness program.

To Apply:

The recruitment will remain open until the position is filled. The first review of applications is scheduled for Friday, August 15, 2025. To apply, please email a letter of interest, a detailed resume, and salary expectations to:

Robert E. Slavin, President

SLAVIN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS

e-mail: slavin@bellsouth.net

Electronic submissions are required.

All new Venice City employees undergo a comprehensive background check which includes drug, tobacco/nicotine screening, review of driver’s license record, criminal background, and references from previous employers.

The City of Venice is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace

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