Resilience & Sustainable Design Unit Manager

Description

About the Role

Join one of the most diverse and innovative engineering planning and design teams with multiple specialties within the transportation sector.

The Port Authority is seeking a forward-thinking and experienced professional to serve as the Resilience & Sustainable Design Unit Manager within the Engineering Department.

This leadership role is responsible for leading a specialized unit that supports the agency's mission to integrate sustainability and resilience into the planning, design, and execution of infrastructure projects across all Port Authority facilities, including airports, tunnels, bridges, ports, and rail transit systems.

In partnership with key agency stakeholders, the Resilience & Sustainable Design (RSD) unit plays a critical role in advancing the Port Authority's sustainability and climate resilience goals. RSD develops and implements design standards, specifications, procedures, and policies that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize waste, conserve natural resources, and improve regional air and water quality. To support the agency's long-term safety and security priorities, RSD also leads efforts to evaluate current and emerging climate-related risks.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-specialized team of PA staff and on-site consultants to provide engineering support for the Resilience and Sustainability goals and objectives for the Port Authority.
• Direct two core programs (Sustainable Design and Resilience) to establish goals, strategies, deliverables, advance standards of practice, and ensure successful implementation from capital planning through design and construction.
• Guide the integration and update of RSD guidelines, standards, specifications, and resources to achieve alignment with scientific and industry advancements and innovative strategies.
• Oversee the capital project and Tenant Alteration Application design review processes to ensure that RSD guidelines and practices and Tenant Construction Review Manual requirements are properly integrated throughout the project design and delivery lifecycle and that performance is documented at the project and program levels.
• Represent the Engineering Department as a subject matter expert on high-impact, multi-year special initiatives in support of the agency's Sustainability and Net Zero Policy and climate risk reduction goals, including climate risk reduction strategies and facility decarbonization roadmaps.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to develop tools and resources to enhance the efficacy of project teams and incubate and launch innovation pilots to expedite the adoption of emerging technologies, building materials, and best practices.
• Oversee implementation and routine update of the PA's Green Infrastructure Design Manual and coordinate with other design disciplines to advance nature-based solutions to heat and stormwater challenges.
• Lead communication and outreach to the Chief Engineer and other agency senior executives on RSD program goals, status, and key outcomes.
• Manage the RSD's consultant agreement as the Duly Authorized Representative.
• Manage the unit's Education and Training program, including overseeing the production and dissemination of original content certified for professional development.
• Support the PA's Enterprise Risk Management initiatives on Physical Risks of Climate Change enterprise risk, including potential Board reporting, as requested.
• As directed by PA Senior Executives/Chief Engineer, communicate the PA's risk mitigation program and activities to domestic and international insurance markets.
• In cooperation with PA Treasury and Law, maintain the Climate Risk disclosure statement provided in the agency's Preliminary Offering Statements (POS) to prospective bond buyers.
• Provide strategic leadership, technical oversight, and team development for the RSD unit staff and administrative duties, including: Personnel matters, Objective setting and strategic planning; Budgeting and financial management; Procurement and vendor communications; and Internal performance reporting.

• Bachelor's Degree in engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, public administration, environmental sciences or a relevant scientific or public policy discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of relevant industry experience in performing sustainable design and/or resilience design and planning, with at least 5 years in a leadership or management/supervisory role.
• Subject matter expert in sustainable design and/or resilience design/planning.
• Strong knowledge of green building standards (e.g., LEED, Envision), climate risk assessments, and resilience metrics.
• Strong writing, presentation, and meeting management skills, with demonstrated ability to communicate complex concepts to executive management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), including advanced Excel functions for data analysis, reporting, and resource planning.
• Ability to manage and interpret technical data, budgets, and reports using digital tools and platforms.

• Demonstrated experience in launching and leading the successful delivery of complex strategic programs and special initiatives.
• Thorough knowledge of the PANYNJ Engineering Department's project delivery procedures
• Recognized transportation industry leader in sustainable design and/or climate resilience, and strong general knowledge of both fields.
• Innovative "out of the box" leader with strong experience navigating complex organizations to achieve unstructured initiatives
• Demonstrated experience developing and delivering design standards, specifications, tools and guidelines in support of sustainable design or resilience. including preparation of proposals, design coordination, schedule reporting, budget reporting and briefing senior staff.
• Demonstrated experience in problem solving, negotiations and conflict resolution skills to effectively reach sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to new information, continuous improvement, changing conditions, or unexpected obstacles; and track record of acting decisively and effectively
• Candidates with Professional Engineer (PE), Registered Architect (RA), AICP, LEED AP, ENV SP, or other relevant licenses or certifications preferred.