Intern - Transportation at Cotter Consulting – Chicago, Illinois

OVERALL OBJECTIVE: Assists field and office engineering staff to achieve quality construction in accordance with the plans and specifications. Contributes to the success of a client project by assisting with project management tasks.

JOB COMPLEXITY/SCOPE: Observes, inspects, and documents construction activities. Assignments are in a variety of areas including cost estimating, scheduling, quality management, and contract administration. Gains knowledge of construction sequencing and the construction process.

SUPERVISION: Assigned to work under the guidance of field/office engineering staff. Typically assigned tasks with measurable results that are reviewed by the field/office engineering staff.

FLSA STATUS: Non-exempt

JOB DUTIES:

Schedule Management

• Reviews contractor's daily work schedule.
• Visits job sites to monitor progress and conformance with job schedule.

Cost Management

• Introduced to contractor's billing and change order process

Quality Management

• Observes and inspects the activities of contractors on the construction site.
• Prepares field measurements and quantity calculations.
• Assists Resident Engineer/field personnel in the coordination of field activities.
• Reviews contracts, plans, and specifications.

Contract Administration

• Prepares and maintains proper documentation of all project-related activities.
• Regularly communicates with team as directed by supervising staff. Collects data and information for supervising staff.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Student pursuing bachelor's degree in civil engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• Ability to use a computer, the Internet, word processing, and email software.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

Flexibility and Adaptability

• Adjust to new or changing assignments, processes, and people.
• Demonstrates willingness to listen to other opinions.
• Provides examples of shifting from task to task.

Learning Oriented

• Shows readiness and ability to learn new concepts, processes, and tools.
• Uses mistakes, failures, and successes as data for future development.
• Makes use of publications, associations, and conferences in own professional specialty.

Oral Communications

• Utilizes techniques to verify that a verbal message was received as intended.
• Uses language appropriate to audience.
• Listens without defensiveness or excessive self-reference.

Teamwork

• Identifies characteristics of good teamwork.
• Names primary and ancillary members of own team.
• Explains team mission and objectives.

Problem Solving

• Can discuss problem reporting and escalation practices.
• Identifies potential and actual problems or conflicts in own area.
• Utilizes accepted procedures for problem analysis and resolution.

Written Communication

• Produces written materials relevant to own work and department.
• Uses organization's guidelines for writing reports, correspondence, documentation, etc.
• Welcome and uses feedback/editing assistance.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Job duties in an office setting require the following:

• Ordinary ambulatory skills sufficient to move throughout the office.
• The ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
• Good hand-eye coordination; the ability to reach with hands and arms; and arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp.
• Close visual acuity to use a keyboard, operate office equipment, prepare and review data and figures, and view a computer monitor.
• The ability to talk and hear.
• The ability to work at an upper level of a high-rise office building (Cotter Chicago office and some client offices).
• The ability to handle temperature changes consistently with inside environmental conditions.
• Mental abilities include remembering, reasoning, concentrating on task, reading, problem solving, managing concurrent tasks, and the ability to understand and follow directions.

For job duties that require visiting a construction work site, the following is required:

• Normal color vision.
• The ability to ascend and descend ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, etc., using feet and legs and/or hands and arms.
• The ability to move across uneven surfaces and the ability to maintain body equilibrium to prevent falling on uneven or slippery surfaces.
• The ability to stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• The ability to stand for sustained periods of time.
• The ability to work in confined spaces and narrow passageways.
• The ability to work in high places.
• The ability to handle outside environmental conditions include extreme heat, extreme cold, loud noise levels, fumes, odors, dust, gases, and oils.