Assistant Director, Waterfront Project Management Group

Port of Seattle•Seattle, WA

About The Position

As an Assistant Director, Waterfront Project Management Group, you will lead all aspects in delivering a portfolio of multiple complex programs comprised of both capital and expense projects, including management of staff and consultants, to ensure the successful delivery of the Waterfront Capital Improvement Plan. You will lead, manage, and mentor multiple Capital Program Leaders and Senior Capital Project Managers who oversee staff and consultant teams delivering programs that may be highly complex, politically sensitive, subject to changing priorities, and require navigation of intricate funding structures and permitting processes. You will coordinate, communicate, anticipate, and resolve problems for capital and expense programs and projects in the assigned programs with senior management, executives, and Port Commission. You will identify and resolve conflicts between competing project goals (scope, schedule, budget), maritime operations, real estate portfolio management, planning, capital programs, project sponsors, and tenants. You will also work through issues related to other goals and requirements (e.g. sustainability, diversity in contracting, workforce development) on individual projects and between projects, including those not directly under the control of the Assistant Director. You will partner with Waterfront Program Controls to monitor, manage, meet procedural and reporting requirements, and lead project performance to ensure internal and external customer, executive, and Port Commission expectations of scope, schedule, and budget are met or exceeded, while also meeting funding, contracting, procurement, and permitting requirements. You will lead department and division efforts to improve project delivery efficiency and effectiveness through development and implementation of process improvements within Waterfront Project Management Group and across Maritime Division, Economic Development, and Corporate. You will be a member of the department leadership team managing the effort to strategically staff and budget for the necessary resources, including both Port and consultant staff to deliver the Waterfront Capital Improvement Plan. You will also be responsible for the development and succession planning for staff in their assigned programs and projects. You will lead programs that utilize public works alternative delivery methods such as Job-Order-Contracting (JOC), Design-Build, and/or General Contractor/Construction Manager (GC/CM). You will provide backup responsibilities as deputy to the department director for industry conferences and committees, public speaking engagements, Port-wide initiatives, and director’s out of office.

Requirements

Eight (8) years of experience in project, program, or construction management
Four (4) years of experience supervising staff and managing a project management function
Extensive experience leading complex public waterfront design and construction projects
Expertise in project management, budgeting, scheduling, risk management, and program controls
Strong knowledge of Washington public works, maritime capital projects, alternative delivery methods (Design-Build and GC/CM), engineering and construction practices, and organizational leadership
Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and collaborate with terminal operators, tenants, business partners, and public stakeholders in a dynamic, politically sensitive environment
Communicate complex technical information clearly and effectively, tailoring messages to diverse audiences while maintaining strong coordination with the Department Director
Build trusted relationships across organizations by understanding diverse perspectives, fostering collaboration, expanding strategic partnerships, and developing high-performing teams
Effectively resolve complex project issues at the senior management level by collaborating across Port departments and with external stakeholders, including regulatory and funding agencies, terminal operators, tenants, community groups, and joint venture partners
Anticipate project, process, resource, and operational challenges, proactively implement solutions, and make timely, sound decisions while guiding critical issues through senior leadership and executive review
Skilled in planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating work of others as a second level manager
Effectively utilize and coordinate skills and resources of staff and consultants
Apply equity and exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices in all aspects of the work.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in construction management, architecture, engineering, business administration or environmental science
Certified as a Project Management Professional (PMP)
Certified as a Professional Engineer (PE)
Certified as a Registered Architect (RA)
Certified as a Certified Construction Manager (CCM)

Responsibilities

Lead all aspects in delivering a portfolio of multiple complex programs comprised of both capital and expense projects, including management of staff and consultants, to ensure the successful delivery of the Waterfront Capital Improvement Plan.
Lead, manage, and mentor multiple Capital Program Leaders and Senior Capital Project Managers who oversee staff and consultant teams delivering programs that may be highly complex, politically sensitive, subject to changing priorities, and require navigation of intricate funding structures and permitting processes.
Coordinate, communicate, anticipate, and resolve problems for capital and expense programs and projects in the assigned programs with senior management, executives, and Port Commission.
Identify and resolve conflicts between competing project goals (scope, schedule, budget), maritime operations, real estate portfolio management, planning, capital programs, project sponsors, and tenants.
Work through issues related to other goals and requirements (e.g. sustainability, diversity in contracting, workforce development) on individual projects and between projects, including those not directly under the control of the Assistant Director.
Partner with Waterfront Program Controls to monitor, manage, meet procedural and reporting requirements, and lead project performance to ensure internal and external customer, executive, and Port Commission expectations of scope, schedule, and budget are met or exceeded, while also meeting funding, contracting, procurement, and permitting requirements.
Lead department and division efforts to improve project delivery efficiency and effectiveness through development and implementation of process improvements within Waterfront Project Management Group and across Maritime Division, Economic Development, and Corporate.
Be a member of the department leadership team managing the effort to strategically staff and budget for the necessary resources, including both Port and consultant staff to deliver the Waterfront Capital Improvement Plan.
Be responsible for the development and succession planning for staff in their assigned programs and projects.
Lead programs that utilize public works alternative delivery methods such as Job-Order-Contracting (JOC), Design-Build, and/or General Contractor/Construction Manager (GC/CM).
Provide backup responsibilities as deputy to the department director for industry conferences and committees, public speaking engagements, Port-wide initiatives, and director’s out of office.