Position: Chief of Capital Program Delivery (Chief Technical Officer)
Organization: Gateway Development Commission
Position Summary:
The Gateway Development Commission is seeking a highly qualified, executive level technical lead at this time to preside over the project delivery of the Gateway Development Commission’s capital projects, within scope, budget, and schedule, and ensure that the assets created will be fit for purpose and able to be operated and maintained efficiently for the asset’s life. This individual will oversee and ensure the timely, responsible and high‐quality execution of key activities required to advance the Hudson Tunnel Project through risk assessment and procurement.
Responsibilities:
- Provide executive oversight of all elements of project delivery.
- Manage the development, refining, and articulation of the program delivery for the Hudson Tunnel Project including project planning, project developing, funding alternatives, and project execution.
- Regularly report to the Chief Executive Officer and Commissioners on program status including managing program budget, schedule, and program delivery development and implementation and recommending any appropriate actions to mitigate any issues, problems and/or concerns that may arise with regard to program implementation.
- Oversee the technical needs of the Gateway Development Commission including managing a department responsible for design review, project controls, change management, quality control, quality assurance and construction management and/or oversight for each Gateway Development Commission project, as required.
- Identify delivery methods and parallel/sequential path advancement for projects within the overall program.
- Recruit design and construction executives reporting to the CTO to oversee project design and construction elements and/or oversight for each Gateway Development Commission project, as required.
- Ensure that the right subject matter experts are hired and leveraged to find improvements to efficiency, budgets, and processes as each project scales up through to final delivery.
- Maintain relationships with the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, other funding agencies, local, municipal, county, state and federal regulatory agencies, and partner staff.
- Maintain industry contacts and involvement in national and international infrastructure forums to assure Gateway is at the forefront of best practices, innovation, and compliance in delivery of megaprojects.
- Provide leadership in creating a work environment that encourages process improvement, communication, participatory decision making and accountability.
Candidates must present the following qualifications to be considered eligible for this position:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
- Licensed as a Professional Engineer in the State of New York and/or New Jersey or licensed in another jurisdiction with ability to obtain New York or New Jersey license through reciprocity or equivalent.
- A minimum of 15 years of demonstrated experience in multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects with specific experience in leading the design and construction of bridge and/or tunnel projects of similar scope and complexity as this Project. Experience shall include work of the nature anticipated in the Hudson Tunnel Project and should include at least one completed Design-Build or PPP project with a minimum total value of $1 Billion US in a lead position of the project or one of the major functions as Project Director, Chief Engineer, Design Manager or Engineering Manager.
- Exceptional program management skills.
- A thorough understanding of the technical complexities of major infrastructure projects.
- Demonstrated ability to build cohesive multi‐disciplinary teams and manage multiple demanding projects with aggressive timelines and budgets.
- High level analytical and creative skills to find practical solutions to complex and technical problems.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills to explain projects and elements of projects to both technical and non‐technical audiences.
- Demonstrated experience operating and executing in complex, multistakeholder environments.
- Understanding of industry standard project finance, design and construction risk management, project controls, and contracting.
- Ability to establish a vision and create an environment for excellence.
- Demonstrated record of ethics and high standards.
Ideal candidates will present the following profile:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering
- Understanding of tunneling technology, both using Tunnel Boring Machine technology and cut-and-cover methods, innovative approaches to tunneling, and managing projects with tunnel components.
- Experience working in a railroad environment familiar with design, construction, operating and/or maintenance practices.
- Experience delivering a project funded by the Federal Transit Administration and/or Federal Railroad Administration with construction costs in excess of $300 Million.
- Experience delivering programs with multi‐stakeholder management teams, government entities and/or special purpose entities.
The Gateway Program is the most urgent infrastructure program in the country – a comprehensive set of rail investments that will improve commuter and intercity services, add needed resiliency and, in its later stages, create new capacity between Newark, New Jersey and New York City, the busiest section of the Northeast Corridor (NEC). The NEC between Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. is the nation’s busiest rail corridor, supporting a region that produces 20% of the Gross National Product. The 10-mile segment of the NEC within the scope of the Gateway Program carries over 200,000 daily Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT passenger trips on approximately 450 trains during non-pandemic conditions and is a vital artery in the region.
The first phase of the Gateway Program includes the Hudson Tunnel Project, which includes the construction of a new two-track tunnel under the Hudson River connecting to Penn Station New York as well as the full rehabilitation of the existing 110 year-old North River Tunnel. The project would create operational flexibility, rail network redundancy, and resiliency against future impacts to the Hudson River rail crossing. Environmental review for the project was completed in May 2021.
The Gateway Development Commission, established through bi-state legislation, is responsible for the financing and development of the Hudson Tunnel Project. The Commission is governed by a Board of 7 Commissioners appointed by each of Amtrak, New Jersey and the New York State Department of Transportation, and works in partnership with Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The Gateway Development Commission is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status or military status, or any other category protected under applicable law. We recognize that diverse teams make the strongest teams, and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.