POSITION DESCRIPTION
Port Engineer
MISSISSIPPI STATE PORT AUTHORITY
Department: Engineering
Position rated by: COO
Salary range:$110,000 - $160,000 (Exempt)
Position rates: Project Manager
Position Summary: The Port Engineer serves as the Port of Gulfport’s engineering representative, ensuring that infrastructure projects, designs, and capital improvements advance the Port's strategic goals. Reporting to the COO, the Port Engineer manages project schedules and budgets, oversees contractor performance, and partners with the Operations Division to support the Port's daily operations and long-term infrastructure planning. This role is central to modernizing the Port's engineering practices, advancing asset management capabilities, and ensuring sound stewardship of public resources.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Represent thePort to ensureengineering plansand designsmeet strategic goalsand project needsthrough appropriately scoped, cost-effective, and efficient solutions.
- Supportthe implementation of the Port’s Strategic Master Plan.
- Provide Port and Marine Terminal engineering analysistoassistin thedaily business decisions of the Port Authority.
- Oversee, manage, and direct the Engineering Firm of Record forassignedport projects/work orders.
- Ensureprojects remain on scheduleand within guidelines of project task/compliance.
- Ensure contractors abide by all safety and security rules.
- Manage and oversee engineering and construction finances for pay, progress, and reporting.
- SupportMSPA efforts ingrantapplications and securing funding for capital improvements, as directed.
- Manage projects and agreementsregardingengineering activities andother efforts, as assigned.
- Provideengineeringguidance to the Operations Divisiononinternal projectsandrepairsas needed, supporting Operations-led approaches where they offer the most practical, cost-effective solution.
- Establish andmaintainadministrative guidelines, SOPs, and engineering processes; streamline workflows and transition records and plans toorganizeddigital and cloud-based systems.
- Assess port infrastructure conditions andestablishshort-and long-term asset management plans; partner with Operations to implementanenterprise asset or facility maintenance system, buildingasound foundation for future technology capabilities, such as GIS.
- Provide the Executive Director/Commission with monthly reports concerning schedules, irregularities, fundsexpended, accomplishments, and progress on specific projects.
- Assistin preparingannual Operating, LBO and Capital Expenditure Budgets.
- Successfullyinterface withfederal, state, and local agenciesregardingmatters such asenvironmental protection, permitting,andcompliancewith rules and regulations.
- Maintain open, proactive, andtimelycommunication with the COOregardingthe status, progress, and challenges of all ongoing work and projects;demonstratesound judgment in recognizing when issues, risks, delays, or decisions warrant prompt elevation to the COO.
- Stay current on engineering standards, licensure requirements, regulatory changes, and industry trends; serve as a knowledgeable resource to the COO and senior leadership by proactively sharing developments that mayimpactPort operations, projects, or strategy.
- Manage assigned engineering department staff.
- Perform other duties as assigned byCOO.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time without notice.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, project management software, and familiarity with engineering applications.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to right-size engineering solutions to project needs.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports and present technical information to non-technical audiences.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects and competing deadlines simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to read, interpret, and evaluate engineering plans, specifications, and contracts.
- Ability to perform a constructability review.
- Knowledge of public procurement, contract administration, and construction management principles.
- Familiarity with federal, state, and local regulatory and permitting processes, particularly as they relate to port, marine, or transportation infrastructure.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build collaborative working relationships across departments, with contractors, tenants,and external agencies.
- Ability to work independently, exercise sound business judgment, and act in the best interests of the MSPA.
Qualifications and Experience:
- A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Civil or Structural Engineering or other relevant engineering discipline.
- P.E.licensepreferred.
- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in work related to the above-described duties, with demonstrated experience in project management and oversight of consultants or contractors.
- Experience in port, marine, transportation, or public sector infrastructure preferred.
- Experience working with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies preferred.
Requirements:
- Valid driver’s license.
- Must be able to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) within 30 days of employment.
- Must pass a pre-employment background & drug screening.
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs and ladders; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl; talk and hear; taste or smell, and use hands to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee must be able to access vessels, terminals, construction sites, and other operational areas, including navigating uneven surfaces, elevated platforms, confined spaces, and active construction or industrial environments. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outdoor weather conditions, including heat, humidity, cold, rain, and wind. The employee may also be exposed to moving mechanical parts, marine equipment, fumes or airborne particles, and loud noise. The noise level in the work environment ranges from moderate to loud, depending on the work location.
