Deputy Director

Deputy Director

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high-quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system's 2.000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Office of Engineering Audits (OEA) independently audit invoiced payments for construction, expense and construction-related services contracts to ensure that the City has received appropriate value for the work performed. The OEA was established pursuant to Section 93 of the City Charter, which delegates the Comptroller's authority for pre-payment audit of invoices to the agencies, and Comptrollers Directive 7 which requires that each agency which frequently lets contracts for construction, equipment, and construction-related services appoint an Engineering Audit Officer (EAO) to carry out this auditing responsibility. The function of OEA is, therefore, mandated by the City Charter. Directive 7 further requires that the EAO report directly to the agency head, or to a deputy agency head and, to preserve the EAO's independence and the integrity of the audit process, the EAO's duties must be fully segregated from any related operational responsibilities. The OEA consists of several units: Construction Payments, Consultant Payments, Expense Payments, Change Orders, and Administrative, with a staff of engineers, accountants and administrative personnel.

The Office of Engineering Audits is seeking an Administrative Engineer-II. Under general supervision, the selected candidate will serve as a Deputy Director, providing independent audit of payments of a large portfolio of maintenance contracts for all of DEP's operating Bureaus. Key responsibilities include desk and field (as needed) audits of partial, substantial, final payments and contract change payment requisition for major construction and maintenance of DEP facilities and assets. The Deputy Director will be performing final review and examination of prices, reimbursable costs to ensure that payment requests are in accordance with City Charter, Procurement Policy Board (PPB Rules), Comptroller's Directives and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; technical trade labor rates, multipliers, overhead factors, and other related documents in order to certify the fairness and reasonableness of contract changes; and may include performing field inspections to verify that work is good quality and has progressed sufficiently to warrant payment requested. In addition, the selected candidate will be responsible for supervising subordinate staff involved in the audit of complex construction and construction-related contracts.

This position as Deputy Director supervises and directs the activities of the Assistant Deputy Directors and auditors responsible for all Construction, Expense, and construction-related payment requisitions, in addition to being responsible for staff of engineers and accountants in performing audits for payments on major capital and expense construction and construction related contracts. Also, provides guidance to engineers in reviewing the acceptability of contract changes, consistent with established agency and City policies and directives. Researches and develops long range policy regarding the performance of contract compliance audits, including those for complex major capital projects. Resolves complex auditing problems dealing with the Department's capital program. Assists, under the direction of the First Deputy Director, in the formation of agency wide policy as it relates to auditing engineering construction contracts. Consults with public and private organizations in the development of audit contracts. Provides clear direction to a diversified, multi-disciplined staff with extremely complex staff functions with clear agency-wide impact while implementing agency-wide policy and goals, such as interpretation of the Standard Construction Contract (SCC), PPB Rules and City Charter. Acts as agency liaison with owners, partners and principles of contracting and consulting firms. Prepare and present to the First Deputy Director including upper senior management reports and key Performance Indicators (KPI) relating the agency's fiscal status. Represent Agency and the Commissioner before New York City Comptroller's Office regarding dispute resolutions, delay claims and other pertinent complex engineering matters concerning interpretation of contract language as it pertains to the Standard Construction Contract.

Job Duties and Responsibilities are as listed below.

• Audit, review and approve Construction and Construction-Related Payments and ensure that they are processed in compliance with NYC Comptroller's Directives and DEP Policies.
• Audit, review and approve Expense Contract Payments and recommend changes to contract items in specifications to make payment terms clear and concise to prevent disputes later.
• Interest eligible payment requests are processed within allocated time to avoid interest penalties as per provision of PPB rules. In addition, all other payments are also processed within the allocated time frame.
• Interface with units within DEP to resolve issues concerning audit findings and recommend changes to contracts to avoid similar issues on future contracts to streamline payments.
• Provide training to new employees and general direction to audit engineers with the greatest latitude for the exercise of independent judgment and decision making.

Minimum Qualifications

1. A valid New York State License as a Professional Engineer and six (6) years of full-time satisfactory experience in chemical engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, or plan examining work, at least two (2) years of which must have been in an executive, managerial, or administrative capacity.

Preferred Skills

Knowledge of NYC Comptroller's Directive, Procurement Policy Board Rules, and NYC Directives. Broad knowledge of budget, purchasing and personnel management to coordinate activities of varied staff with diverse professions and skills. Managerial skills, administrative experience, technical expertise and creative ability to manage extremely difficult and complex engineering capital projects. Broad knowledge in Engineering practices. Management and Leadership skills Excellent interpersonal, accounting and organizational skills a plus. Excellent written and oral communication skills including audit reports, business letters and memoranda. Experience in auditing contract payments and contract management Driver's License

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.