DIRECTOR of CONSTRUCTION - University of Washington

Req #: 233459 Department: UW FACILITIES: PROJECT DELIVERY GROUP Appointing Department Web Address: https://facilities.uw.edu/ Posting Date: 04/17/2024 Closing Info: Open Until Filled Salary: $13,260 - $15,859 per month Shift: First Shift Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. (https://hr.uw.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2018/02/benefits-professional-staff-librarians-academic-staff-20230119\_a11y.pdf) As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. UW Facilities (UWF) manages the University's buildings, infrastructure, and land, with more than 1,100 employees in a variety of fields. The Asset Management group includes Capital & Space Management, Real Estate, Sustainability, and other teams responsible for planning and workload management. The Operations group includes Project Delivery, Maintenance & Construction, Campus Utilities & Operations, Building Services, Transportation Services and Safety. Supporting these groups, as well as the separate Emergency Management team, are the Business Intelligence & Information Technology group and the Finance & Administration group. Please visit UW Facilities web page for more information: UW Facilities . The Project Delivery Group (PDG) is comprised of an executive director, directors, project and construction managers, contract manager and administrators, design, and construction partners, within the Asset Management unit in UW Facilities. The PDG is responsible for the delivery of capital projects that help fulfill the University's teaching, research, health care and innovation mission. From concept to completion to transition to occupancy, PDG leads the planning, design and construction required to execute and successfully complete projects ranging from small remodels to new buildings. As respected industry leaders, PDG brings experience, knowledge, a collaborative mindset, and a focus on client service to comprehensively manage all aspects of the different project delivery methods including critical patient care rosters, job order contracting, design-bid-build, GCCM, design-build and public/private partnerships. The Project Delivery Group (PDG) has an outstanding opportunity for a **Director of Construction** . Reporting directly to the Executive Director of PDG, the Director of Construction serves as the operational leader for construction operations and safety, and is accountable for the planning, coordination, and overall execution of construction operations for all projects assigned and for the Safety Program of PDG at the University of Washington's Facilities. Under the general guidance of the Executive Director, and in close collaboration with the Construction Program Manager, the Director of Construction and Safety oversees the execution of construction phase activities, including execution of contracts and vendor selections, personnel, and resource management. This role ensures best practices in construction schedule and budget management; advances the use of practices; oversees best-in-class enforcement and improvement of quality assurance, commissioning, and close-out protocols. The Director of Construction will further lead the overall operational success of the Safety Program and integrate safety practices and culture. This position will drive cultural change and continuous improvement through the development and execution of a comprehensive program aligned with UWF policies and guidelines, working closely with PDG staff and relevant partners at UW Risk Services, UW Facilities Employee Safety, UW Environmental Health and Safety. Construction operations is the practice of how the UW's PDG engages its Construction Managers (CM's) and works with construction partners to make UW a world-class organization in capital project delivery and safety. Operations include how PDG administers the execution of projects, how it gives directions in the field, how it interacts with construction and design teams in the field, how it processes change orders, etc. Additionally, how it prepares for and responds to incidents, how it captures and uses lessons learned, and after-action reports. The Director of Construction may also play a role in the design of projects through encouraging use of methodologies such as Prevention through Design (PtD). **Position Responsibilities** [40%] Construction Operations - Drive operation efficiencies and excellence using measurable metrics aligned with the ones developed for PDG. - Support departmental efforts and priorities in the development of the Major and Minor Capital program; advise on expansion, modernization, and innovative modifications, working in concert with other campus facilities professionals. - Review the standards, policies and procedures associated with the successful implementation and execution of complex, overlapping construction projects. - Drive impact of construction against targets. Champions Construction principles, tools, and practices to improve efficiency and reduce waste. - Identify institutional policies and/or practices that affect facilities' construction and ensure productive resolution of problems. - Engage with relevant UWF business partners, University officials, regulatory agencies, and support personnel to identify, plan, and mitigate any impacts to campus operations. - Distribute accurate information to the correct people on time; recognizes liabilities and potential problems, prepares, and presents timely recommendations to appropriate officials and decision makers and ensures change orders for construction services are warranted and properly scoped and priced. - Provide budget input to the Executive Director for staffing, tools, training, and the needs of the Safety program. - Offer a record of accomplishment for creating hands-on, resourceful solutions, and seeks out process improvement opportunities. - Oversee performance of multiple project construction management firms, while maintaining an awareness of subcontractor trade performance, to make sure that all contractual obligations and codes of conduct are being followed. - Visit project sites to ensure job site safety practices, appearance and workmanship meet company expectations. [20%] Safety Program - Develop and oversee a robust safety program, policies, and procedures for the PDG. - Develop safety performance objectives for CM staff and operational areas for a high achieving outcome. Develop and maintain leading and trailing safety metrics and measurement systems. Identify "Safety Best Practices" and communicate for implementation. - Establish, update, and maintain a comprehensive database on all assigned projects and report to the Executive Director on safety issues. - Meet or exceed established goals through the development and execution of Annual Safety Plan and related goals aligned with PDG's mission and values. Analyzes and tracks results, reports to the Executive Director on overall metrics vs. goals. - Act as safety resource for all PDG construction projects. - Champion safety and compliance issues throughout the entire organization. Foster and encourage a safety-first mentality and be a resource to guide the CM team to success. - Require and enforce compliance with applicable OSHA, WISHA laws and rules as well as University policies and procedures. - Proactively maintain knowledge of current OSHA & and industry standards, regulations and construction safety practices and policies to remain current on laws impacting areas of responsibility for compliance with industry requirements and Federal, State and Local regulations. - Coordinate as needed with other Directors and the Construction Program Managers to verify project safety milestones and specific goals; tracks and objectively