Deputy Director of Construction Management (Draw 1) in Boston, Massachusetts at Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

This position is a project specific position and is limited to the term of the design-build contract. Employment beyond the design-build contract will be at the discretion of the MBTA at the completion of the project, which is currently anticipated to be early 2033.

The Deputy Director, Construction Management for the Draw 1 Bridge Program will assist Deputy Chief and other MBTA Draw One executives in the delivery of this critical program: on schedule and within budget. The Deputy Director will execute the design and construction of this program as it relates to specific complex technical matters related to railroad structures and movable bridges. This position will also assist in providing oversight to well over 250 MBTA employees, consultants and contractors. Management will be within a heavily unionized environment including Resident Engineers, Project Managers, and Inspectors.

The Deputy Director must be adept at solving complex technical field and management issues, and equally adept at obtaining internal and external stakeholder acceptance of project decisions. Must be particularly skilled in working across departments to effectively support this program while minimizing impact to the day-to-day operations of the commuter rail system. The deputy director will coordinate with the deputy chief and other Draw One executives to deliver strategic priorities, performance goals and metrics as it relates to the program’s track, signal, facilities and bridge design and construction.

About The MBTA and the Draw One Project
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is America's fifth largest transit system offering multimodal transportation services to 175 member cities and towns and 4.7 million residents across a 3,200 square mile area. It is a public authority and political subdivision of the Commonwealth. The MBTA operates heavy rail, light rail, commuter rail, bus, and commuter boat services.

The North Station Draw One Program will modernize and replace critical movable bridges and associated rail infrastructure serving North Station: significantly improving reliability, resiliency, and operational flexibility for the MBTA commuter rail network. The program includes major Design-Build construction activities involving bridge replacement, track, signal, power, and systems integration within a complex and heavily trafficked rail terminus. The program will serve as a model for delivering complex infrastructure projects within an active rail terminal environment while maintaining continuous service to customers.

• Direct and lead a team of project managers, project coordinators, resident engineers, inspectors and other technical professionals who collectively will oversee the efforts of third-party engineering, architectural and construction firms which will provide the design and construction services under the draw one contract.
• Work with engineers, architects, and other stakeholders to establish detailed construction schedules and work plans. This includes timelines, budgets and resource allocation.
• Work with the Project Management/Construction Management (PM/CM) consultant to manage the construction oversight activities for the overall project, ensuring compliance with the Contract technical, safety and quality requirements, and alignment with MBTA project goals and stakeholder expectations.
• Coordinate with multiple teams representing both the MBTA, and the Design Build Entity, to include designers, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, fabricators and other stakeholders to ensure smooth project delivery.
• Ensure that Construction Work Plans are reviewed and adhered to, especially as it relates to quality plans and safe work plans.
• Oversee the comprehensive schedule that coordinates pre-construction submittals, field work, Railroad operations/support and cutover/commissioning activities to ensure that milestones are met, and deadlines are adhered to.
• Oversee schedule activities that lead into project milestones and assess testing/ commissioning, outage and force account needs to ensure that overall schedule both reflects resource needs and is aligned with commuter rail operational requirements.
• Represent the Chief of Program and/or the Deputy Chiefs when required in resolving issues related to construction, design, quality, procurement, schedule, and budget.
• Ensure the project’s construction plans and activities comply with local, regional, and national regulations, including environmental, safety, and construction standards.
• Monitor construction activities such that the environmental requirements, and commitments made during the NEPA process are adhered to and implement mitigation measures, as necessary, to minimize the impact of construction activities.
• Encourage the use of innovative construction techniques, technologies, or materials that could improve project outcomes, reduce costs, or accelerate timelines.
• Identify and resolve unforeseen design and construction challenges (e.g., geological surprises, material shortages, differing site conditions, unusual weather events, labor issues) with creative and effective solutions to keep the project moving forward.
• Oversee the development and regular use of Construction trackers that populate a Construction ‘Dashboard’ for use in monitoring construction progress against key performance indicators (KPIs), such as budget, schedule, safety, and quality targets.
• Track and manage the required construction deliverables and oversee development of the construction closeout system (e.g. material certs, bill of lading, test results, mockups, warranties, O&M Manuals, Training, record drawings, etc.)
• Collaborate with stakeholders to develop solutions and direct staff to implement solutions when project is facing budget or schedule risks.
• Prepare and deliver regular reports to executive management, clients, and stakeholders, detailing project progress, risks, and financial standing.
• Review Monthly and Weekly ‘look-ahead’ construction schedules to ensure planned activities are aligned with Railroad & navigation channel operations and proactively identify and resolve pre-requisites / potential risks to achieving the look-ahead schedule.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with railroad operations and key third party entities (i.e. owner/regulatory agencies, and utility companies)
• Collaborate with DB and MBTA engineering, operations, environmental, quality and safety teams to conduct constructability reviews / assessments prior to major construction activities to validate and/or de-risk the plan.
• Collaborate with designers, engineers, architects and operations staff in the review of work plans, commissioning plans, training and O&M Plans, and record drawings to ensure compliance with contract requirements.
• Manage and track field changes, whether directed by designer or resulting from Non-Conformance resolutions.
• Work with Quality and Design teams to investigate Construction NCR related root cause analyses, and to help determine corrective actions to close out construction NCRs in a timely fashion.
• Oversee and coordinate after-action reviews of major construction operations and catalogue and disseminate lessons learned for implementation into future operations.
• Communicate and collaborate with all pertinent project team members to resolve conflicts or claims arising from contract disagreements, design changes, non-conformances or construction delays.
• Adapt to the changing project dynamics characteristic of a mega-project and make informed, timely decisions
• Collaborates with stakeholders including customers and members of the public, state and local elected officials, and federal and state regulatory agencies including the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) on planning and execution of assigned projects and the mitigation of associated issues.
• Drive a company or personal vehicle to visit work sites to assist at emergencies, service disruptions, and/or other events as needed.
• Respond to emergencies, either directly or through subordinates, on a twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) day per weekbasis.
• Uphold the rights and interests of the Authority while building and maintaining an effective relationship with employees.
• Assist in the management of the workforce by ensuring the fair and consistent application and strict adherence to the rules, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements (if applicable) and policies of the Authority including the EEO, Anti-Discrimination, Anti-Harassment and Anti-Retaliation policies.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

