Architect/Contract Specialist

About the role

The Engineering Department's Contracts Unit is seeking to augment staff with two (2) Contract Specialists to assist with the increased construction contracts workload to perform preparation of construction contracts and related tasks. This position will assist in delivering the Authority's capital and operating plan, by developing construction contracts used to solicit bids for construction. The consultants will take the lead role in preparing project-specific construction contract books (project manuals) during Stage III - Design, and will closely collaborate with other Engineering staff, Project Management staff and Procurement (construction) staff to prepare contracts of various types, funding sources, complexities and dollar values up to $200 million, for solicitations.

Responsibilities

• Prepare Contract books (project manuals) which contain complete project-specific administrative and technical requirements for construction contracts and maintenance contracts.
• Coordinate scope of work requirements with all appropriate Engineering Design Division disciplines to ensure project-specific scope is intelligibly included in custom prepared contract books, while conforming to all Authority procedures, Engineering QA-QC standards, and Contracts Unit standards.
• Provide contractual and procedural guidance to Project Principals, Engineer of Projects, Project Managers and others, and provide review comments for coordination and bid quality of Contract book elements.
• Provide guidance on determination on the type of contract (lump sum, unit price, combination, or other) and develop project-specific payment provisions.
• Prepare soft cost budgets for performing Contracts Unit tasks.
• Remain in control and abreast of a diverse workload, stay within budget, conform to established project delivery schedules.
• Assist the project delivery team with the development of staging requirements, milestone completion requirements, hours of work and other custom contract conditions where required.
• Resolve contractual and technical comments and issues with Engineering staff and other Authority departments.
• Collaborate with PA Law Department on contracts with unique circumstances, and resolve Law comments.
• Handle vetting and distribution of contract documents for agency-wide reviews, and perform reviews using Authority applications, including Blue Beam Revu.
• Respond to bidder questions during the Bid period, vet responses provided by other internal staff, guide Project Principals on correct procedures and protocols.
• Guide Project Principals in preparation of Addenda, by advising, reviewing, correcting, then issuing for release to bidders.
• After Award of construction contracts, confirm Contract books, Contract Drawings and related documents using Authority process and custom SharePoint application.

Qualifications

• Ability to pass a Secure Worker Access Consortium (SWAC) personnel background screening at a High Level and ability to comply with Authority policies on information security.
• Possess a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or Architecture or a related technical degree, from an accredited college or university.
• Have five (5) years' minimum experience in the development, preparation, review, and delivery of contract documents for bidding, for multidisciplinary Architecture/Engineering construction projects, including administrative contract provisions (front end' or general contract requirements) and technical contract provisions (technical specifications).
• Have demonstrated ability to meet schedules and budgets for project deliverables.
• Have demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Office suite at an intermediate or better proficiency, and ability to, without difficulty, learn and use required computer software, such as Bluebeam Revu, custom SharePoint applications and other custom PA systems.
• Have strong interpersonal, written, oral and collaboration skills, ability to work mostly independently with guidance, resolve contractual issues, ability to give and to follow clear directions, have proficient technical writing skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of construction documents organization per Construction Specifications Institute (CSI), or possessing CSI certifications (CDT, CCS, CCCA) is a plus.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal, written, oral, and collaboration abilities
• Proficient technical writing skills
• Ability to work mostly independently with guidance
• Ability to resolve contractual issues
• Ability to give and follow clear directions
• Intermediate or better proficiency with Microsoft Office suite
• Ability to learn and use Bluebeam Revu, custom SharePoint applications, and other custom PA systems

Schedule

Hybrid work arrangement, with minimum four (4) days per week at the offices of the Authority's Engineering Department - Contracts Unit located at 2 Montgomery St., Jersey City, NJ and no more than one (1) day per week remote, unless otherwise directed by the Authority or the PA Agreement Project Manager. No work shall be performed on any holidays observed by the Authority, unless otherwise directed by the Authority.