Deputy Director-Cost Engineering

Salary range is $133k to $245k, with a midpoint of $189k. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint, however, we may go slightly higher based on experience, internal equity and market.

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including:

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner.
• Long-Term Disability and Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Retirement Plans: 401a - 10% of employee contribution with a 12% match by Sound Transit; 457b - up to IRS maximum (employee only contribution).
• Paid Time Off: Employees accrue 25 days of paid time off annually with increases at four, eight and twelve years of service. Employees at the director level and up accrue additional days. We also observe 12 paid holidays and provide up to 2 paid floating holidays and up to 2 paid volunteer days per year.
• Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave for new parents.
• Pet Insurance.
• ORCA Card: All full-time employees will receive an ORCA card at no cost.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Sound Transit will pay up to $5,000 annually for approved tuition expenses.
• Inclusive Reproductive Health Support Services.
• Compensation Practices: We offer competitive salaries based on market rates and internal equity. In addition to compensation and benefits, you'll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues.

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Under the general direction of the Director of Scheduling, Estimating, Risk & VE (SERVE), directs internal professional senior staff and external staff resources across all Sound Transit departments for the SERVE section of the CDD-Transformation Division in performing cost estimating, monitoring, updating, analysis, reporting and tracking; directs, manages, supervises and coordinates the activities and operations of a diverse cost engineering team; provides strategic and operational leadership to a team of cost engineers and consultant staff supporting the agency's capital program; directs, manages, supervises and provides process direction to external consultant staff providing cost estimating services for design, construction and operations activities; oversees consultant task orders, contracts, scopes of work, budgets, performance management, and deliverables related to cost engineering and estimating services; oversees and provides direction on tools and appropriate software models, policies, processes, and procedures for all Sound Transit capital programs and systems that support the Agency's capital program objectives and which delivers best practice results, added value, and continuous improvements; oversees and manages all contract, project and program construction cost estimates and databases; establishes and enforces enterprise-wide cost engineering standards, governance, QA/QC procedures, estimating protocols, benchmarking methodologies, and reporting frameworks; directs, manages, coaches, and develops both design and construction consultant cost estimating teams to support ST's capital program; and provides highly responsible administrative support to the Director of Scheduling, Estimating, Risk, & VE, and the Executive Director of Transformation CDD.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The following duties are a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• This position requires a highly effective manager with strong leadership skills capable of inspiring, motivating, coaching, earning and building equity and trust with a diverse workforce. Must be a solution-oriented, innovative leader with a strong foundation in managing with a positive attitude, resiliency and the ability to constructively deal with organizational and individual challenges in a manner that optimizes staff growth, collaboration, performance and teamwork.
• Manage, coach, train and develop senior level and junior agency cost engineer staff and coordinate work activities and work products of assigned staff, consultants, and contractors; and provide training and technical expertise and assistance as needed on policies and procedures related to area of assignment; take appropriate corrective action when necessary; develop development work plans for staff. Oversee workload prioritization, resource planning, succession planning, performance management, and professional development activities for assigned cost engineering personnel. Engages with the Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) team to coordinate and align 4D BIM models with construction schedules, ensuring conflicts are identified and resolved proactively.
• Provide support in managing consultant contracts relating to cost estimating, including scope development, negotiations, facilitation, and report development and presentation. Oversee procurement support, consultant selection, task order development, contract administration, budget monitoring, invoice review, and performance management for cost engineering and estimating consultant contracts.
• Provide training and technical guidance to project controls staff, Project Delivery Team managers, and other agency personnel on scheduling tools, methodologies, contract requirements, and organizational procedures.
• Participate in business development and preconstruction activities as requested, including proposal cost input and evaluation for alternative delivery procurements. Support procurement strategy development and commercial evaluations for Design-Build, GCCM/CMGC, Progressive Design-Build, and other alternative delivery methods.
• Serve as staff on a variety of committees as assigned; prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence; maintain awareness of new trends and developments in cost engineering/estimating practice and incorporate new methodologies as appropriate.
• Direct, manage, and coordinate the development and implementation of robust and best industry-standard cost estimating practice, tools and appropriate software models, vision, strategy, policies, processes and procedures for the entire Sound Transit capital program.
• Utilize best cost estimating techniques, methodologies and tools to prepare and oversee preparation of comprehensive project cost estimates at different stages of project design, from preliminary through final design document development; ensures the full integration of scope, schedule, costs, risk, and resources consistent with AACE International recommended practices and FTA guidance where applicable. Coordinate closely with Project Delivery Teams to validate scope assumptions, delivery strategies, constructability considerations, procurement approaches, and project execution risks throughout all phases of project development and delivery.
