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DEPUTY CEO, MEGA CAPITAL PROJECT DELIVERY

Employer
Sound Transit
Location
Seattle, Washington State
Salary
Negotiable
Closing date
Nov 30, 2023
View more categoriesView less categories
Specialty
Transportation Engineering
Position Type
Executive / President / CEO
Organization Type
Government

Sound Transit is seeking a Deputy CEO, Mega Capital Project Delivery to lead the agency’s Major System Expansion Program. Sound Transit has an annual capital and operating budget of $3 billion and is in the process of delivering one of the largest transit expansion programs in the country. Voters in the greater Seattle region approved three-system expansion plans defined in the Sound Move (1996), Sound Transit 2 (ST2) (2008), and Sound Transit 3 (ST3) (2016) ballot initiatives. The programs include ongoing funding for design, construction, and operations of a fully integrated system of Light Rail, Commuter Rail, Bus Rapid Transit, and Commuter Express Bus which together will reshape the landscape of the entire region, enhance economic development, help combat climate change, and improve mobility, livability, smart growth, affordability, and accessibility across the region. 

The Sound Transit Team includes highly experienced capital program leadership and staff who have successfully delivered the Sound Move program and are moving toward completion of the ST2 program. As the size of the Sound Transit light rail system will more than double over the next two decades, Sound Transit needs to grow executive leadership capacity to deliver on commitments to voters. New executive leadership will lead and elevate a culture of effective and efficient management through planning, design, construction, and system integration.

Sound Transit is seeking a Deputy CEO with demonstrated experience in meeting cost and time estimates for providing communities with high-quality public infrastructure by working with public officials, communities, designers, engineers, contractors, and other professionals in achieving acknowledged success. The candidate should have proven ability to lead the development of concurrent multi-billion-dollar projects quickly and effectively, including management of budgets, schedules, and plans for various elements of deliverables. Additionally, the candidate will have demonstrated experience bringing forth ways to accelerate project timelines and reduce capital expenditures. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

This Deputy CEO will manage the delivery of all major capital programs in the system expansion program, including the delivery of Sound Transit’s $54+ billion ST3 program approved by voters in 2016 as well as the balance of work remaining on the 2008 ST2 program. In this capacity, this Deputy CEO will oversee the design, engineering, and construction of Sound Transit structures, stations, communications and signals, track, power, and facilities.

This Deputy CEO will function to ensure that the capital program operates efficiently and effectively while meeting safety and quality requirements. The Deputy CEO will assess the capital delivery organization and provide recommendations for changes in structure, staffing and process.

This Deputy CEO will deliver the ST3 program inclusive of the programmatic elements (sustainability, access, and Transit Oriented Development (TOD)) identified and funded in the ST3 voter approved package.

This Deputy CEO will develop and manage the Board-approved annual capital program, oversee staff, and manage consultants and contractors engaged to deliver the Sound Transit capital program for system expansion.

Drive delivery of all capital projects, including the ST2 and ST3 capital programs through planning, design and construction.

Adhere to aggressive program schedules and budgets for all system expansion capital programs and projects.

In collaboration with the Board and CEO, establish and communicate an overall vision as well as short- and long-term objectives for system expansion program delivery that support organizational goals.

Organize the program delivery teams for maximum efficiency, including addressing staffing vacancies within the approved annual budget.

Brief the CEO and the Board on project developments and make recommendations where board actions are required. Recommendations must include safety, quality, cost, and schedule implications for each project as well as on the agency’s long range financial plan.

Identify project risks and develop and implement recovery plans while frequently communicating those to the Board and external partners.

Enforce compliance with safety and quality requirements in collaboration with the Safety and System Quality Departments.

Work with System Quality Department to establish and implement metrics to monitor project performance consistently across the program, including progress on scope, budget, and schedule.

Closely monitor the timeline, status, and quality of capital programs and projects to ensure projects are being delivered on-time, on-budget, and within the agreed upon scope, and lead any corrective actions as necessary.

Implement decision-making procedures and empower staff at all levels to make decisions as appropriate and necessary.

Manage consultant and construction contracts, including timely review and approval of change orders.

Maintain open and proactive communication with professional engineering and contracting groups. 

Optimize communication and ensure effective knowledge transfer and hand-offs between related stakeholders, internal and external, and departments.

Establish protocols for negotiations on third party agreements.

Establish policies and procedures to expedite permitting and regulate betterments requests.

Coordinate closely with operating and maintenance departments throughout design and construction to ensure that projects meet agency service activation, long term operation and maintenance needs and requirements, and rider experience and accessibility needs and requirements.

Supervise, train, and monitor employees to ensure delivery of quality program executions. Identify and recommend processes for continuous improvement.

Maintain a positive working environment where employees feel empowered and respected.

Analyze challenges, problems, and process breakdowns to ensure that lessons are learned and improvements are made.

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of new innovations, technologies, best practices, and procedures in the industry and analyze how they could be utilized to improve program and project delivery, in partnership with System Quality.

Align key procedures with industry best practices to make Sound Transit an “Owner of Choice.”

Proactively partner with the Federal Transit Administration on program oversight and reviews.

Champions and models Sound Transit's core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.

Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit’s Equity & Inclusion Policy.

It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.

It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.

Other duties as assigned.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related field and 12 years of experience leading the delivery of simultaneous, complex, billion-dollar transportation capital programs, with experience successfully delivering transit, transportation, or other large infrastructure programs; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 10 years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

  • Licensed professional engineer, Certified Construction Manager, Project Management Professional Certification or similar credentials

Required Knowledge and Skills:

  • Experience working with a regional Board of Directors. Strong knowledge and experience in a variety of project delivery methods. Experience negotiating, managing, and overseeing third party consultants and contractors on large capital mega projects Experience negotiating and managing interagency agreements, betterments policies, and other third-party agreements. Experience developing and implementing a vision and strategy for capital investment and delivery in a public and highly visible environment. Experience with the principles and practice of value engineering. Knowledge of environmental processes, including the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Change leader with demonstrated success in transforming organizations and teams. Strong analytical, organizational, interpersonal, presentation, and communication skills to interact with all levels of an organization and stakeholders. Experience working with craft labor unions and contractors.

TO APPLY:

Sound Transit has engaged Krauthamer & Associates (K&A), a retained executive search firm, to assist with the recruitment for the Deputy CEO. To request more information or to submit a resume and cover letter, please contact: Gregg Moser, Partner at K&A at gmoser@kapartners.com.

Information on compensation and benefits can be found at: www.soundtransit.org

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.

 

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