Alpha Corporation established in 1979, is a full-service woman-owned firm, providing civil, and structural engineering, program and construction management, project controls, and technology services for various building types, transportation, and heavy infrastructure projects. We provide services to a broad spectrum of clients, including all levels of government agencies, public and private enterprises/partnerships.

Alpha has been performing civil engineering design services since the firm's inception. Our vision is to be recognized by our clients for responsive, innovative, and quality services in the building, transportation, and infrastructure sectors, and to be the employer of choice. Alpha was awarded the ENR Mid-Atlantic 2022 Design Firm of the Year and Top 100 PM/CM firm.

If you're up for the challenge to stretch, grow and excel in your career as a Construction Representative, consider joining our award-winning team at Alpha Corporation to support our growing team in Rockville, MD.

Position Summary

As a Senior Inspector, Construction Representative III you will be responsible for monitoring the construction work performed primarily in the field on either building or highway construction sites of County Government Capital Improvement Program projects. This includes performing or leading all monitoring on-site on major projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Studies and familiarizes self with the drawings and specifications of construction projects, documents observations and reviews findings with supervisors, contract writers or designers, providing well-experienced perspectives on such matters as constructability, maintainability, sustainability and practicality (including meeting wants/needs of tenants).
• Evaluates contractor proposals and advises supervisors of potential problems, cost and time considerations, utility placement and connection, selection and placement of equipment, choice of materials, storm water management facilities, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, etc. Alerts supervisor of potential for construction claims and recommends ways to avoid cost overruns.
• Inspects project site before construction begins to identify and report conditions that may affect contractor's ability to complete construction as specified.
• Establishes and maintains liaison throughout construction process with contractor's field representatives, subcontractors, material suppliers, utility company representatives, etc.
• Daily monitors projects under construction for compliance with code requirements and contract plans and specifications, including the quality control plan, to ensure that all work is performed as prescribed and within specified time requirements as well consistent with generally accepted construction practices.
• Performs inspections and prepares, or verifies, documentation required for quality control program.
• Tracks contractor requests for information about plans and specifications that must be answered by the project designer. As authorized and appropriate, personally handles or refers to the supervisor construction questions, conflicts or disputes as they arise.
• Based on experience, role in the project (on-site leader or assister) and other factors, may have and exercise authority to approve a very broad range of field adjustments or field expedients. Resolves field construction problems as authorized, referring difficult issues and situations not covered by instructions, precedent or authority to supervisor for assistance.
• Maintains daily log for each assigned project, recording observations, findings, authorized changes, etc. and prepares and presents periodic status reports for each project.
• Investigates and reports on project scheduling issues or situations (e.g., work delays due to weather, utility problems, material shortages or material/supplier contraventions, insufficient persons on job-site, etc.), which may lead to subsequent formal claims by the contractor. Documents findings for use as a basis for determining if contract time or price adjustment is warranted.
• Monitors the removal of hazardous material (e.g., asbestos, leaking underground storage tanks, PCBs) from construction sites.
• Attends meetings with supervisors, consultants, and contractors to review construction progress, discuss problems/issues, offer recommendations, etc.
• Reviews and provides recommendations to supervisor regarding, or approves, contractor requests for progress payments, time extensions, cost overruns, material/ equipment substitutions, etc.
• Verifies the delivery of materials and equipment to construction sites, and coordinates, observes and reports on required tests (e.g., coring, concrete strength, elevators, life safety, etc).
• Conducts field or laboratory tests of materials (e.g., concrete, soil, aggregate, brick and hot mix asphalt) to determine compliance with mix designs, job mix formulas and/or project specifications and requirements.
• Provides recommendations, guidance, instructions, etc. to contractor's job superintendent, or in some cases, subcontractors, regarding plans, drawings and construction requirements. Notes changes in plans for preparation of "as built" drawings.
• Verifies and keeps records on "green building" materials and processes for LEED certification purposes.
• Coordinates, or helps coordinate, special third party testing for new structures, including but not limited to air and water balance, building and equipment grounding, functional performance testing, masonry inspections and structural steel inspections.
• Coordinates, or helps coordinate, the third party commissioning process by scheduling inspections by Commissioning Agent inspectors, working with and ensuring training of County maintenance personnel on new building systems, and performing related functions.
• Prepares comprehensive reports detailing major contractual or systems failures and provides recommendations for correction.
• Ensures contractors utilize proper safety precautions for pedestrians and motorists and minimize obstructions to traffic, adhering to the approved traffic plan (may recommend changes to it), the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices and other regulatory requirements.
• May monitor the work of a construction representative on contract to the County or lead such contractors, as assigned to a project, and/or may help train intermediate or entry level County personnel.
• Stays abreast of changes in construction technology (materials and techniques) affecting the types of projects assigned, such as vertical construction or horizontal construction.
• Serves as frontline project communicator with the public by preparing, or helping prepare, and distributing mass communications using various media.
• Directly interacts with homeowner or business associations, homeowners, business owners and others concerning project purpose, status, utility service disruptions and other matters.
• Uses approved database(s) and common or specialized software to report observations, authorized changes and all other information needed for a fully documented project history, including time extensions, additional work requests, payments, retainage, liquidated damages and disputes.
• Performs related duties as required.

Education and/or Experience

• Experience: Highway/bridge construction experience must include three years as a project superintendent or foreman or comparable position.

  Education: Completion of high school or High School Certificate of completion recognized in the State of Maryland.

  Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

Certifications

• Soils and Aggregate Technician and Hot Mix Asphalt Field Technician through the Mid-Atlantic Region Technician Certification Program (MARTCP).
• Concrete Field Testing Technician by the American Concrete Institute (ACI) or the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA).

Physical Demands

The incumbent in this position can typically expect to sit and use his/her hands to handle and feel for more than 2/3 of the day. He/she can expect to stand or walk for more than 1/3 of the day. Talking and listening are also expected for more than 2/3 of the day. The ability to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, or reach with arms will be needed for less than 1/3 of the day.

This position requires that the incumbent be able to lift items up to 10 pounds on an infrequent basis.

The incumbent in this position should have clear vision at 20 inches or less. He/she should be able to view various reports and forms as well as information displayed on a computer monitor and have the ability to distinguish between different colors. Depth perception, peripheral vision, the ability to focus, and the ability to see from a distance are also necessary.

EEO Statement

Alpha Corporation is an equal-opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or military status, or any other protected class. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotions, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment.