Description
The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) owns and operates the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF). The Director of Engineering provides direct, hands-on engineering support and also leads the Engineering Department staff in the planning, development, and oversight for the implementation and rehabilitation of facilities and infrastructure for SURF. The Director’s efforts include management of design, construction, and engineering support to operations activities required to develop, operate, and maintain SURF’s surface and underground infrastructure. The Director also coordinates engineering support to specific facility and experiment design and construction efforts. The Engineering Department is within the Operations Division and includes the Hoists and Shafts Department, Information Technology Department, Surface and Utilities Department and Underground Operations Department. All five departments interact on a routine basis.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
The following reflects SDSTA’s definition of essential functions for this position and does not restrict other tasks that may be assigned. SDSTA retains the right to re-evaluate the duties of the position when considering a reasonable accommodation or at other appropriate times. The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:
Planning and implementing projects involving new facility and infrastructure construction and rehabilitation
- Provides direct engineering and oversight of projects as a project engineer and/or manager based on the Director’s technical expertise and workload of the Engineering Department staff to achieve the SDSTA mission.
- Routinely engages with other department managers and engineering staff to ensure appropriate engineering support throughout the facility.
- Prioritizes projects and maintains project priorities and schedules. Coordinates priorities and project budgets with Top Management.
- Reviews, evaluates and approves project scopes of work. Endorses budget requests and cost estimates, baselines, and supports change control processes for projects.
- Negotiates commitments with the SURF Science experiments with approval of the Deputy Director for Operations and SURF Laboratory Director, as required. Works with SURF Science community to define project requirements and develop agreements for engineering support and management of science project-related work.
- Oversees the preparation of project documentation including scope definition, work breakdown structures (WBS), estimates, project schedules, and selection of project acquisition strategies and preparation of contract documentation.
- Ensures the Environment, Safety and Health (ESH) and Quality Assurance requirements are properly implemented and well-coordinated with both internal staff and external contractors.
- Reviews work to ensure deadlines are met and projects are constructed according to plans. Reviews contract change orders and justifications for action.
- Monitors and evaluates the performance of design and construction contractors including oversight of field inspections of work in progress.
- Verifies project completion, prepares final documentation and ensures projects are closed out.
- Provides regular project status reports and department status reports.
- Working with other departments, coordinates contractor priority when projects or parts of projects cannot be worked on simultaneously.
Reviewing and validating facility designs
- Oversees the compilation and analysis of project data to ensure valid preliminary engineering data and sound technical decision-making approaches are used for project development.
- Reviews detailed project plans, designs, and recommends changes to ensure cost effective, constructible and safe projects.
- Determines feasibility and technology maturity of proposed products and equipment to be used.
Establishing acquisition strategies and managing procurement and bid-letting processes
- In coordination with SDSTA Contracts and Procurement Manager, determines the appropriate acquisition strategies within funding agency requirements.
- Supports the Contracts and Procurement team in establishing procurement procedures and schedules.
- Oversees preparation of requests for proposals and ensures contractors are notified to ensure that work is competed widely and fairly in accordance with SDSTA ethical standards and funding agency requirements.
- Works with the Contracts team to ensure source selections are well organized and supports the highest ethical standards to efficiently select competent contractors and consultants.
Directing day-to-day Engineering Department activities
- Oversees the creation and maintenance of staffing plans, hiring, training and management of staff.
- Ensures work allocated to specific projects is performed to the satisfaction of that specific project manager. Note that a significant portion of the Engineering Department workload is allocated to the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) Project and the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment for the foreseeable future.
- Reviews and approves leave requests and time forms.
Other Essential Functions
- Maintains consistent and reliable attendance.
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Requirements
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering-related field such as mechanical, mining, civil or electrical engineering is required.
- An advanced engineering degree with an emphasis in mechanical, mining, civil or electrical engineering is highly desired.
Certifications and Licenses
- Professional Engineer (PE) is required.
- Management Professional (PMP) from the Project Management Institute (PMI) is desired.
Experience
- At least 15 years of experience and understanding in all aspects of engineering and project management including: major technical system development, mining engineering, underground tunneling and excavation, design, construction, and operation of research facilities and laboratories, site planning and architectural project management, engineering project management for complex industrial facilities, large, state or federally funded facility construction projects, or construction management is required.
