Deputy Director-Cost Engineering

Sound Transit; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 133,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Long-Term Disability and LifeInsurance

Employee Assistance Program

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Parental leave

Tuition reimbursement

ORCA card

Pet insurance

Job summary

Sound Transit is seeking a senior cost engineering leader to direct a team across the SERVE section, overseeing cost estimating, monitoring, and reporting for major capital programs.

You will implement cost engineering standards, guide contractor interactions, and ensure integration with schedule and risk management across the agency. A strong background in estimates, analytics, and leadership is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field with six years in major capital programs.
• Experience in contractor estimate review, delay analysis, and claims defense in owner or owner's representative capacity.
• Leadership and supervision of cost engineering staff and consultants; strong budgeting and planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct internal and external cost engineering staff across Sound Transit departments.
• Oversee cost estimating, monitoring, updating, analysis, and reporting for the SERVE section.
• Develop and enforce cost engineering standards, QA/QC procedures, and benchmarking across programs.

Skills

Cost estimating

Project cost management

Delay analysis

Earned value

Schedule risk analysis

Leadership

Communication

Data analytics

4D BIM integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Tools

HCMS

WinEst

MS Excel

Crystal Ball

Acumen

Job description

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.

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. With a preference of ten years demonstrated progressive experience in the construction and project cost management field. Four years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.

Preferred 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.