Operations Strategy Associate

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 Role

The Operational Excellence group is looking for an Operations Strategy Associate to help drive Suffolk’s top operational priorities and enable operations to scale effectively as the company pursues ambitious growth.

This role will report to the Ops Excellence Director of Strategy and Change Management and willsolve complex operational challenges through a combination of process mapping and design, financial and operational analysis, stakeholder interviews, and structured problem solving. They will assist with managing a portfolio of operational initiatives from start to finish (with a specific eye to coordinating implementation of initiatives) and will be instrumental to the successful adoption of new practices across the organization.

This role requires both a strategic and do-er mindset—someone who is willing to roll up their sleeves and understand the details of a problem while bringing structured thinking to complex operational challenges. This is a highly cross-functional role that must work with business unit leaders to design solutions and with functional and operational leaders to drive implementation. Excellent project management skills, the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively across the organization are essential.

• Support the Operations Strategy team in tackling the organization’s biggest problems. Play a key role in initiatives aimed at facilitating smart growth, including product managing new tools, improving processes, breaking down barriers, fostering collaboration between departments, and optimizing the way we build.
• Assume full ownership of implementation of key departmental programs to ensure program changes are properly communicated and adopted.
• Monitor and measure the effectiveness of key change initiatives and identify areas for improvement.
• In collaboration with Ops Ex leadership, support department annual planning to align department goals and track progress.
• Manage portfolio of change efforts rolling out to Operations organization, evaluating initiative readiness for rollout, confirm communications plans and timing of initiative change in context of other changes hitting the organization.
• Partner with business unit leaders to define project objectives and scope, structure project workplans, and develop roadmaps including conducting and guiding analytical support, laying out goals and milestones to get there, and setting metrics to measure results
• Gather and analyze information through multiple means (data analysis, informational interviews, reports, process mapping) to identify root cause issues and derive actionable insights on key operational issues.
• Assist in structuring and leading cross-functional discussions to drive alignment and ensure successful initiative adoption across all levels of the org.
• Build knowledge of Operations team requirements and workflows to develop a sense for practical solutions on job-sites.
• Prepare and present presentations to senior leadership summarizing findings and recommended actions in a clear and concise manner.

• A successful candidate would be energetic and creative with a strong ownership mindset and high emotional intelligence.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, STEM field, Construction Management or similar.
• 2-4 years pre-MBA management consulting or project/program management or construction management
• Capable of driving work independently both as a project leader and in the context of broader team projects.
• Ability to break down and solve problems through structured thinking and quantitative analysis to develop creative solutions to analytical, organizational, and behavioral challenges.
• Results oriented with excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop creative solutions to analytical, organizational, and behavioral challenges.
• Excellent project management skills with ability to prioritize and drive multiple simultaneous projects.
• Ability to manage and collaborate with multiple stakeholders to drive project success.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Willingness to jump into the details and nuances of a problem to chart the best path forward.

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 stands; 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.