Port Authority of NY & NJ Careers

About the Role

Engineering Senior Design Executive

Join one of the most diverse and innovative engineering design team with multiple specialties within the transportation sector. The Port Authority’s airports, ports, ferries, tunnels, bridges, bus terminals and rail transportation systems are important transportation links in the region. The Senior Design Executive org is part of a multi-discipline group of engineers and other design professionals that form the Engineering Department of the Agency

Reporting to the Chief of Design and working closely with the Office of the Chief Engineer and the Aviation Redevelopment Senior Design Executive, the Senior Design Executive (SDE) directs multi-disciplinary teams for the design delivery of Core Aviation Projects from Concept through Project Closeout.  These projects include major enabling projects such as the design and construction of airport transportation networks and infrastructure improvements as well as crucial State of Good repair and Operating projects such as rehabilitations for airside, landside and buildings assets.

The entire portfolio of projects currently amounts to over $4Billion in active projects. The SDE serves as the main Engineering Architecture Design Division (EADD) point of contact for their portfolio of projects. They work cooperatively with the Engineering Program Executive (EPE) and Senior Engineer of Construction (Sr. EOC) throughout the project lifecycle.  The position plays critical roles in both Consultant as the Architect/Engineer of Record (A/EOR) oversight as well as in-house design coordination. For A/EOR oversight, the SDE functions as the Dually Authorized Representative, responsible for the cost, quality and timely delivery for all work products generated via an Agreement.  This SDE group will also be driving consultant accountability with the development of supporting policy and procedures associated with the oversight of A/EORs.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of project principals who coordinate and deliver multidisciplinary design projects.
• Oversee all multidisciplinary design/technical delivery including, but not limited to, calculations, surveys, reports, analysis, signed/sealed plans, specifications, schedules and estimates for projects in their assigned portfolio.
• Ensure design/technical services progress logically and timely for the successful delivery of the conceptual, preliminary, and final design project services, and ensure sufficient design support during construction, commissioning, and project closeout.
• Ensure all scopes are well defined by leveraging all relevant subject matter experts, as well as line department, operations and maintenance stakeholders’ input. 
• Ensure on-time and on budget delivery of design services via in-house design or consultant as A/EOR.
• Prepare multi-disciplinary design resource projections and design delivery recommendations in coordination with Functional Discipline Chiefs.
• Oversee consultant procurement process to retain consultants, as needed.  Hire qualified teams to deliver the defined scope.
• Develop the Design portion of cost proposals and assure design soft costs are sufficiently allocated for required disciplines and design managers.
• Prepare independent and comprehensive design schedule for large projects to assure on time delivery and verify committed schedules are achievable.
• Accountable for proper coordination of design and contract documents to prevent issues, including conflicts, interferences, and errors/omissions. Research and recommend solutions to resolve design and construction document problems, should they exist. To the best extent practicable, minimize unclear content within contract documents.
• Communicate technical changes affecting scope, schedule, budget, and the engineering project risk register to the Engineering team timely and accurately.
• Advises the Office of the Chief Engineer on technical matters pertaining to the project/project portfolio.
• Support the Chief of Design on EADD’s Transformation by developing policies, procedures and tools related to design initiatives, consultant management, project management, quality control.
• Identify and track Key Performance Indicators for project performance.
• Partner with the Engineering Program Executive and Senior Engineer of Construction and respective stakeholders to proactively identify and resolve project issues to minimize impacts to the project scope, budget, and schedule. Elevate project issues and mitigative strategies to the Chief of Design and/or Chief Engineer, as needed.
• Accountable for the interdisciplinary review of design and contract documents to validate the completeness of work in accordance with the project scope, construction budget and schedule. Can retain and manage an independent reviewer either through use of in-house staff or consultant, if warranted. Assures discipline-specific QA/QC tasks are complete.
• Provides multi-disciplinary quality audit for design/technical services in accordance with Department Guidelines.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Architecture from an accredited college or university
• Licensed to practice Engineering or Architecture in New York or New Jersey
• A minimum of 15 years experience in progressively more responsible positions in the design of transportation facilities
• Experience managing a large full-service, multi-discipline technical project team

engaged in all phases of engineering design for transportation facilities

• Demonstrated experience as a supervisor overseeing the day-to-day performance of two or more direct reports and working in a matrix organization.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of applicable building codes and laws governing design in the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey region
• Thorough knowledge of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Engineering’s delivery process Valid driver’s license
• Internal applicants must meet performance and attendance standards and have completed all probationary periods.  Applicant’s attendance and job performance records will be reviewed in accordance with Port Authority policy

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to foster collaboration, teamwork, and creativity to solve problems in a fast-paced, cross-functional, and multi-disciplinary environment
• Ability to successfully lead project teams, progressing design/technical services logically and timely, meeting project schedule, budget, and program requirements, and proactively recognizes risks associated with multi-disciplinary design services
• Demonstrated strong conceptualization, problem solving and decision-making skills as evidenced from experience in planning, directing, and managing routine, large-scale, and technically challenging design services for transportation programs and projects
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to new information, continuous improvement, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; and track record of acting decisively and effectively
• Superior oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and experience in negotiation and conflict resolution
• Ability to promote the work of the team
• Ability to maintain a positive environment, set goals, provide incentives, recognize achievements, provide discipline, and escalate issues warranting support of others
• Demonstrated experience with alternative procurement strategies
• Knowledge of management systems and platforms including Port Authority’s Project Delivery
• Performance System (PDPS) and the Wintrak system, e-Builder, Bluebeam Revu, Primavera (P6 Schedules, Contract Manager, and Risk Analysis) as well PeopleSoft, Port Authority’s Agency Vendor Management System to SAP, and Systems Applications Products in Data Processing (SAP).