Underground Construction Manager (Major Subway & Underground Infrastructure Project – New York Metropolitan Area, USA)

Protecnium is an international firm specializing in engineering and technical services, currently seeking an Underground Construction Manager for a major subway and underground infrastructure project in the New York metropolitan area. This is an on-site position with an estimated duration of 2 years; upon project completion, continuity on other projects is typically offered.

About the role

The Underground Construction Manager will plan, coordinate, and manage conventional underground excavation works for station caverns, mined tunnels, shafts, and related underground structures. Responsibilities include overseeing drill-and-blast activities, Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) operations, staged excavation sequences, muck removal, scaling, shotcrete application, and the installation of temporary and permanent ground-support systems.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and manage conventional underground excavation activities.
• Oversee construction activities for station caverns, mined tunnels, shafts, and related underground structures.
• Manage drill-and-blast and Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) operations.
• Coordinate staged excavation sequences, muck removal, scaling, and shotcrete application.
• Oversee the installation of temporary and permanent ground-support systems.
• Review excavation sequences, work plans, and construction methodologies.
• Plan manpower, equipment, ventilation, mucking, and underground logistics.
• Monitor production performance and ground behavior, adapting operations as required.
• Coordinate interfaces between conventional excavation, TBM, shaft, and structural activities.
• Supervise subcontractors and unionized workforces, ensuring compliance with safety, quality, schedule, and technical requirements.

Requirements

• Engineering degree or equivalent technical qualification.
• Minimum of 15 years of professional experience.
• Significant management experience in conventionally mined tunnels, large underground caverns, or underground station structures.
• Strong knowledge of drill-and-blast excavation and Sequential Excavation Method (SEM) techniques.
• Experience with staged excavation, temporary ground support, shotcrete, rock bolts or anchors, steel ribs, and related underground support systems.
• Ability to interpret geological and geotechnical information and adapt excavation methods to actual ground conditions.
• Experience planning underground construction sequences, manpower, equipment, ventilation, mucking, and logistics.
• Previous experience managing unionized labor, preferably on major construction projects in New York or the northeastern United States.
• Experience on major subway, railway, cavern, or mining projects is strongly preferred.
• Excellent leadership, coordination, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• English proficiency at C1 (Advanced) level.

Schedule

Monday to Friday, 10 hours per day including a 1-hour lunch break.

Benefits

• 22 paid vacation days + 5 working days of sick leave (100% salary).
• Round-trip flight at the beginning and end of the project if necessary.
• 15 days of hotel accommodation if necessary.
• Company laptop and phone provided.
• Private medical insurance with 50% coverage by the company.