About The Position

GFT is seeking a Design Plan Review Lead to join our Construction Management Team in Chicago, IL. This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our Chicago, IL office. At GFT, we’re not just engineering the future; we’re meticulously building it. Our comprehensive suite of construction and program management services reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, safety, innovation, and sustainability. Our construction management services are the cornerstone of our commitment to transforming communities and enhancing lives. We oversee every construction phase to help ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and to the highest safety and quality standards.

Requirements

  • Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management
  • Minimum of 8 years of experience
  • Experience in design, preparation of plan submittals, and plan review
  • Familiar with IDOT’s Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction
  • Ability to effectively communicate with others
  • Self-motivated, conscientious, and detail orientated
  • Comfortable interacting in a professional manner with agency representatives and design personnel
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office suite
  • Proficient with Bluebeam software to prepare and share comments
  • Highly motivated
  • Good communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Good organizational skills
  • Willingness to take on new challenges
  • Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral and diagram form

Nice To Haves

  • 10+ years’ progressive engineering experience in highway design is preferred
  • Professional Engineering (PE) License registered in IL
  • Experience leading a group of engineers
  • Prior experience includes work on projects with CDOT (Design & Construction) and IDOT Local Roads.
  • Knowledge of CDOT Rules & Regulations for work in the Public Right of Way
  • The desire to grow your knowledge, expertise, leadership skills, and relationships is desirable.
  • Local agency experience.

Responsibilities

  • Perform project management and engineering tasks related to the design of arterial roads, intersections, traffic signals, and other transportation projects.
  • Lead a team of subject matter experts required to review plans, specifications, cost estimates and schedules for transportation construction projects.
  • Attendance at meetings and interaction with clients should be expected.
  • Assist the client with project delivery by providing oversight for the completion of design projects.
  • Review engineering design tasks for highway projects from preliminary to final design.
  • Develop tracking log to review progress and deadlines and coordinate with design consultants, reviewers and project managers.
  • Review development of construction contract documents including plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
  • Establish working relationships and build relationships with client project managers.
  • Coordinate with sister agencies and stakeholders to ensure standard design requirements are utilized across all projects.
  • Ability to work in a multi-disciplined team to complete tasks within scope, schedule and budget.
  • Mentor and supervise other engineers in reviewing transportation construction plans.
  • Provide design quality assurance and engineering reviews for Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) design projects as part of the agency’s Quality Program Management Consultant Contract.
  • Work under and support the Design & Construction Project Support Manager.
  • Review current workflows and create/update workflows to manage review of plans, specifications, engineers estimates, construction schedules, and project milestones.
  • Review will include specification and material accuracy, consistency with City, State and Federal Standards.
  • Perform general constructability reviews of plans, schedule of quantities, and plan notes.
  • Work with others on the program, local agency Division and Section Leads, project managers, and design consultants to track and report on design progress, design review progress, and other critical milestones as determined by the local agency including anticipated advertisement, bid, and award dates.
  • Assist the client with developing, refining, and updating design guidelines, design standards, and other design manuals/guides.

Benefits

  • Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
  • Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
  • Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
  • Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
  • Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
  • Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
  • Incentive compensation for eligible positions.
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