Sr Project Director Commercial - Hudson Tunnel - 90377183 - New York

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Job Summary

This Sr Project Director will plan and direct project work supporting Amtrak’s delivery of the $16+ Billion Hudson Tunnel Program. This position will direct project execution teams to ensure projects deliver high-quality assets safely and effectively, as well as ensuring the Program stays within the approved scope, schedule, and budget, and ensure that adequate and timely support is obtained from other functions. In some cases, Amtrak is primary entity delivering the project but in other cases, Amtrak may be supporting a package/project being delivered by a partner entity. 

The Senior Project Director will play a pivotal role in the success of the program and will oversee and coordinate commercial activities of the program, including procurement and execution of contracts, contract management, and contract changes, and will oversee procurement of material to support Amtrak force account work. The Senior Project Director will assist in developing negotiation strategies and analyzing recommendations provided by project management consultants and will be responsible to monitor, manage, and report on the commercial risks that could impact the safe, on-time, and on-budget delivery of the program. This individual will also be responsible for managing a substantial number of direct reports or matrixed subordinate team members. The role requires regular analytical and metrics-based reporting to Senior staff, Executive Governance Committees, and external stakeholders.

This position will also conduct outreach, coordination and collaboration with Amtrak departments, the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Railroad Administration, Gateway Development Commission, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, NJ TRANSIT, States and localities, commuter and freight operators, and suppliers, other third parties, investors and stakeholders to develop strategies, plans, funding and finance approaches, and partnerships to advance Amtrak’s mission.

Essential Functions

• Provides executive oversight to all aspects of the commercial management function for the Hudson Tunnel Program.
• Manages the day-to-day and long-term commercial matters for the Program, often with staff coming from multiple partners, contractors, subcontractors and subconsultants.
• Oversee commercial interactions with all contractors, subcontractors, and consultants, including review of payments, back-charges, and liquidated damages.
• Interprets contract language to understand the risks, rights and responsibilities of the project team and guide project team in properly managing in accordance with these clauses to limit exposure to additional costs.
• Oversee change and claim preparation, management, and resolution for the program, working closely with the program team, functional leads, and corporate legal representatives.
• Leads the preparation for disputes resolution hearing and other alternative resolution methods meetings.
• Oversees project changes and claim reporting and provides reporting to Program leadership, Amtrak Senior leadership, and funding partners.
• Oversees procurement of material to support AMTRAK force account work.
• Working closely with the Project Controls Manager, to ensure accurate training and utilization of approved systems for project document control and reporting.
• Performs regular project reviews and monitors job risks and change management against key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Prepares action plan for resolving timely payment for change orders and work performed.
• Coordinates, manages, and provides assistance to outside counsel and third-party consultants as needed for claim and change resolution.
• Supports Executive status review meetings, Governance and Change Control Boards.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent combination of training, education and relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 13 years of prior relevant experience required

Preferred Qualifications

• 15 years relevant work experience preferred.
• 13+ years of experience supporting engineering and construction projects, commercial contract management, subcontractor administration, and procurement experience required
• 10+ years of experience in managing a team
• Master’s degree in business or policy with an emphasis on quantitative, financial, or economic analysis
• Five or more years planning, and analysis experience within the railroad and/or transportation industry
• Broad understanding of the construction industry and contract language associated engineering, procurement, construction management, rail and/or transportation
• Experience developing negotiating contract terms and conditions specifically for contracts related to services, construction, engineering, materials, equipment, and rail industry
• Experience in creating contract packages and interfacing with multiple disciplines in their creation
• Experience with working in government contracts, federal and state agencies such as Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), and Office of Inspector General (OIG) and Department of Transportation among others.
• Certified Commercial Contracts Manager (CCCM) Program Management Professional (PMP)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• The candidate will require extensive experience in managing complex heavy civil and/or rail projects and working in multiple project delivery models (DBB, DB, CMAR, Delivery Partner).
• Experience supporting engineering and construction projects, commercial contract management, subcontractor administration, and procurement experience required.
• Strong project and program management skills; Strong focus on collaboration, team building, and customer service
• Executive Level Proficiency in Project Management core competencies: (scope, schedule, budget, risk, quality, integration, resource management, prioritization, continuous improvement, and communications).
• Executive level oral and written communication skills across all levels of internal and external stakeholder groups. Ability to organize and present executive, board and congressional level reports, proposals, and other related program information.
• Understanding of the contract terms for various delivery models and able to identify contract risks and opportunity.
• Extensive knowledge of the construction contracting, including understanding of contract terms for various delivery methods, and understanding of management of notices, change orders, disputes, and claims.
• Proven knowledge and background owning project budget and monitoring project financial performance, identifying, tracking and managing project risk, and appropriately protecting project funds from unfounded claims.
• Executive level communication and interpersonal skills, proven to engage and retain positive working relationships within project and build a strong relationship with project partners, and coordination with senior level officers.
• Aptitude for having difficult and challenging discussions in a passionate environment where opinions on commercial matters between parties do not align.
• Demonstrated experience in managing staff, contractors, and cross-functional teams in multiple locations.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with staff and decision-makers, while successfully challenging conventional practices and incorporating new approaches to business.

