Utilities Agreements Manager - Transportation Projects

The Utilities Agreements Manager provides leadership and oversight for the development, negotiation, and execution of utility agreements required for major transportation infrastructure projects including the transformative Interborough Express light rail system. This role manages the utility agreements program, ensures regulatory compliance, drives engagement with utility owners, and supports project delivery by mitigating risks related to utility relocations, reimbursements, and legal obligations. The Manager serves as the subject-matter expert for utility agreement processes, policies, financial requirements, and federal/state regulations. *Please Note -- To be successful in this role, you'll sit onsite at the Financial District-based project office, approximately 3-4 days per each work week.* Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership - Lead the utility agreements program for transportation projects, establishing standards, workflows, templates, and best practices. - Set utility program priorities that align with project goals, project schedules, and funding requirements. - Provide expert guidance to the project management and design teams as well as client leadership regarding utility agreements and policies. Oversight of Utility Agreements - Manage the development, negotiation, and execution of utility relocation, betterment, reimbursement, and cost-participation agreements. - Oversee review of utility relocation scopes, plans, and cost estimates for technical accuracy and compliance. - Establish quality control processes to ensure documentation accuracy and audit readiness. Stakeholder & Utility Owner Management - Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with utility companies, municipalities, regulatory agencies, and internal departments. - Facilitate coordination meetings to resolve issues, negotiate terms, and reduce schedule impacts. - Represent project leadership in discussions with executive-level utility representatives on complex agreement issues that reflect project goals. - Develop utility specific strategic stakeholder management plans, manage utility owner relationships and work with utilities to develop programmatic relocation/protection plans Financial Management & Compliance - Oversee review and approval of utility relocation costs, reimbursements, and payment requests. - Monitor budgets, funding requirements, cost-share eligibility, and federal reimbursement processes. - Ensure compliance with state and federal audit requirements, maintaining accurate and defensible financial records. Support for Project Delivery - Provide leadership across planning, design, construction, and closeout to ensure utility agreement requirements are met. - Identify risks related to utility relocations and collaborate with project teams to develop mitigation strategies. - Support right-of-way certification by ensuring all required agreements and relocations are completed in accordance with project schedules. - Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, business, public administration, or a related field. - Substantial professional years of experience in utility coordination, utility agreements management, transportation project management, or related work. - Expertise in utility systems (e.g., gas, electric, telecommunications, water, sewer) and their regulatory frameworks. - Demonstrated experience leading negotiations and navigating complex contractual or legal issues. - Proven leadership, team management, and stakeholder engagement skills. - Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience facilitating meetings and building consensus. Ideally, you'll also have: - Experience managing utility agreements for federally funded transportation projects. - Familiarity with right-of-way acquisition, SUE standards (ASCE 38), and construction-phase utility relocation. - Experience working directly with transportation agencies. - Professional certifications such as PE, PMP, SR/WA, or utility/contract administration credentials. - Experience with project controls software, GIS, and document management systems. #LI-SW1 Jacobs is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, medical condition, marital or domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression and transgender status, mental disability or physical disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship, low-income status or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable law. Learn more about your rights under Federal EEO laws and supplemental language.