At TriMet, our mission is to connect people with mobility options that are safe, convenient, reliable, accessible, and welcoming for all. We are seeking a strategic, visionary, and operational leader for our Capital Project Delivery division within the newly established Strategy and Planning Office. As the Executive Director of Capital Project Delivery, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of public transit in the Portland-Metro Region. This role offers a unique opportunity to oversee the delivery of a growing number of state of good repair and major capital projects for highly complex, multi-modal transportation services, while developing capacity and processes that enable results.

We’re looking for a values-oriented, collaborative leader who will help lead the agency in focusing on critical state of good repair needs to restore and sustain our system while making necessary and innovative improvements and enhancements to existing systems and facilities. The successful candidate will direct, deliver, evaluate, and continuously improve the effectiveness of project development, design, engineering, and construction program management systems, processes, policies, standards, and practices.

Key Responsibilities Will Include:
•Successful planning and delivery of critical Agency projects, both new construction and state of good repair.
•Understanding and optimizing organizational structure and design to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness with the public’s dollars.
•Comfort with navigating changing landscapes and ambiguity, coupled with the ability to make tough, impactful business decisions.
•Influencing and aligning various stakeholders, including internal teams, external partners, consultants, and governmental partners, to further the agency’s priorities and objectives.
•Being a trusted and respected leader who supports and drives the success of your team, embodying and promoting agency values at all levels.

For our part, we’ll provide a talented and dedicated team, a long history of successful and award-winning projects, a human-friendly work environment, supportive and collaborative leadership, and plenty of opportunities to learn, grow and thrive (not to mention a very competitive salary and benefit package). Here’s your chance to build the infrastructure that will carry the Portland area into the future. We invite you to join TriMet’s industry-leading team and help keep our community moving! 

Why Portland?
Portland stands out with its vibrant community, lush green spaces, and a commitment to sustainability, and is known for its friendly neighborhoods, famous culinary scene, and ample cultural attractions and events. Surrounded on all sides by the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, you will also find an abundance of outdoor activities from hiking and winter sports in the Cascade Mountains, touring world class wine regions in the Willamette Valley, to walking along Pacific Coast beaches, all within a short drive.

Must have the ability to work any days, hours, or shifts as required and be available as needed to respond to emergencies as it relates to Capital Project Delivery.

Ensure a commitment to safety and regulatory compliance through effective leadership, training, role modeling and implementing practices that demonstrate safety is a fundamental value and a priority in all aspects of work. 

Serve as a good steward of TriMet by regularly utilizing our transit system to maintain a strong and current understanding of customers’ experiences and of TriMet’s product and service offerings.  

Forbes Magazine recently ranked TriMet as one of the top five places to work in Oregon! TriMet is ranked the number one Oregon-based employer in the state, as well as the top “Transportation and Logistics” employer in the state. 

 

Essential Functions

1. Serve as a strategic leader, thought partner, and technical advisor to the CSPO and serve on the Strategy & Planning leadership team and the TriMet executive leadership team.
2. Provide leadership to and management of the Capital Project Delivery team, with a focus on performance, delivery and collaboration across the agency.
3. Work alongside capital planning and asset management functions to be a leader and champion of asset management for the agency, developing, managing, and maintaining a state of good repair program to restore, sustain and maintain the existing systems and facilities, and where improvements and enhancements are necessary based upon current and projected needs.
4. Provide strategic and engineering oversight to the simultaneous project development, design, permitting and construction of a large and diverse portfolio of both small capital and major capital construction projects for the organization.
5. Develop, plan, set priorities, budgets, and schedules in the following major functional areas: Transit Project Engineering & Design, Construction Management, Major Construction and Equipment Procurement, Federal Transit Administration, Grant and Program Management, Contract Negotiation and Intergovernmental Agreements.
6. Control, monitor, and approve budgets and operational forecasts for the division, including capital expenditures, labor resources, materials, and supplies. Identify opportunities for containing costs, and may be responsible for increasing revenue.
7. Define project objectives, including performance, cost, and schedule. Develop, track, monitor and maintain project schedule(s), budget(s), risk, and performance on active projects and regularly report status to the CSPO, General Manager, and the agency on progress.
8. Direct the activities and operations of the Capital/Grant Compliance Control including capital financial systems management, grant/funding agreement compliance, and authorized capital budget administration.
9. Plan, organize, implement, and monitor all aspects of established safety and security policies, procedures, and programs to mitigate risk.
10. Maintain solid working relationships and interact with various government agencies responsible for planning and funding/financing capital transit projects. Prepare and present public information updates for community meetings, political leaders, and staff as a representative of TriMet.
11. Build networks and relationships within other transit and transportation organizations/agencies, government agencies, public and private institutions, consortiums, businesses, and communities and collaborate with those groups to develop successful short and long-term programs.

Twelve (12) years of total credited experience.*

Twelve (12) years of experience in a senior management position with an emphasis on project management, transportation, transit or rail development are required.

A Professional Engineering license is desirable.

About TriMet

TriMet provides bus, light rail and commuter rail service in the Portland, Oregon, region. Our transportation options connect people with their community, while easing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution — making our region a better place to live.

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