• Supervise the preparation of detailed total cost estimates based on conceptual design submittals, 30% to 100% complete design drawings and specifications including total project estimate compilation, cost estimate presentation and reporting, back up documentation, and assumption and basis of the estimates; ensure professional and consistent cost engineering management processes are applied including estimate classification, estimate basis documentation, peer review, and QA/QC validation procedures.
• Manage the preparation of detailed independent cost estimates (ICE) for construction changes for all work category disciplines; coordinate with design groups, site construction manager and visits jobsite to determine actual change conditions and confirms scope as required; prepare cost impact analysis related to the contract potential and/or directed change orders, and for comparison with cost trending analysis, and tracking; and recommend pricing thresholds to the Project Delivery Teams and senior management. Provide executive-level guidance and recommendations regarding commercial risk exposure, change negotiations, and settlement strategies, as requested.
• Supervise the preparation of cost estimates for funding agreements (BCE) and conversion of cost estimates to the required federal transit administration (FTA) formats for funding and grant request submittals.
• Lead and coordinate the reviews and analysis of consultant estimates, from preliminary engineering through final design; at final submittal, adjust consultant estimate to add addendum changes, cost escalation, contingencies and provisional sum costs for risk impacts; issue as engineer estimate at bid; integrate cost estimates with the schedule to build stronger cost and schedule models, and expand their use from design to also monitor the construction projects. Ensure estimate consistency, benchmarking validation, market alignment, and compliance with Agency estimating standards across all projects and programs. Collaborate with Project Delivery Teams to align estimate assumptions, phasing strategies, construction sequencing, and delivery methodologies with project objectives and execution plans.
• Provide support in managing consultant contracts relating to cost estimating and value engineering, including scope development, negotiations, facilitation, and report development and presentation to management, CCB, and ST Board.
• Coordinate and attend meetings with design groups, cost consultants, third parties, ST construction management, consultant construction management and contractors to determine scope and discuss costs for various projects and to resolve scope and costs for proposed changes.
• Monitor current construction market prices and develop historical cost database; and continually maintain database based to reflect current market conditions/prices.
• Provide strategic and operational information and reports to share with others as and when required, and ensure appropriate monitoring, reporting systems and procedures are in place to meet objectives.
• Work with ST Finance Department in the development of reliable cost escalation indices and ensure they are appropriately applied to cost estimates, review and analyze economic and local market trends and assesses risks and cost implications to the capital program. Provide strategic advisement to executive leadership regarding market volatility, escalation trends, labor availability, procurement conditions, and supply chain impacts affecting program delivery costs.
• Oversee and provide direct lead, as required, in forensic cost estimate analysis; independently perform delay analysis using recognized methodologies including Windows Analysis, Collapsed As-Built, and Measured Mile Impact (MIP) as appropriate to the facts and circumstances of each event. Serve as one of the Department's senior technical authority and subject matter expert in cost engineering, cost estimating, cost claims analysis, and forensic cost evaluation.
• Oversee and provide direct lead in the analysis of contractor claims and delay requests to determine entitlement; distinguish between compensable, excusable, and non-excusable delays; identify concurrent delay and its impact on contractor entitlement.
• Oversee and prepare clear, well-documented estimate basis and narratives and forensic reports in support of dispute resolution, negotiation, and litigation; coordinate with legal counsel, claims consultants, and expert witnesses as required. May provide technical support and expert analysis in mediation, dispute review boards (DRBs), arbitration, litigation, or other formal dispute resolution proceedings.
• Advise Project Delivery Team and contracts staff on claims avoidance strategies; identify cost-related risks and trends early and develop proactive mitigation measures to reduce the Agency's exposure.
• Analyze project correspondence, RFIs, submittals, meeting minutes, and change order documentation for cost implications; provide contractual interpretation and assessment of cost consequences.
• Oversee and prepare as required cost risk models; assist in Monte Carlo simulation to produce probability-based cost/budget forecasts (P65/P80 outcomes) in support of contingency management and program reporting. Participate in the implementation of enterprise contingency management methodologies and risk-informed forecasting practices, as requested.
• Integrate risk register inputs with cost risk models; develop and maintain contingency drawdown curves and report cost risk exposure to program leadership on a regular basis.
• Perform scenario modeling for scope changes, third-party delays, permitting risks, and other program-level uncertainties; present findings and recommended actions to project and executive leadership.