evaluates progress toward goals and, when appropriate, implements appropriate remedial solutions. - Report to the Executive Director on outstanding RCI improvement items to help UWF learn from past experiences and develop strategies to improve our safety, quality and performance. - Recommend and assist in implementing strategies, initiatives, programs, policies or procedures that produce injury-free performance for employees and contractors. - Develop new and innovative safety techniques and programs, such as PtD. - Lead investigations of incidents, near misses, and complaints regarding unsafe or unhealthy working conditions or practices and drives them to satisfactory resolution. Conducts audits utilizing UWF approved systems and analyzes trends, metrics, reports, and incident data. - Identify needs and help develop employee training programs, including EHS-related training, OSHA training, and operational training. - Continually work to identify operational gaps against regulatory framework. Utilize inspections, audits, incidents, and other pertinent information to identify ongoing safety risks and challenges. Convey information to the Executive Director on a risk-based approach. - Facilitates the exchange of health and safety related information within the CM team, and across operational groups to include best practices, newly identified risks, preventive and corrective measures, compliance related to regulation, and internal standards. [15%] Organizational Leadership and Engagement - Report to and advise on the best construction and safety practices. - Regularly interact with internal and external stakeholders, with safety professionals, with major local, regional, and national public and private entities to share and learn best practices. - Report to the Executive Director of PDG on status, progress, risks, and opportunities of project execution. - Engage contractor safety directors and representatives in the cooperative development of university construction projects safety objectives. - Lead or support strategic initiatives identified by the Executive Director or as a member of the PDG Leadership Team. - Identify needs and assist in process improvement initiative and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). - Ensure coordination with related service entities at the University and with City and State agencies and regulators to maximize operations and ensure compliance with applicable regulations and objectives. - Implement strategies to increase the engagement of all staff in and safety initiatives. - Participate in and serve as may be required on University Committees and UW Facilities / Asset Management initiatives. - Initiate and maintain strategic partnerships with UW centers of research and administrative units (e.g., College of Built Environment's CM Department, EH&S Department). - Build working relationships with OSHA, Environmental Protection Agency, and other regulatory agencies to promote the safety program to manage regulatory exposures and OSHA citations. - Visit field operations regularly to reinforce a strong safety culture to include positive reinforcement for compliance and disciplinary actions for non-compliance as needed. [15%] Human Resources - Develop a team of Construction Managers with a strong focus on communication and collaboration, operational effectiveness, and safety. - Lead, coach, and grow the knowledge, skills, and career growth of the Construction Managers. - Supervise and evaluate performance of staff directly reporting to this position. - Work in cooperation with the Executive Director and the Construction Program Manager to recruit and hire construction managers. - Assess current and future workload needs flowing to and from the CM team. - Work in coordination with the Executive Director to develop and implement strategies and programs to improve the hiring, retention, and professional development of staff. - Ensure consistent approach and implementation of projects, consistent training and evaluation of CM staff and assignments. - Conduct and oversee investigations of employee grievances and complaints as required. [5%] Supporting Responsibilities - Champion the University diversity/equity/inclusion goals in every dimension of the role. - Maintain awareness of, and champion enhancements to, industry leading practices related to enhanced project delivery (e.g., principles). - Emphasize and ensure that every customer has an exceptional experience and everybody on the team realizes they are responsible for enhancing the customer experience. - Make effective presentations to groups with disparate levels of technical knowledge of construction and safety. - Represent PDG as needed with internal, external, or organizational constituencies. [5%] Other - Perform other duties, as assigned. **Core Competencies** - Demonstrate personal integrity and trustworthiness. - Manage stressful situations and changing priorities effectively. - Anticipate, recognize, and resolve problems. - Be responsible and accountable. - Use organizational skills and attention to details. - Maintain a positive, optimistic, and success-oriented attitude. - Exercise professionalism, which includes being tactful and courteous. - Exhibit a professional work ethic. - Continuously promote a safe work environment. - Demonstrate the ability to implement programs and influence management in the delivery of a low injury frequency rate or zero injury performance. - Demonstrate the ability to develop and implement leading edge safety and health programs. - Demonstrate thorough understanding of safety regulations, concepts, and integration procedures within construction and general industry. - Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate at all levels of the organization. - Excellent presentation skills. **Requirements include:** - Bachelor's degree of Science in Engineering, Construction Management, or Architecture and a minimum of 9+ years of related and progressively responsible work experience. - OSHA 30 certification. - Proficient and comfortable with technology-based project management systems and software such as MS Office (MS Project, Excel, Word, Outlook, etc.), Bluebeam, Smartsheet, PM Web. - Possession of a valid Washington State driver's license. - Proven senior leadership skills leading, driving, motivating a team while holding managers accountable. - Experience working in a high-volume environment. - Experience managing projects in occupied and operating facilities. Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. **Desired:** - Master's degree of Science in Engineering, Construction Management, or Architecture - Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. - Experience in the institutional/governmental/public works sector. - 40-hour OSHA HAZWOPER certification. - OSHA 501 trainer certification. **Conditions of Employment:** - Must be able to work in a non-smoking environment. - Regular and predictable attendance is required. Application Process: **You will be asked to submit a cover letter AND your response (in a separate "Cover Letter Assessment" to the following (limited to 7900 characters):"We would like to know more about your experience with diversity, race and equity, and social justice. Please tell us about your experience engaging and working with diverse communities - particularly in the context of your professional, volunteer, or civic work. Please also address efforts you have made or been involved with to foster diversity competence and understanding."** The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your "My Jobs" page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. **Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.** University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.