Chief of Construction Management

The Chief of Construction Management performs difficult executive level professional and administrative work leading the Construction Management Division in inspecting, managing and controlling all activities in the City’s Rights-of-way, including construction activities for the Department of Public Works and the work of all permit holders. The work often requires direct contact with elected and appointed officials State Highway Administration officials and other persons of importance and influence involving considerable tact, discretion, and persuasion to obtain desired results. The work requires considerable mental effort and stress from handling multiple projects and meeting deadlines. The incumbent participates with others in program development, service delivery, and supervises construction inspectors and consultants engaged in inspection, administration, and monitoring of construction projects and enforcement of the City Code, the Department’s Standards and Details, and permit conditions. The Division also provides direct project management of the City’s Asphalt and Concrete Capital Improvement Projects. The work is multidisciplinary, and often requires the employee to be familiar with a variety of engineering, design and construction disciplines and understand how each supports the overall project.  The work is subject to functional policies and goals under general managerial direction of the Director of Public Works and has serious consequences.
 
The Chief of Construction Management oversees a staff of construction inspectors that supervises construction projects from beginning to end, ensuring that projects are completed within time and budgetary constraints. The employee follows standard and generally accepted management principles, engineering standards, codes, accessibility rules and other federal, Maryland and local regulations to ensure that plans, specifications, and as-built features are implemented per regulatory requirements.  Assignments are technically complex and involve the coordination of multi-disciplinary activities related, but not limited to civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, and environmental engineering.  Overall project management includes responsibilities for contract administration/control, and quality assurance/quality control of projects, and requires a professional construction engineering background.  The scope of the work typically involves very complex activities associated with infrastructure capital project management and construction.  The employee is responsible for projects from construction award or permit issuance through final acceptance of completed work.  An understanding of the construction business and the ability to work under deadlines in a fast-paced environment are important. The position supervises the Construction Management Division and reports directly to the Director of Public Works. 

Essential Job Functions

• Manages, supervises and administers execution of all Public Works construction contracts for the City.
• Reviews construction drawings, specifications and contracts to ensure adherence to codes, policies, practicality, and acceptable engineering practices.
• Oversees contractors and sub-contractors during all phases of ongoing construction projects.
• Reviews and processes appropriate payment to contractors.
• Meets with contractors and negotiates change orders and revisions to construction projects.
• Prepares and reviews contract bid documents to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements, including evaluating for award process.
• Performs difficult engineering calculations and reviews engineering work submitted by constructing engineers for approval purposes.
• Manages bonded construction work through construction permits issued to builders and developers, tracking progress of the work, and issuing release of bonds and sureties when all work is completed.
• Supervises construction inspectors. Reviews daily, weekly and other work reports from staff. Instructs staff on new techniques in construction methods and materials testing, reviewing their work for reliability and providing them with comments, suggestions, and direction.
• Manages the asphalt maintenance, concrete maintenance, and other contracts, planning which streets, curbs, sidewalks, stormwater ponds, and facilities are to be scheduled and the timing of the schedule. Writes detailed specifications for work completed through maintenance projects.
• Meets with elected officials, citizens, business owners, and others as necessary to review and discuss projects, problems, and concerns of mutual interest. Appropriately addresses issues and solutions to problems.
• Prepares the Division's annual operating and Capital Improvements Program budgets.
• Identifies and/or investigates poor performance by contractor and takes appropriate action.
• Ensures that accurate and timely as-built information and drawings are obtained for the City's permanent records.
• May be required to attend meetings after hours and respond to emergencies.
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from an accredited university or college plus ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering design and construction management or any combination of substantially equivalent training and experience. Must have at least three years of experience in public works inspection and supervision of engineering and/or inspection staff. Must possess a driver's license valid in the State of Maryland.
 
Special Qualifications:
 Licensed Professional Engineer with the State of Maryland within one year of employment is preferred. A Certified Construction Manager designation is preferred. Must possess a valid state driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• American Institute of Constructors - Certified Professional Constructor (CPC) certification 
• Construction Management Association of America - Certified Construction Manager (CCM) Certified Associate in Project Management or PMP

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of construction and inspection methods, techniques, and materials relating to public works construction.
• Knowledge of construction standards and specifications and of applicable regulations and codes of the City, State, and public utilities.
• Knowledge of the basic principles and practices of civil engineering, and of topographic and land surveying.
• Ability to build solid relationships with team members, vendors, contractors, and internal and external stakeholders/customers.
• Knowledge of office management and accounting procedures for keeping accurate record of contract scheduling, quantities, payments, and correspondence.
• Skill in Project Management, Construction Management, Contract Management, and Budget Management.
• Skill in the use of computers for word processing, spreadsheets, GIS, and other specialized programs.
• Ability to plan and assign work to engineers and technicians in a manner conducive to full and timely completion of projects.
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, specifications, and details and to quickly and accurately compare them with work in progress.
• Ability to anticipate and identify flaws and defects in public works construction in a timely manner and to direct effective corrective measures thereto.
• Ability to deal in a firm, fair, and tactful manner with developers, permit holders, contractors, and the general public contacted in the course of project construction, occasionally under contentious circumstances.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relations with others.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.