Supervision

• Directly supervise project managers, project coordinators, within Draw One team.
• Indirectly supervise project managers, project coordinators, resident engineers, inspectors, consultants and other technical professionals who collectively will oversee the efforts of third-party engineering, architectural and construction firms providing the design and construction services under the Draw One Design Build contract.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Architecture or Construction Management.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in leading and managing large rail, bridge and/or tunnel construction programs and projects in the public and/or private sectors.
• Minimum of two (2) years of related experience in a supervisory capacity.
• Strong knowledge of safety standards, construction codes, and industry best practices.
• Demonstrated success developing realistic and attainable project budgets and schedules.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with local, state, and federal agencies and governance boards.
• Effective organizational, analytical, confidentiality, multi-tasking and time management skills.
• Leadership experience communicating with customers, employees, vendors, contractors, designers, elected officials, community leaders, and state and federal officials.
• Proven track record of collaboration, transparency, and effective communication.
• Superior written communication skills.
• Effective organizational, analytical, multi-tasking, and time management skills.
• Excellent customer service and conflict resolution skills.
• Possession of a valid driver's license without infractions in accordance with MBTA policy.
• Availability to work twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.
• The ability to supervise and work effectively within a diverse workforce.
• Demonstrated ability and tact to work horizontally and vertically across organizational boundaries to assist project delivery leaders and project managers in resolution of variances in cost and schedule.
  
  

Substitutions

• A master’s degree in a related subject substitutes for two (2) years of general experience.
• A nationally recognized certification, or statewide/professional certification in a related field substitutes for one year of experience.

• Master’s Degree in Engineering, Architecture or Construction Management.
• Seven (7) or more years of experience in heavy construction, with at least 5 years delivering large ($200M+), complex capital transit projects/programs.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer
• Experience in managing multiple inspection and rating contracts for commuter rail, transit, highway, andbridges.
• Experience in managing large bridge and railroad construction or rehabilitationcontracts of $500M and larger
• Familiarity with FTA, FRA, MBTA and MassDOT rules and regulation regarding project delivery, environmental requirements andpermitting.