Design Plan Review Lead - Transportation Infrastructure

GFT is seeking a Design Plan Review Lead to join our Construction Management Team in Chicago, IL! This role follows a hybrid work model, requiring regular attendance at our Chicago, IL office.

At GFT, we’re not just engineering the future; we’re meticulously building it. Our comprehensive suite of construction and program management services reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, safety, innovation, and sustainability. Our construction management services are the cornerstone of our commitment to transforming communities and enhancing lives. We oversee every construction phase to help ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and to the highest safety and quality standards.

What you’ll be challenged to do:

The Design Plan Review Lead will be responsible for providing design quality assurance and engineering reviews for Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) design projects as part of the agency’s Quality Program Management Consultant Contract. The Design Plan Review Lead will work under and support the Design & Construction Project Support Manager. The Design Plan Review Lead will review current workflows and create/update workflows to manage review of plans, specifications, engineers estimates, construction schedules, and project milestones. Review will include specification and material accuracy, consistency with City, State and Federal Standards. Other tasks include general constructability reviews of plans, schedule of quantities, and plan notes.

The position will work with others on the program, local agency Division and Section Leads, project managers, and design consultants to track and report on design progress, design review progress, and other critical milestones as determined by the local agency including anticipated advertisement, bid, and award dates. They will assist the client with developing, refining, and updating design guidelines, design standards, and other design manuals/guides.

The candidate must be highly motivated and is expected to have good communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as good organizational skills and a willingness to take on new challenges. The candidate should have the ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral and diagram form.

In this capacity, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Perform project management and engineering tasks related to the design of arterial roads, intersections, traffic signals, and other transportation projects.
• Lead a team of subject matter experts required to review plans, specifications, cost estimates and schedules for transportation construction projects.
• Attendance at meetings and interaction with clients should be expected.
• Effective written and oral communication skills are imperative.
• Assist the client with project delivery by providing oversight for the completion of design projects.
• Review engineering design tasks for highway projects from preliminary to final design.
• Develop tracking log to review progress and deadlines and coordinate with design consultants, reviewers and project managers.
• Review development of construction contract documents including plans, specifications, and cost estimates.
• Establish working relationships and build relationships with client project managers.
• Coordinate with sister agencies and stakeholders to ensure standard design requirements are utilized across all projects.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplined team to complete tasks within scope, schedule and budget.
• Mentor and supervise other engineers in reviewing transportation construction plans.

• Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering or Construction Management
• Minimum of 8 years of experience
• Experience in design, preparation of plan submittals, and plan review
• Familiar with IDOT’s Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction
• Ability to effectively communicate with others
• Self-motivated, conscientious, and detail orientated
• Comfortable interacting in a professional manner with agency representatives and design personnel
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite
• Proficient with Bluebeam software to prepare and share comments

• 10+ years’ progressive engineering experience in highway design is preferred
• Professional Engineering (PE) License registered in IL
• Experience leading a group of engineers
• Prior experience includes work on projects with CDOT (Design & Construction) and IDOT Local Roads.
• Knowledge of CDOT Rules & Regulations for work in the Public Right of Way
• The desire to grow your knowledge, expertise, leadership skills, and relationships is desirable.
• Local agency experience. 

• Hybrid (in-person and remote) work environment.
• Comprehensive benefits package including wellness programs, parental leave, and pet insurance, in addition to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Tax-deferred 401(k) savings plan.
• Competitive paid-time-off (PTO) accrual.
• Tuition reimbursement for continued education.
• Commitment to professional development, access to internal and external training programs, and support of active participation in professional organizations
• Incentive compensation for eligible positions.

At GFT, a privately held AEC firm, we innovate where transportation, water, power, and buildings converge. We call this the Infrastructure of Life. We measure our success by the strength of our relationships – that’s why we’re the employer of choice for 5,000+ of the industry’s brightest engineers, planners, architects, inspectors, designers, and more.

Our clients choose us for our expertise and prefer us for our nimble approach, creativity, and personal touch. Backed by over a century’s experience, together we’re building a lasting legacy for future generations: stronger communities, a healthier planet, and better lives.

GFT: Ingenuity That Shapes Lives™ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans’ status or other characteristics protected by law.

Unsolicited resumes from third party agencies will be considered the property GFT.

GFT does require the successful completion of a criminal background check for all advertised positions. 

Location: Chicago, IL
Core Business Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Employment Status: Full-Time

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