Knowledge of:

• Advance principles of project management, construction management, program development, implementation and administration for improvement and maintenance projects
• Theories, principles, and practices of passenger railroad systems design, construction, operations, maintenance, safety, accident prevention, and emergency response
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations governing the design, engineering, and construction of passenger railroad capital improvement and maintenance projects
• Project delivery, engineering, and maintenance roles, responsibilities, and requirements
• Railroad systems including track, structures, communications, signals, electric traction and track usage procedures
• Principles and practices of capital and operating budgets preparation and administration
• Principles and practices of contract negotiation and administration
• Social, political, and environmental issues influencing capital programs

Work Environment

• Willingness to travel approximately 25-50% based on business requirements
• Combination of office building and jobsite environment.

The salary/hourly range is $187,500.00 – $242,892.00. Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc. Depending on an employee’s assigned worksite or location, Amtrak may consider a geo-pay differential to be applied to the employee’s base salary. Amtrak may offer additional incentive and pay programs to recognize and reward our employees, including a short-term incentive bonus based upon factors such as individual and company performance that is commensurate with the level of the position. 

Learn more about our benefits offerings here.

Requisition ID: 166958

Work Arrangement: 06-Onsite 4/5 Days Click here for more information about work arrangements at Amtrak.
Relocation Offered: No
Travel Requirements: Up to 25%

You power our progress through your performance.

We want your work at Amtrak to be more than a job. We want your career at Amtrak to be a fulfilling experience where you find challenging work, rewarding opportunities, respect among colleagues, and attractive compensation. Amtrak maintains a culture that values high performance and recognizes individual employee contributions.

Amtrak is committed to a safe workplace free of drugs and alcohol. All Amtrak positions requires a pre-employment background check that includes prior employment verification, a criminal history check and a pre-employment drug screen.

Candidates who test positive for marijuana will be disqualified, regardless of any state or local statute, ordinance, regulation, or other law that legalizes or decriminalizes the use or possession of marijuana, whether for medical, recreational, or other use. Amtrak's pre-employment drug testing program is administered in accordance with DOT regulations and applicable law.

In accordance with DOT regulations (49 CFR § 40.25), Amtrak is required to obtain prior drug and alcohol testing records for applicants/employees intending to perform safety-sensitive duties for covered Department of Transportation positions. If an applicant/employee refuses to provide written consent for Amtrak to obtain these records, the individual will not be permitted to perform safety-sensitive functions.

In accordance with federal law governing security checks of covered individuals for providers of public transportation (Title 6 U.S.C. §1143), Amtrak is required to screen applicants for any permanent or interim disqualifying criminal offenses.

Note that any education requirement listed above may be deemed satisfied if you have an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Amtrak is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race/color, to include traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture and hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, such as lactation), national origin/ethnicity, disability (intellectual, mental and physical), veteran status, marital status, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, genetic information, citizenship or any other personal characteristics protected by law.