Chief Operating Officer, Mission Critical

About Suffolk

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. Suffolk is an end-to-end business that provides value throughout the entire project lifecycle by leveraging its core construction management services with vertical service lines that include real estate capital investment, design, self-perform construction services, technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies), and innovation research/development.

Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $5.0 billion in annual revenue, 2,600 employees, and main offices in Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. Suffolk manages some of the most complex, sophisticated projects in the country, serving clients in every major industry sector, including healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, transportation/aviation, government, mission critical and commercial. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mission Critical is responsible for specific functions particularly in the areas of staffing, safety, regional business development, SOP compliance and resolution of operational challenges/issues that arise. This position requires direct and continuous interaction with the corporate functional heads to ensure operational excellence and success in the Company's broader goals and objectives. 

• Provide leadership in business judgment and all financial and profitability aspects of Suffolk’s Mission Critical business Center of Excellence (COE) sector.
• Participate extensively in the work acquisition process.
• Set appropriate milestones and assign staff qualified to handle the scope and complexity of the project. 
• Work closely with the Executive Leadership team to enforce EC decisions and waterfall corporate messages into the business.
• Be the COE Mission Critical Champion for Corporate initiatives including Lean, QA/QC, and Safety.
• Provide oversight in managing all necessary resources throughout the COE. This involves:
• Aligning the COE business plan to the Corporate 5-year plan.
• Mentor, train and coach Project Executives and VP of Operations to perform to or exceed Suffolk standards.
• Represent Suffolk in the COE Community.

• Work Acquisition and Client Management
• Working in the direction of the Executive leadership, utilize industry contacts and relationships to generate appropriate project leads and follow through to acquisition as required. 
• Identify and develop new business opportunities consistent with COE and Corporate objectives.
• Direct the strategy and content of the RFP response process including editing for project specific content, and interview preparation and participation as required.
• Participate in Contract negotiation as required.

• Financial Management
  • Working in collaboration with Executive leadership, establish financial performance goals for the COE and implement strategies to achieve goals.
  • Monitor weekly financial reports for compliance with Company standards and objectives.
  • P&L Oversight of COE Mission Critical portfolio including full understanding of project level contingencies, liabilities, and savings potential.
• People:
  • Monitor and evaluate Project Executive(s), VP of Operations, Pre-Construction, and Business Development staff assignments.
  • Develop direct reports by evaluating performance and creating growth opportunities consistent with learning plans.
  • Assist in sourcing and screening of PX and VP of Ops candidates as requested.
  • Mentor, coach and train them to perform and ensure effective matching of talent to project scope. 
  • Facilitate National Resource Sharing.
  • Support training and curriculum development
• Pre-Construction
  • Assign appropriate staff to preconstruction assignments (PX and/or VP of Operations)
  • Review and approve preconstruction agreements.
• Construction Operations:   
  • Champion the COE Safety effort, driving a Safety culture throughout the Region.
  • Working in collaboration with L&D, ensure appropriate learning plans are in place for all new hires.
  • Ensure Crisis Management planning is in place and understood.
  • Insure all PXs and VPs of Operations understand, support and drive compliance with Suffolk’s standard operating procedure.
  • Develop feedback loops to allow for the sharing of information throughout the Region.
  • Monitor Regional KPIs, evaluate trends and drive improvement and learning where necessary.

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 15-20 plus years of construction management experience for a large-scale general contractor or CM at Risk firm. 
• Experience leading multiple successful teams including development of direct reports and maintaining relationships with external entities.
• The ability to manage and embrace change. Respond and adapt to new processes and new ways of looking at old problems.

Required Qualifications:

• Understanding of Mission Critical Data Center ground up construction.
• Must have experience managing a Mission Critical build, serviced client, and managed design scope.
• Ability to travel as needed estimated at 25% to 50%.
• Fluent in financial forecasting, revenue projections, business development plans, successful track record executing against financial targets.
• Managed large national mobile workforce programs.
• Hyperscale data center experience sought, domestic U.S. project experience, managed single data center projects $500M or greater > in contract value.
• Brings strong established business relationships with large mission critical clients and trade partners.
• Ability to start work in new market geographical locations with nationwide established networks.

Necessary Attributes:

• Candidate must possess Suffolk's Core Values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work and Professionalism 
• Energetic
• Organized
• Able to work in fast paced environment.
• Able to manage multiple tasks. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law.  This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.  Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.