VICE PRESIDENT, DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

OVERVIEW

A popular year-round destination, Governors Island is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor located between Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn waterfront. For almost two centuries, the Island was closed to the public, operating as a military base for the U.S. Army and, later, the Coast Guard. Today, an award-winning new park is complemented by dozens of unique historic buildings, educational and cultural facilities, a rich arts and culture program and a 22-acre National Monument managed by the National Park Service. Looking ahead, the long-term vision for Governors Island focuses on continuing to expand year-round public access by enlivening it with transformative public art and culture, extraordinary recreational and open space, and research and education dedicated to addressing the global climate crisis.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Vice President of Design & Construction will have primary responsibility for the planning, design, permitting, and construction of the Island’s capital projects and assets at a time of significant growth. These projects will focus on the revitalization of the Island’s 90-acre historic district, including the renovation of buildings within Nolan Park to serve as a multi-tenant arts and cultural campus; improvements to its world-class public space; and upgrades to an extensive network of Trust-owned utility and maritime infrastructure, with a focus on demonstrating leading approaches to urban development. The Vice President will both lead a significant portfolio of Trust-led projects and provide input to and oversight of major tenant-led construction.

The Vice President will manage a four-year capital budget currently standing at more than $300 million and a team of capital project managers delivering projects with the support of contracted third-party construction managers, owner’s reps, and design and engineering professionals. Working closely with the CREO, the Vice President will develop and implement strategies to expand the sustainability and resiliency of Island capital assets, helping to achieve the Trust’s ambitious climate goals. The Vice President will report directly to the CREO and work closely with the Chief Financial Officer, COO, and Vice President of Facilities & Parks.

Other responsibilities include:

• Lead the strategic planning and implementation of an expanding capital program from conception to completion.
• Collaborate with the Operations and Real Estate teams to identify future capital needs that will address the Island’s ambitious development goals.
• Oversee the Trust’s capital project staff and contracted third-party consultant teams.
• Provide technical expertise and leadership to anticipate and solve complex critical path issues, implement best practices, and ensure projects’ expeditious, efficient and cost effective completion.
• Work closely with capital project staff and the Trust’s Legal department to oversee procurement, contract negotiation, and dispute resolution with general contractors, owner’s reps, architects, engineers and construction managers.
• Identify and drive individual project structure, contracting strategy, and risk allocation based on specific project needs.
• Review construction activities being undertaken by the Trust and its tenants across the Island to address logistical and safety concerns, deconflict with other Island activities and priorities, and ensure that each project moves forward successfully.
• Work with the COO and Vice President of Facilities and Parks to ensure the proper handover of completed capital projects, and the ongoing care and stewardship of new and existing infrastructure, systems, and buildings throughout the Island.
• Represent the Trust in communications with external project stakeholders, including the NYC Office of Management and Budget, tenants, oversight agencies, and others.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required.

Experience: At least 10-15 years of experience in the fields of architecture, engineering, or construction management; minimum of five years of experience as a manager with large-scale planning and/or capital projects, preferably with a focus on implementation.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent project management, leadership, interpersonal, and negotiation skills, including the ability to lead a broad range of individuals with different skills and perspectives.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to produce clear and concise updates, briefings, and presentations for a variety of stakeholders.
• Ability to apply strategic and critical thinking and problem-solving skills to complex and dynamic situations.
• Technical expertise in reviewing infrastructure design drawings and architectural plans.
• Strong experience in the creation and evaluation of project scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• Expertise in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. Ability to work in GIS, CAD, MS Project, and/or Primavera is preferred.

Salary Range: $150-$160k, commensurate with experience.

Excellent benefits package including paid holidays, sick and vacation time, medical/dental/vision/life insurance, and pension plan with company contribution.

Location and Schedule: All positions are located on Governors Island. This position is in person four days a week and remote one day a week.

TO APPLY

Please send a cover letter and resume as a single PDF document to jobs@govisland.org with “VP, Design & Construction” in the subject line. No phone calls please.

The Trust for Governors Island values the importance of inclusion, accessibility and a diverse pool of applicants. The Trust for Governors Island does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, genetic information, marital status, membership in an employee organization, military service, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including gender identity), sexual orientation, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, or other non-merit factor.

ABOUT THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND

The Trust for Governors Island (The Trust) is a nonprofit corporation created by the City of New York. It is responsible for the redevelopment and operation of 150 acres of Governors Island. The Trust's mission is to realize the full potential of Governors Island, demonstrating a bold vision for public space. For more information, visit www.govisland.org.