Capital Projects Planning Manager

Cascade Water Alliance is seeking a seasoned and highly motivated Capital Projects Planning Manager to oversee all planning activities for the $1.0 billion Tacoma-Cascade Pipeline project, the largest capital project in Cascade’s history.

The Capital Projects Planning Manager is a senior-level position, offering an opportunity to oversee all planning activities for the Tacoma-Cascade Pipeline (TCP) project.

The ideal candidate will be able to leverage their project planning expertise and experience to effectively resolve the challenges of delivering a regional water infrastructure project that crosses multiple jurisdictions in an urban environment.

The TCP’s success is critical to continuing Cascade’s commitment to providing clean, safe, and reliable drinking water to its community. The Capital Projects Planning Manager not only plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal but also in improving regional reliability and resiliency for future generations as Cascade plans for climate change and population growth.

The Capital Projects Planning Manager is responsible for oversight of all planning activities necessary to successfully deliver the TCP project from preliminary planning through construction. Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring pre-design tasks and activities meet scope, schedule, budget, and other key performance metrics.
• Leading exceptional consultant teams to provide services in support of the TCP.
• Collaborating with Cascade’s member agencies to ensure the project meets Cascade’s and members’ requirements.
• Assessing the feasibility and optimization of the TCP infrastructure (including pipeline size, route, storage size, etc.) based on technical, environmental, and economic factors.
• Evaluating complex permanent and temporary real property needs and leading the team to acquire real property rights for the project.
• Evaluating potential environmental impacts of the TCP project and overseeing mitigation efforts.
• Overseeing development of a Facilities Plan (project scope statement) that will form the basis and requirements for project design and a crucial part of the Water System Plan.
• Collaborating with a diverse range of stakeholders, including Cascade and member agencies, elected officials, tribal governments, landowners, regulatory agencies, and community partners.
• Presenting critical issues and recommendations to the TCP Project Executive, Cascade’s CEO, member agencies, and Cascade’s Board of Directors.

Education, Licenses, and Certifications: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field is required. Professional Engineer license and/or American Institute of Certified Planners certification is preferred.

Skills and Experience:

• Minimum ten (10) years of experience in capital projects, capital planning, engineering design, construction, or a combination of experience in these fields is required.
• Demonstrated success in leading planning work on major drinking water pipelines and/or capital facilities projects or portfolio of projects valued at least $50M that span across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience in managing multi-disciplinary technical consultant teams.
• Expertise in environmental review, permitting, and real property rights acquisition.
• Strong leadership and conflict resolution skills with an ability to foster collaboration for effective and timely decision making.
• Demonstrated ability to approach capital projects both strategically and tactically.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences and diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to approach challenges as opportunities and think creatively about solutions.

Education/Experience Equivalency: A combination of appropriate education, licenses, certifications, and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis for comparability to the minimum education and experience requirements.

This is a full-time position with an annual salary range of $153,000 to $232,000.

Cascade offers an industry leading package of benefits to employees and their dependents including paid time-off, insurance (medical, dental, vision, life, disability), retirement plans (401a, 457), and tax advantaged saving options (FSA, HRA Veba, PPO, DCAP). Cascade contributes 7% and employees contribute 4% to their 401a retirement plan. Additionally, as a replacement of the contribution to Social Security, employees contribute 6.2% of their annual salary and Cascade contributes 6.2% up to the Social Security limit established by the Internal Revenue Service to employees’ 401a plans.

Email your application to Chris Paulucci at cpaulucci@cascadewater.org. This position will remain open until filled.

• Resume. Include your project history, reflecting the size and scope of your project planning and/or delivery experience.
• Cover letter. Describe why you want this position and how your experience, skills, and achievements make you a good fit for this role (two-page limit).

Cascade is a municipal corporation comprised of five member cities (Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, and Tukwila) and two water and sewer districts (Sammamish Plateau Water and Skyway Water & Sewer District). Established in 1999, Cascade provides water to 380,000 people and more than 20,000 businesses.

Cascade’s small team of water utility professionals and its Board of Directors pride themselves on their collaborative and innovative approaches to tackling local and regional issues related to drinking water. Cascade’s long-term goal is to create a lasting legacy by exemplifying a model for regional cooperation and effective public resource management.