- Experience in use of computer-based tools such as Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) is required.
- Experience in scheduling software packages such as Microsoft Project or ORACLE Primavera is desired.
Competencies, Knowledge and Skills
- Adaptability—Effectively adjusts to changing priorities and demands and works independently to solve problems and keeps management informed of progress and status. Ability to accept criticism from review panels tactfully and to adjust plans as appropriate.
- Attention to Detail—Ability to maintain constant awareness of surroundings and ensure tasks are completed carefully and accurately.
- Communication—Communicates effectively and clearly with a wide range of audiences in both written and oral form. Ability to present complex topics simply and appropriately to review panels, scientists and senior agency officials.
- Decision Making—Assesses situations, evaluates options, chooses most appropriate course of action and effectively communicate decisions to staff.
- Influence—Gains acceptance or support for ideas, projects and solutions.
- Initiative—Persists despite difficult conditions and to make suggestions for improvements.
- Mentoring—Advises and instructs staff in the development of engineering and project management skills to assist in furthering their abilities as engineers and project managers.
- Organization—Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time, and keep order and coordinate numerous activities including coordination of priorities to staff.
- Team Building—Builds an effective team including gaining confidence of staff more senior in technical experience than the Director and provides focus and leadership to instill a strong team environment to successfully complete complex designs and facilities implementations.
Working Conditions
The working conditions described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. When applicable and appropriate, consideration will be given to reasonable accommodations.
- Perform work in a typical office environment which includes individual workstations, shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and common areas such as a break room and kitchen.
- The noise level is generally low to moderate, typical of an office setting, with occasional background noise from office equipment and conversations.
- The office is well-lit with a combination of natural and artificial lighting to ensure a comfortable working environment.
- The office maintains a controlled temperature environment, with heating and air conditioning systems to ensure comfort throughout the year.
- Ergonomic office furniture and equipment are provided to support employee health and well-being.
- The company is committed to providing a safe working environment and adheres to all relevant health and safety regulations.
- Employees are expected to comply with SDSTA’s ESH Manual safety program.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) and adherence to safety Standards protocols are mandatory.
- Act in accordance with SDSTA’s core values: Safety Focused, Care for Others, Professionalism and Being a Team Player.
Mental and Physical Demands
- Regular interaction with team members, supervisors, and other departments and collaborators.
- Capacity to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Ability to remain calm and focused in high-pressure or emergency situations.
- Flexibility to adapt to changing situations and work in a fast-paced environment.
- Clear and conceptual thinking ability; excellent judgment, troubleshooting, problem solving, analysis, and discretion; ability to handle work-related stress; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously; and ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to follow safety protocols and procedures.
- Sitting for extended periods of time while using a computer
- Hearing, Speaking, Vision (With and without corrective lenses)
- Dexterity to operate office equipment such as computers, printers, and telephones.
- Perform occasional physical labor and light lifting up to 20 pounds
- Occasional standing, walking, climbing up and down flights of stairs, and otherwise moving around the office to perform tasks
- Ability to travel as needed.
Job Information
Supervisory Duties: Yes
Direct Reports: Senior Project Engineer (Mechanical); Senior Project Engineer (Electrical); Senior Project Engineer; Project Manager for Organizational Development; Electrical Engineer; Mechanical Engineer; Engineering Technical Associate; CAD Technician/Drafter
Work Arrangements: Hybrid
Hours: M-F; 7AM - 4PM
Travel Required: 10%
Mission/Vision/Core Values
Mission: We advance world-class science and inspire learning across generations.
Vision: The world’s preferred location for underground science and education.
Core Values:
- Safety Focused: We do not compromise safety or endanger the environment.
- Care for Others: We embrace and honor the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We listen knowing everyone has something to offer and to learn.
- Professional: What we do is important to our community and the world. We sweat the details to achieve big things. Our behavior and ethics exemplify our best.
- Team Players: We provide unmatched service. We are respectful and deliver for our customers and partners. We build trust not barriers.
Equal Opportunity Employment Statement
The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority (SDSTA) is an equal opportunity employer committed to the development of a diverse workforce. We foster a work community where every individual feels welcomed, valued, respected and heard and discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or political affiliation is prohibited.
