ENGINEER 8- DIVISION CHIEF

Salary

$98,364.00 - $177,108.00 Annually

Location

Baton Rouge, LA

Job Type

Classified

Job Number

CPRA- 226912

Department

GOV-Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority

Opening Date

10/05/2026

Closing Date

10/26/2026 11:59 PM Central

About this Job

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is seeking an experienced engineering leader to serve as Chief of the Engineering Division. The incumbent directs a critical segment of CPRA’s coastal restoration and hurricane protection program, overseeing the planning, design, construction, and long-term engineering management of complex, multi-million-dollar projects. This position plays a vital role in protecting Louisiana’s coastal communities and natural resources, balancing economic, environmental, and social considerations while leading a multidisciplinary team responsible for delivering innovative engineering solutions across the state’s challenging coastal environment.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a current Louisiana license to practice professional engineering plus one of the following, which must include two years of experience at the supervisory level or above:

Four years of licensed engineering experience; or

Eight years of professional engineering experience.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTIONS:

A master's degree in engineering will substitute for one year of professional engineering experience.

A doctorate degree in engineering will substitute for two years of professional engineering experience.

Advanced degrees will substitute for a maximum of two years of professional engineering experience.

There is no substitution for licensed engineering experience.

NOTES:

Engineering experience gained while licensed as a professional engineer will be accepted as licensed engineering experience. Engineering experience gained after earning an ABET-accredited degree and prior to earning a professional engineer's license (e.g., as an engineer intern applicant, engineer intern, or equivalent) will be accepted as professional level engineering experience.

Applications will be accepted from persons licensed to practice professional engineering in states other than Louisiana. If one of those applicants is selected for the position, he/she will be required to obtain a Louisiana license prior to appointment. The hiring agency will verify that all licensing requirements are met.

Louisiana Professional Engineer licenses are issued by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board. Licensing requirements may be viewed at www.lapels.com.

Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.

Job Duties and Other Information

Job Duties:

• Provides leadership and oversight of CPRA’s engineering program, directing a multidisciplinary staff of 20-23 professionals and contractors responsible for multi-million-dollar coastal restoration projects. Oversees all aspects of in-house project design, design deliverables from consultants and contractors, budgets, schedules, and implementation while ensuring quality, fiscal accountability, timely delivery, and compliance with applicable regulations.
• Coordinates with federal, state, and local agencies, as well as engineering firms and contractors, to oversee contract performance and ensure compliance with engineering standards, specifications, and applicable regulations.
• Leads the development and evaluation of engineering proposals, making independent technical recommendations and decisions in accordance with applicable regulations. Evaluates RSIQ, RFQ, and RFP responses and negotiates consultant costs for professional service contracts to ensure effective use of state resources. Serves as Contract Manager for all professional services IDIQ contracts.
• Serves as CPRA’s senior engineering representative for coastal restoration planning and design, advising agency leadership and coordinating with federal, state, and local partners on complex technical and project risk considerations to improve project performance, longevity, and cost-effectiveness.
• Provides technical engineering recommendations on coastal projects and permits, reviews and approves engineering reports, and directs special studies and briefings for executive, legislative, and other stakeholders on coastal restoration initiatives.

Position-Specific Details:

Appointment Type: Probational or Promotional

Office Location: 150 Terrace Ave Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Compensation: The maximum salary for the Engineer 8 is $177,112 annually.

Official transcripts will be required upon hire.

How To Apply:

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

• Information to support your eligibility for the position must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

Contact Information:

If you have any questions, you may contact:

Rachel Dunbar, Human Resources Supervisor

P.O. Box 44027

Baton Rouge, LA 70804

[email protected]

Louisiana State Government represents a wide variety of career options and offers an outstanding opportunity to make a difference through public service. With an array of career opportunities in every major metropolitan center and in many rural areas, state employment provides an outstanding option to begin or continue your career.

As a state employee, you will earn competitive pay, choose from a variety of benefits, and have access to a great professional development program:

Insurance Coverage More information can be found at https://info.groupbenefits.org/

Parental Leave – Up to six weeks paid parental leave

More information can be found at https://www.civilservice.louisiana.gov/Parental-Leave/Default.aspx

Holidays and Leave – State employees receive the following paid holidays each year:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
• Mardi Gras,
• Good Friday,
• Memorial Day,
• Independence Day,
• Labor Day,
• Veteran's Day,
• Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

***** Additional holidays may be proclaimed by the Governor

State employees earn sick and annual leave which can be accumulated and saved for future use. Your accrual rate increases as your years of service increase.

Retirement– State of Louisiana employees are eligible to participate in various retirement systems (based on the type of appointment and agency for which an employee works). These retirement systems provide retirement allowances and other benefits for state officers and employees and their beneficiaries. State retirement systems may include (but are not limited to):

• Louisiana State Employees Retirement System (www.lasersonline.org). LASERS has provided this video to give you more detailed information about their system
• Teacher's Retirement System of Louisiana (www.trsl.org),
• Louisiana School Employees Retirement System (www.lsers.net), among others