Executive Director

Nyc-Department-of-Design-and-Construction; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The Project Controls Division of the NYC Department of Design and Construction seeks an Executive Director to oversee risk management, integration of controls with delivery, and claims mitigation across DDC projects. In this role, you will ensure risk, cost, and schedule management are embedded in project delivery procedures to keep projects on time and within budget.

Reporting to the Associate Commissioner, you will establish governance, standardize procedures, lead claims avoidance

Qualifications

• Six years of full-time construction management on capital projects valued at least $300,000.
• At least 18 months in a managerial or consultative capacity in a construction org.
• Combination of education/experience per NY civil service criteria.
• New York license as professional engineer or registered architect (or reciprocal) may substitute.

Responsibilities

• Oversee integration of project controls with delivery, cost and schedule management.
• Develop governance standards, forms, and claims avoidance practices.
• Lead risk workshops, manage staff and consultants, provide mentorship.
• Prepare high‑level KPI reports for senior management.

Skills

Risk management

Project controls

Leadership

Contract administration

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or architecture

Tools

PM tools

Job description

Hours: Full-Time – 35 Hours Work Location: 30-30 Thomson Avenue, NY, 11101 Only candidates who are permanent in the Administrative Construction Project Manager title or those who are reachable on the DDC promotional list (exam #3523), or the open-competitive list (exam #3039) may apply. Please indicate a copy of your Notice of Result card or indicate if you are already permanent in the title. If you do not meet the previously mentioned civil service criteria, you will not be considered for an interview. The Project Controls Division of the Department of Design and Construction (DDC) is seeking a strategic and experienced Executive Director. Operating with wide latitude for independent judgment under the direction of the Associate Commissioner of Project Controls, the Executive Director will oversee the advancement of project risk management practices by integrating project controls with project delivery, improving contract administration, and mitigating construction claims across DDC projects. In this role, you will ensure risk, cost, and schedule management are seamlessly integrated with each other and embedded into the Agency's project delivery procedures, helping to optimize the allocation of schedules, budgets, and contingencies during front-end planning and subsequent execution phases to guarantee projects are delivered on time and within budget. Collaborating with project delivery divisions, you will establish policies and rigorous standards for construction management documents and data, standardizing forms, codifying claims avoidance best practices, and defining governance, process escalation, and the matrix of authority within project teams. The Executive Director establishes management standards for analyzing and documenting contractors’ entitlement to cost damages and time extensions, partners with delivery divisions design claims avoidance strategies and roadmaps, implements innovative procurement processes and technologies, and monitors compliance with all established procedures. Additionally, you will oversee the development of a curated historical knowledge base supported by root-cause analyses of construction claims, change orders, and time extensions to support risk identification, while monitoring construction project governance requirements as they relate to claims, disputes, issues, and risks. Serving as a high-level advisor to program and project delivery teams, you will direct consultants and project staff at the direction of the Division Head, facilitate risk workshops for major projects, manage and mentor direct reports, and deliver periodic training across divisions. Finally, as a key communicator for the Agency, you will prepare high-level KPI reports and presentations for senior management to track the success of mitigation efforts, foster productive, collaborative relationships with stakeholders across the Agency, and champion continuous improvements in claims avoidance. Please note: All candidates must be currently authorized to work full-time in the United States (U.S.). In compliance with Public Law 99-603, candidates are required to present original documents proving citizenship or the legal right to work in the U.S. DDC is unable to support or sponsor any visa application or visa extension, including but not limited to OPT/STEM visas, H-1B visas, F-1 practical training, permanent residence sponsorship, or any proposed change of visa type. DDC does not offer a training program as required by U.S. immigration law and is not hiring temporary employees. Candidates must have proper work authorization when an employment offer is made. Additionally, educational credentials must be from a U.S. Department of Education-recognized accredited institution. Credentials from foreign institutions require independent equivalency verification from an approved evaluation service. A list of providers (fees apply) is available at: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dcas/downloads/pdf/employment/nyc-dcas-foreign-education-evaluation-guide.pdf. ADMINISTRATIVE CONSTRUCTION PR - 82991

Minimum Qualifications

At least six years of full-time satisfactory experience in construction management work on capital projects, each one of which must have had a dollar value of at least $300,000, at least eighteen months of which must have been in a managerial or consultative capacity in an organization responsible for the management of construction; and a combination of the following, sufficient to equal a total of ten years of education and experience:

1. Full-time satisfactory experience in construction inspection on capital projects, each one of which must have had a dollar value of at least $300,000. One year of acceptable experience will be credited for each year of construction inspection experience up to a maximum of four years.
2. Full-time satisfactory experience in building construction as a journeyperson in one or more of the skilled building construction trades. One year of acceptable experience will be credited for each year of journeyperson experience up to a maximum of four years.
3. Education in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's degree in architecture, landscape architecture, or air pollution control, chemical, civil including structural and bridge design, electrical, mechanical, or sanitary engineering will be credited on the basis of 30 semester credits for one year of acceptable experience up to a maximum of four years.
4. A New York State license as a professional engineer or registered architect or a license as a professional engineer or registered architect from a state that has reciprocity with New York State may be substituted for the four years of education and experience described in '1', '2' and '3' above. However, all candidates must have at least six years of experience in construction management work described above, including at least eighteen months in a managerial or consultative capacity in an organization responsible for the management of construction.

License Requirements Possession of a Motor Vehicle Driver License valid in the State of New York. Employees must maintain the license during their employment.

Preferred Skills

Candidates should possess direct experience in schedule, cost, risk, and claims management, alongside significant experience working with modern project management tools and technologies. A proven track record in process improvement and change management is required, backed by a comprehensive knowledge of industry’s best practices. Candidates must demonstrate strong leadership, people management, and team‑building capabilities, as well as exceptional analytical skills coupled with excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication abilities.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55‑a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55‑a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.