Owner's Authorized Authority (OAA) - Subject Matter Expert (SME)Special Inspections Construction Process Oversight Quality AssuranceThe OAA serves as an independent layer of oversight, operating on behalf of the owner to
audit, review, verify, and continuously monitor the integrity of the entire construction and inspection process. The primary responsibility is to ensure that established procedures, inspection protocols, documentation requirements, and quality control systems are being properly implemented, followed, and maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
This is an oversight and assurance role, not a replacement for existing contractors, inspectors, engineers, construction managers, or quality control personnel. The OAA evaluates the effectiveness and compliance of the processes performed by these parties, identifies gaps or deficiencies, and ensures concerns are properly documented, communicated, and resolved through established channels.
The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in large-scale industrial construction, semiconductor fabrication facilities, special inspections, construction quality management, and regulatory compliance, with the technical expertise and professional independence necessary to provide objective assessments at every stage of construction.
Key Responsibilities1. Special Inspections Oversight and Compliance- Provide independent oversight of the project's entire Special Inspections Program, ensuring adherence to applicable International Building Code (IBC) Chapter 17 requirements, local building codes, approved construction documents, and project-specific standards.
- Review the Statement of Special Inspections, inspection and testing plans, inspection schedules, and applicable regulatory requirements to verify completeness and proper implementation.
- Verify that required special inspections are performed by appropriately qualified, approved, and independent inspection agencies and personnel.
- Monitor special inspection activities involving structural steel, welding, bolting, concrete, foundations, fire-resistive materials, and other applicable construction components.
- Audit inspection requests, scheduling, notification procedures, inspection hold points, test results, deficiency reports, and corrective action processes.
- Verify that required inspections occur at the appropriate stages of construction, including before work is concealed or becomes inaccessible.
- Review inspection documentation for completeness, accuracy, traceability, and compliance with established requirements.
- Identify gaps in inspection coverage, missed inspections, incomplete documentation, or deviations from approved procedures.
- Verify that nonconforming conditions are properly identified, assigned, tracked, corrected, and closed by the responsible parties.
- Coordinate with approved special inspection agencies, engineers of record, contractors, construction management, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) as necessary to support compliance.
2. Independent Construction Process Auditing and Monitoring- Conduct ongoing, independent evaluations of construction quality assurance and inspection processes across all applicable project disciplines.
- Examine the overall effectiveness of contractor procedures, inspection workflows, testing protocols, quality management systems, and compliance controls.
- Monitor construction activities from an independent, owner-level perspective to determine whether established processes are being consistently followed.
- Review the interfaces between construction, quality control, special inspections, engineering, testing, commissioning, and owner acceptance processes.
- Identify procedural weaknesses, inconsistent execution, missed requirements, documentation gaps, and recurring quality concerns.
- Evaluate whether personnel and organizations are fulfilling their defined responsibilities within the approved project quality and inspection framework.
- Perform scheduled, periodic, and risk-based audits, supplemented by ongoing field surveillance of critical activities.
- Recommend improvements that strengthen quality, accountability, inspection reliability, and process consistency.
- Verify that process improvements and corrective actions are implemented and remain effective over time.
The OAA's responsibility is not simply to determine whether the finished construction is correct, but to continuously evaluate whether the processes used to construct, inspect, test, document, and accept the work are correct.3. Construction Quality and Technical Oversight- Assess the adequacy and implementation of quality assurance processes for civil, structural, architectural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls, and process utility installations.
- Review compliance processes associated with critical semiconductor systems, including cleanrooms, specialty gases, high-purity piping, process chemicals, ultrapure water, HVAC, and electrical distribution.
- Verify that applicable inspection and testing requirements are identified, communicated, and incorporated into construction execution plans.
- Review construction drawings, approved specifications, inspection and test plans (ITPs), and quality procedures to evaluate alignment between documented requirements and actual practices.
- Evaluate contractor quality management systems, inspection readiness, documentation controls, and corrective action procedures.
- Identify potential quality risks before they result in rework, system failures, schedule impacts, or regulatory deficiencies.
- Monitor the effectiveness of quality controls during construction, testing, commissioning, and turnover.
4. Documentation, Reporting, and Regulatory Compliance- Independently review inspection reports, quality records, test results, nonconformance reports (NCRs), corrective action reports, and applicable compliance documentation.
- Verify that required documentation is created, reviewed, approved, retained, and accessible according to project requirements.
- Establish and maintain audit findings, compliance observations, open-item registers, and corrective action tracking systems.
- Prepare concise, objective audit reports identifying process deficiencies, compliance risks, recurring issues, and recommended improvements.
