Project/Program Manager (Interiors) - Campus Planning & Capital Projects - Enterprise Physical Operations

Washington University

$84K — $148K *
Real Estate & Construction
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
  • 7 years in Architectural Design, Design/Build, Renovation, Space Planning, or Construction Management.
  • 7 years of experience preferred in Interior Design and/or Renovations.
  • Experience in higher education, healthcare facilities planning, or project management is a plus (10 years preferred).
  • Proficiency in project management, budget management, and stakeholder collaboration.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise and mentor a small team, ensuring effective resource use across projects.
  • Manage interiors and signage scopes on multiple capital projects from design through completion.
  • Develop and analyze key performance indicators for program oversight and strategic alignment.
  • Serve as the main contact for stakeholders, fostering collaboration and issue resolution.
  • Support senior leadership in project prioritization and decision-making for repairs and renovations.
  • Participate in departmental initiatives and contribute to project pilot efforts.
  • Perform additional tasks as required to support departmental goals.

Benefits

  • Up to 22 days of vacation plus recognized holidays and sick leave.
  • Competitive health insurance with lower copays and priority appointments.
  • Free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
  • Defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan with a 7% match from the university.
  • Wellness challenges, health screenings, mental health resources, and financial assistance programs.
  • 4 weeks of caregiver leave and childcare resources, including tuition coverage for dependents.
Full Job Description
Scheduled Hours
40

Position Summary
Leads the end-to-end delivery of interior planning and signage services for multiple capital and departmental projects, oversees a portfolio of interrelated programs aligned with institutional strategy, and manages staff and outside vendors. Serves as a key partner to senior leadership and acts as the owner's representative for the university's built-environment initiatives across campus, with a focus on interior environments, wayfinding, and campus signage systems.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Supervises a small team, assigns and monitors work, mentors staff, conducts site inspections, and ensures efficient use of resources across a large campus/building portfolio. Provides guidance related to interior scope coordination, signage standards, finishes, and furniture implementation.
  • Manages interiors and signage scope on multiple facilities and capital projects from initiation through design, construction, and close-out, ensuring compliance with building codes, safety standards, budgets, and timelines. This includes interior renovations, space planning, interior finishes, art selection, furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E), and coordination of interior signage and wayfinding elements.
  • Oversees and manages multiple programs, develops, tracks, and analyzes KPIs, coordinates cross-functional teams, aligns with strategic priorities (including long-range/5-10-year planning), monitors performance, and recommends process improvements. Supports the development and implementation of interior design and signage standards across campus.
  • Serves as primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders: prepares reports and updates, manages risks and issues, ensures timely resolution of obstacles, and fosters a high-performance team environment. Collaborates with architects, designers, user groups, and signage consultants to ensure functional, accessible, and cohesive interior environments.
  • Supports senior leadership in project prioritization, future planning, expenditure approvals, and emergency repair/small-project oversight, including interior repair and refresh projects.
  • Contributes to department initiatives, for example, workload leveling meetings, interior and signage design standard updates, program pilot efforts, and participation on the extended leadership team.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.


Working Conditions:
Job Location/Working Conditions
  • Normal office environment.


Physical Effort
  • Typically sitting at a desk or table.
  • Typically standing or walking.
  • Repetitive wrist, hand, or finger movement.
  • Ability to move to on and off-campus locations.


Equipment
  • Office equipment.


The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:
Bachelor's degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:
Architectural Design, Design/Build, Renovation, Space Planning, And/Or Construction Management (7 Years)

Skills:
Not Applicable

Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Seven (7) years of experience in Interior Design and/or Interior Renovations.


Preferred Qualifications

Education:
Bachelor's degree - Architecture, Bachelor's degree - Interior Design

Certifications/Professional Licenses:
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:
Higher Education, Medical School, Healthcare, Or In Facilities Planning And Project Management (10 Years)

Skills:
Accounting Standards, Architectural Design, Budget Management, Building Constructions, Building Design, Capital Projects, Commercial Renovations, Communication, Complex Systems Design, Construction Cost Estimating, Construction Management, Detail-Oriented, Financial Management, Interior Design, Leadership, Organizational Commitment, Planning, Professional Integrity, Project Management, Project Schedule, Space Planning, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Strive for Excellence, Teamwork

Grade
G15

Salary Range
$84,200.00 - $148,500.00 / Annually

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email [redacted] or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at [redacted] and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal
  • Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
  • Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
  • Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
  • WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.


Wellness
  • Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!


Family
  • We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We've got you covered.
  • WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.


For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit: https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/

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