Division Chief – Soils and Aggregate Technology (Program Manager IV)

ANNUALLY $97,972.00 – $152,528.00

Nature of Work: This position serves as the Division Chief for the Soils, Aggregates, and Related Materials Programs in the Soils and Aggregate Technology Division (SATD) within the Office of Materials Technology (OMT). The incumbent is responsible for directing and managing Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC) programs for soils, aggregates, and related materials unique to the State Highway Administration (SHA). The responsibilities include ensuring the effective delivery of statewide geotechnical and materials (i.e., soil and rock) engineering, as well as field and laboratory testing services. The Division Chief directs and coordinates all activities of the SATD, ensuring alignment with 23 CFR 637, Subpart B, Construction Inspections and Approval: Quality Assurance Procedures for Construction.

The Division Chief establishes and implements policies, procedures, and standards for the Division’s operations and technical programs, such as the qualification of materials and the Nuclear Gauge Safety Program.  This role also oversees and manages the division’s personnel and financial resources, including permanent staff and consultants, and develops short and long-term operational plans for the division, including resource allocation and program development. The Division Chief provides oversight of both field and laboratory operations for soils, aggregates, and related materials.

This position administers the Soils and Aggregate Sampling and Testing Technician Personnel Qualification/Certification component of the Mid-Atlantic Region Technician Certification Program to meet the requirements of 23 CFR 637.209. The Division Chief also oversees the Soils and Aggregate Laboratory Certification/Accreditation Program to ensure compliance with the accreditation requirements of the America State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) resource, the accreditation body. Ensuring that the material testing laboratories meet the quality assurance requirements in 23 CFR 637.209(a)(2), (3), and (4) related to the laboratories’ scope of accreditation is a major responsibility of this position.

Additionally, the Division Chief directly supervises and evaluates the performance of an Assistant Division Chief (ADC) for Laboratory Operations and an ADC for Field Operations and provides technical leadership within SATD in the areas of geotechnical engineering, soil and rock mechanics, and quality assurance of soils, aggregate, and related materials used in Maryland’s construction programs. This position represents SHA in interagency and external meetings, serving as the subject matter expert on soils and aggregate technologies. Lastly, the Division Chief will also partner with external and internal stakeholders regarding testing, research, pilot project implementation, and quality assurance practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience: Six (6) years of experience in administrative or professional work. Three (3) years of the general experience must have involved materials science/engineering, geotechnical engineering, or managing engineering design/construction projects with one (1) year at the supervisory level.

The ideal candidate will have the following:

• Extensive technical knowledge, skills, abilities and experience in principles, practices and procedures of soils and aggregate materials or geotechnical engineering/science and construction
• PE License and Graduate Level Degree in materials or civil or geotechnical or construction engineering.
• Managerial experience in a capacity responsible for planning, directing, managing, and administering technical programs, and field and office operations, including managing managers.
• Excellent communication (verbal and written), problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent partnering skills and ability to provide excellent internal and external customer experiences by establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other employees, material suppliers, contractors, other offices/agencies and the public.