Construction Director

Salary range is $133K to $237K with a midpoint of $185K. Total compensation includes project-based premiums that reflect project complexity, political sensitivity, size, and strategic importance. New hires typically receive between minimum and midpoint of the base range, however, we may go 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.
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 general direction of the Executive Project Director or Deputy Executive Project Director, leads and directs construction management activities for assigned delivery team while ensuring consistent application of agency construction management practices and procedures. Provides strategic leadership in construction management while maintaining direct delivery responsibility for complex transit infrastructure projects. Coordinates with Project Directors and other technical disciplines lead to ensure successful project delivery.
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.

Promotes quality and safety awareness and adherence to safety policies and procedures; ensures construction contracts comply with safety certification requirements.
Assist the Executive Project Director or Deputy Executive Project Director by providing direct oversight, direction, monitoring, tracking, and reporting of the construction contracts, activities, status, and issues with the objectives of delivering a quality project safely, on schedule and within budget.
Have accountability for construction budget and schedule, cost forecasting and change order management, managing interfaces between construction contractors and developing work around plans to maintain schedule.
Administer and direct the activities of Principal Construction Managers and Construction Managers assigned to the project, to maintain schedule, budget, constructability, and commercial clarity.
Works closely with the Design Director to ensure seamless design‑construction integration, resolve design issues, maintain constructability, and align design progression with field conditions and delivery method requirements.
Partners with the Commercial Director to support commercial strategy, contract administration, negotiations, risk management, change management, and dispute resolution
Prepare and lead discussions and presentations on construction strategies, status, and issues to the Executive Project Director, Capital Delivery Department leadership, the Sound Transit CEO, the Sound Transit Board, municipalities, King County, WSDOT, community groups, and federal agencies including the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration.
Manage construction contract issues to resolution; lead contractor negotiations for contracts, change orders, and claims in collaboration with the Commercial Director.
Plans, directs, coordinates, reviews, and assesses the work of assigned staff, consultants, and contractors; assigns and monitors work activities and coordinates schedules, projects, and programs; provides constructive feedback; reviews and provides input on work evaluations of matrixed staff, and makes and implements effective suggestions and recommendations to Project and Delivery Team leadership.
Assembles, directs, and oversees major corridor construction management consisting of staff and consultants to ensure achievement of key project milestones and quality within the project budget.
Manages the workflow and prioritization of work and measures the performance of the project scope, schedule, and budget; manages staff and consultants and takes appropriate corrective action when necessary; provides advice and counsel to staff and the Project leadership; develops work plans, budgets, and schedules for staff, consultant, and contractor work.
Supports the community outreach and public information effort(s) applicable to the Project and to the Agency in general; responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive stakeholder and project partner inquiries and complaints.
Serves as the liaison with Agency Board members, elected officials, the media, local community groups, and the general public regarding program design and implementation; and conducts regular briefings to the Board(s) on Program status.
Provides policy and staff assistance to Project leadership; summarizes and analyzes program issues and provides recommendations on strategies to resolve these issues; recommends and implements modifications to functional areas, policies, standards, and procedures as appropriate; and conducts follow-up to ensure that the issues have been resolved and that the project remains on schedule.
Attracts, manages, develops, and engages a high performing, diverse project team including hiring, performance management, and training of staff.
Champions and models Sound Transit's 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: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management or closely related field required. Eight years of progressively responsible experience in construction management of large, complex transit/transportation projects. with various alternate project delivery methods (GCCM, Design-Build, Progressive Design/Build.) Or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Six years of leadership, budgetary, planning and workforce management experience.
Required Licenses Or Certifications

Valid Washington state driver’s license. This role will perform inspections on active construction sites, stations, and facilities, including locations that are not currently served by transit. Driving an agency vehicle will be necessary to monitor construction tasks and respond to emergent situations at any time of day, within assigned projects and project corridors.
Preferred Licenses Or Certifications

Professional Civil Engineer license issued by the State of Washington or Certified Construction Manager (CCM).
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Required Knowledge And Skills

Advanced knowledge of construction management principles, practices, and techniques for major transit infrastructure projects
Demonstrated expertise in large-scale building, civil and systems construction
Strong knowledge and experience of alternate delivery approaches, including Design‑Build, Progressive Design‑Build, and/or GCCM, and contract structures
Experience with public sector construction and relevant regulations
Expert knowledge of construction safety requirements and quality management systems
Accountability: Leads by example, demonstrating the behaviors, work ethic, focus, and determination expected from the team; Establishes clear performance metrics (KPIs), regularly shares progress against metrics, holds team members accountable for results, and addresses performance gaps to ensure continuous improvement
Communication: Demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills; effectively conveys complex technical, commercial, and construction information to Executive Leadership, the Sound Transit Board, partner agencies, contractors, and community stakeholders.
Balances Stakeholders: Demonstrates understanding internal and external stakeholder requirements, expectations, and needs; Able to balance the interests of multiple stakeholders; Acts fairly despite conflicting demands of stakeholders
Strong Decision Making: Makes sound decisions, even in the absence of complete information; Relies on a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment when making decisions; Considers all relevant factors and uses appropriate decision-making criteria and principles; Recognizes when a quick 80% solution will suffice
Collaboration: Works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including design, commercial, construction management, consultants, and contractors and with others across the organization to achieve shared objectives; Represents own interests while being fair to others and their areas; Partners with others to get work done; Credits others for their contributions and accomplishments; Gains trust and support of others
Leads Through Ambiguity: Deals comfortable with the uncertainty of change; Leads teams through change(s) and challenges with confidence, addressing resistance and fostering adaptability; Effectively handles risk; Can decide and act without the total picture; Is calm and productive, even when things are up in the air; Deals constructively with problems that do not have clear solutions or outcomes
Results Orientation: Has a strong bottom-line orientation; Persists in accomplishing objectives despite obstacles and setbacks; Demonstrated track record of exceeding goals successfully; Pushes self and helps others achieve results
Developing Talent: Places high priority on developing others through coaching, feedback, exposure, and stretch assignments; Aligns employee career development goals with organizational objectives; Encourages people to accept developmental moves
Directing Others: Advanced skill in providing clear directions and accountabilities; Delegating and distributing assignments and decisions appropriately; Monitoring progress and maintaining open dialogue on work and results; Providing appropriate guidance, direction and discipline; Intervening as needed to remove obstacles, redirect activity as needed
Customer Focus: Gains insight into customer needs; Identifies opportunities that benefit the customer; Builds and delivers solutions that meet customer expectations; Establishes and maintains effective customer relationships.
Drives Engagement: Structures the work so it aligns with people’s goals; Empowers others; Makes each person feel his/her contributions are important; Invites input and shares ownership and visibility; Shows a clear connection between people’s motivators and the organizational goals
Resourcefulness: Marshals resources (people, funding, material, support) to get things done; Orchestrates multiple activities simultaneously to accomplish a goal; Gets the most out of limited resources; Applies knowledge of internal structures, processes, and culture to resourcing efforts
Physical Demands / Work Environment

Work is performed in an office and field environment.
Positions working in field may occasionally be exposed to dangerous machinery, extreme weather conditions, physical harm, hazardous chemicals, and/or extreme noise.
This position is responsible for working on active construction sites; May be subject to bending, crawling, eye/hand coordination, grasping, hearing, kneeling, pushing, pulling, reaching, repetitive motion, seeing, sitting, standing, talking, walking, and carrying and lifting of objects up to 50 pounds.
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.