Project Manager for the New Black Rocks Harbor

Vacancy – Project Manager New Black Rocks Harbor

Saba

Saba is an island in the Caribbean and a special municipality (public entity) of The Netherlands. The island is known for its beautiful scenery and diving. Mount Scenery, at 887m, is the highest point in the Dutch Kingdom. The island is five square miles and has approximately 1900 inhabitants, and there are four main villages: The Bottom (the capital), Windwardside, St. John's, and Hell's Gate.

Context

In September 2017, Hurricane Maria destroyed part of Fort Bay Harbor on Saba. Immediate repairs were carried out to make the harbor functional, but it was recognized that more needed to be done to provide a hurricane-proof and future-proof harbor on Saba. Initially, the project focused on an upgrade of Fort Bay harbor. The outcome of design studies showed that a new harbor at another location (Black Rocks) would offer far greater opportunities for a hurricane and future-proof harbor.

All site investigations and surveys are completed, and the design and environmental impact studies are advanced. The tendering and permitting process can start after conclusions on the scope, layout, and budget planned for early 2022. It is anticipated that the execution will begin in 2022. See Annex 1 for a more detailed description of the project.

The project owner (Client) is the Public Entity Saba working closely with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, forming the Project Steering Board. The project team consists of a (part-time) project manager and a full-time assistant project manager based permanently on Saba, supported by experts from within Rijkswaterstaat and external consulting firms such as Witteveen + Bos, ATM, etc.

Given the need for a full-time project manager for both the pre-construction and construction phase, the Public Entity Saba is looking for a full-time project manager based on Saba for the project's duration.

The position

We are looking for a hands-on project manager who manages and oversees the successful realization of the Black Rocks Harbor, including all associated (landside) works. This includes bringing the pre-construction phase to a satisfactory close, including agreement on scope, (risk) budget and planning with the project steering board, the procurement of the works through competitive tendering, and the contract supervision of the marine works.

You are the linking pin between the different parties involved in this project. You will be based at the project office in Fort Bay Harbor. You will work closely with the assistant PM and other members of the team and other involved colleagues at the Public Entity (commissioner for infrastructure, head of Planning, FEZ department, legal advisor, policy advisor infrastructure) and with involved parties from outside the island, like the Ministry of I&W, RWS, and consultancy firms. You will be building your team in areas where required. The main goal is to plan and execute the project within a designated time frame and the available budget.

Your main tasks and responsibilities:

• First, take a good look at all that was done already and conclude based on your review.
• Ensure successful execution of the project within time and budget.
• You coordinate frequent meetings with the Steering Group, project team members, key advisors/consultants, Contractor (s) (during execution), and subsequent decision making where relevant.
• Escalate issues when needed.
• Maintain local stakeholder and landowner involvement throughout the project, build on existing relations, collect local advice and other input, and create support and understanding for the project.
• Support from the local community is essential to make the project a success. This requires good communication, which means, among other things: involving allrelevant stakeholders (local, regional and national), addressing concerns, being able to explain why certain choices were made and communicating in due time when plans are being changed, being able to organize public update meetings when needed.
• Signal concerns or questions from the public, stakeholders, or others and address these on time, together with the communications officer from the Public Entity.
• Provide sound engineering judgment and advice in consultation with the project advisors/consultants.
• Reach agreement on crucial mitigation and compensation measures, guide the permitting process and ensure that all relevant requirements are included and executed in the construction contracts
• Define/confirm the procurement strategy for the Marine Works contract and execute this in compliance with European tender procedure and guidelines.
• Stay in close contact with the Ministry of I&W and Rijkswaterstaat and, where applicable, with governments of surrounding islands.
• During the construction phase: contract management and daily supervision on-site for the Marine Works. It is anticipated that the team will be strengthened for the management and supervision of the landside works planned to be prepared and procured through local 'mini-tenders.'
• Lead the project team and support and strengthen the connections within this team.
• Ensure an excellent local (social) embedding, obtain expert advice, maximize local content and involvement where possible (e.g., from the Saba Conservation Foundation), and ensure that the works are contributing to better infrastructure and environment on Saba
• Where needed and possible: assistance with other associated projects (e.g., Upgrade plans for the existing Fort Bay harbor, development of the Black Rocks landside masterplan, landscaping, architecture, or other small infrastructural projects).

Your profile

• You are organization sensitive, and you have an eye for this impact on the government organization.
• You have at least ten (10) years of experience in preparing and executing multi-disciplinary marine/civil projects, preferably in an international context.
• You have strong communication skills with a robust inter-cultural sensitivity and can maintain and create public support.
• Your attitude is adaptable and flexible, and you have a hands-on mentality: focused on the end-goal and an all-rounder. In other words, a jack of all trades. We expect that you can pragmatically resolve site and engineering matters, keep a good overview of what needs to be done and that you are not afraid to step out of your office to get the job done (combine desk work with work in the field).
• Thorough knowledge of project procurement, contract types (e.g., FIDIC) and specifications, construction processes, HSE and quality requirements, materials and equipment
• A marine/civil engineering background is an advantage.
• You have an eye for the processes in the harbor. Technicalities in this new harbor project must match, relate to the process in the existing harbor.
• Fluent in English (spoken and written). Good command of the Dutch language is a strong pro.
• You can start within 2-3 months to allow a good hand-over from the existing project manager.
• You are available full-time on Saba for the duration of the project.

The organization

Saba is a special municipality of The Netherlands and the largest employer with 175 people. Responsibilities of the Public Entity include the airport, harbor, the tourist bureau, planning Bureau, public works, the daycare, census, different aspects of the social domain, including social work and public health, economic affairs, different policy advisors, and of course different business management departments like FEZ, ICT.

Procedure

Are you interested?

Please submit your application with your CV in English before December 16th, 2021.

For questions related to the position and organization, contact Personnel Affairs on hidden link - please login. An assessment may be part of the selection procedure. It is required to provide a certificate of good conduct.