• Oversee and direct the preparation and presentation of monthly cost status reports for Project Delivery Teams, the Program Management Oversight Consultant (PMOC), and executive leadership; provide clear, accurate, and defensible cost analysis and narratives. Present complex cost and commercial risk information to executive leadership and other stakeholders, as required.
• Analyze cost trends and earned value data to produce cost-at-completion projections and forecasted end-date analyses; recommend corrective actions to address cost increases or emerging claims. In collaboration with the Project Delivery Teams, participate in the development of recovery strategies, mitigation plans, and corrective action recommendations for projects experiencing adverse cost or commercial performance trends, as requested.
• Contributes cost data to project dashboards and program-level reporting tools; support development and continuous improvement of cost engineering/estimating standards, templates, and procedures.
• Coordinate cost activities with Project Delivery Team staff, design consultants, third-party agencies, and contractors; ensure cost integration across multiple concurrent contracts.
• Champions and models Sound Transits core values and demonstrates values-based behaviors in everyday interactions across the agency.
• Contributes to a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with Sound Transit's Equity & Inclusion Policy.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to follow the Agency safety rules, regulations, and procedures pertaining to their assigned duties and responsibilities, which could include systems, operations, and/or other employees.
• It is the responsibility of all employees to integrate sustainability into everyday business practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: Bachelors degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field; Six years of experience in construction and project cost management on major capital programs, including demonstrated experience in contractor estimate review, forensic delay analysis, and claims defense in an owner or owner's representative capacity, including direct management and supervision of professional cost engineering staff and consultant teams; Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Four years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Certified Estimating Professional (CEP) of Certified Cost Professional (CCP) certification issued by AACE International is preferred.
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM) or Project Management Professional (PMP) is preferred.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of cost estimating strategies, techniques, theory and industry best practices for major capital infrastructure programs.
• Resources used for cost estimating including software-based systems such as HCMS, WinEst, MS Excel, Crystal Ball, and Acumen. Knowledge of cost management systems, data analytics tools, enterprise reporting systems, and integrated project controls platforms is highly desirable.
• Principles of concurrent delay, delay entitlement, and compensability in a construction contract context.
• Construction with field and bid knowledge in construction methods, labor productivities, work processes, equipment types/usage, estimating of work activities, judgment related to incidental cost impacts, owner/general contractor/subcontractor contract relationships and claim analysis.
• Quantitative schedule risk analysis, including Monte Carlo simulation techniques and probability-based schedule forecasting.
• Earned value management concepts and application to schedule and cost performance measurement.
• 4D BIM methodologies and the integration of construction cost estimates with virtual design and construction models.
• Construction methods, sequencing, and means and methods for civil infrastructure, transit, rail, utilities, and related project types.
• Principles and practices of claims avoidance, change management, and dispute resolution in public capital program environments.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations applicable to public agency capital programs.
• Recognized forensic delay analysis methodologies, including Windows Analysis, Time Impact Analysis (TIA), Collapsed As-Built, and Measured Mile Impact (MIP).
• Principles of project controls integration, including the relationship between cost, schedule, and risk.
• Highly skilled communicator with the ability to form and maintain good relationships internally and externally.
• Proven management skills with the ability to optimize team performance and development across staff and consultant teams supporting large, complex capital programs.
• Managing and coordinating formalized cost and schedule integration, tracking, and mitigation processes related to the activities of strategic risk assessment.
• Highly developed analytical skills.
• Strong technical mindset and able to read and interpret technical data and translate to others.
• Highly numerate with the ability to research, assemble, manage, and manipulate numerical information.
• Results orientated and organized with the ability to plan and deliver against deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail skills.
• Utilizing personal computer software programs affecting assigned work and in compiling and preparing spreadsheets and reports.
• Applying appropriate oral and written communication techniques to various individuals.
• Preparing and analyzing complex data and comprehensive reports.
• Leading and delegating daily tasks, communicating, and providing feedback and work direction to assigned staff/consultants.
• Communicating complex schedule and claims analysis findings clearly and persuasively to technical and non-technical audiences, including legal counsel, executive leadership, contractors, and oversight agencies.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with contractors, consultants, regulatory agencies, and internal stakeholders.
• Leading and mentoring junior cost engineering and estimating staff; providing direction, feedback, and technical development.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Power BI or equivalent data visualization tools, and collaborative project management platforms.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience on programs exceeding $500 million in total value is strongly preferred. Experience with Design-Build, CM/GC, or other alternative delivery methods is highly desirable.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed in a hybrid environment with an expectation of working in office a minimum of 3 days per week.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.