- Provide regular reporting to owner representatives and project leadership regarding inspection program effectiveness and quality assurance performance.
- Monitor the timely resolution of outstanding special inspection findings and construction quality issues.
- Verify that required inspection records and final reports are complete and properly submitted by the responsible parties prior to applicable milestones and turnover.
5. Independent Oversight and Contractor CoordinationThe OAA must maintain a clear distinction between
independent oversight and direct construction execution.- Serve as an independent representative of the owner's interests without assuming the operational responsibilities of contractors or other project participants.
- Work collaboratively with general contractors, construction management, quality assurance/quality control teams, special inspection agencies, engineers of record, and commissioning personnel.
- Review the effectiveness of established processes without unnecessarily duplicating the work of the parties responsible for execution.
- Respect established contractual responsibilities, reporting relationships, and approval authorities.
- Communicate findings professionally, objectively, and constructively.
- Escalate significant compliance concerns, recurring process failures, or unresolved deficiencies through the appropriate project leadership and contractual channels.
- Verify that responsible parties implement and document corrective actions without assuming responsibility for performing those actions.
- Maintain professional independence and avoid conflicts of interest that could compromise the integrity of oversight activities.
The OAA does not replace, supersede, or assume the responsibilities of the General Contractor, Construction Manager, Engineer of Record, Quality Control personnel, approved Special Inspectors, commissioning teams, or Authorities Having Jurisdiction.The OAA provides additional independent assurance that these parties' processes are properly established, executed, documented, and continuously evaluated. Any formal approval, rejection, or stop-work authority must be expressly delegated by the owner and remain consistent with applicable law and contractual requirements.
6. Continuous Improvement and Risk Management- Identify systemic issues and recurring weaknesses affecting inspection quality and construction compliance.
- Analyze trends in audit findings, inspection deficiencies, rework, corrective actions, and procedural deviations.
- Recommend preventive measures to reduce quality risks and improve construction reliability.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of implemented corrective and preventive actions.
- Support lessons-learned initiatives and the development of stronger quality management and inspection procedures.
- Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, technical excellence, and proactive risk prevention.
RequirementsRequired Qualifications- Minimum 15 years of experience in construction engineering, construction quality assurance, special inspections, technical oversight, or related disciplines involving major industrial or advanced manufacturing facilities.
- Significant experience with large-scale, technically complex construction projects, preferably semiconductor fabrication facilities.
- Demonstrated expertise in special inspections, construction quality management, independent auditing, and regulatory compliance.
- Thorough understanding of applicable IBC Chapter 17 special inspection requirements, relevant construction codes, and the roles and responsibilities of inspection agencies, design professionals, and contractors.
- Proven ability to review and evaluate inspection programs, construction quality plans, technical documentation, and compliance procedures.
- Experience assessing contractor performance and the effectiveness of construction quality and inspection management systems.
- Strong understanding of construction sequencing, inspection hold points, testing requirements, nonconformance management, and corrective action processes.
- Ability to evaluate complex multidisciplinary construction processes without assuming direct responsibility for construction execution.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, documentation, and technical reporting skills.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to challenge established processes professionally and objectively.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and maintain professional integrity in a fast-paced, high-pressure construction environment.
Preferred Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license or relevant professional certification.
- ICC Special Inspector certifications, construction quality auditor credentials, or comparable technical qualifications.
- Experience with owner-side construction oversight, independent third-party audits, or special inspection program management.
- Direct experience supporting semiconductor fabrication projects, including cleanrooms, critical utilities, and high-purity manufacturing environments.
- Familiarity with applicable ACI, AISC, AWS, ASTM, NFPA, and other relevant industry standards.
- Experience using Procore, Bluebeam, or comparable construction documentation and quality management platforms.
- Prior involvement in large-scale projects with multiple contractors, engineering organizations, inspection agencies, and regulatory authorities.
Key Performance ExpectationsSuccess in this role will be measured by the effectiveness of the OAA's independent oversight, including:
- Special Inspection Compliance: Required inspections are properly identified, scheduled, executed, and documented by responsible parties.
- Process Integrity: Approved construction, inspection, testing, and quality assurance procedures are consistently followed.
- Early Risk Identification: Procedural gaps and potential compliance failures are identified before they create significant project impacts.
- Corrective Action Effectiveness: Deficiencies are appropriately escalated, tracked, corrected, and verified for closure.
- Documentation Quality: Inspection and compliance records are complete, accurate, traceable, and available for review.
- Continuous Improvement: Recurring deficiencies are reduced through systematic review, accountability, and effective corrective action.
- Independent Assurance: The owner receives timely, accurate, and objective visibility into the effectiveness of the overall construction quality and inspection process.
Benefits 
