Description
Reporting to the Director of Campus Planning, the Senior Project Manager will provide senior-level leadership for the planning, design, procurement, construction, and completion of complex capital projects and major capital initiatives across the University's three campuses. The Senior Project Manager will serve as a senior owner's representative, translating institutional priorities into successful capital projects that support the University's academic mission, student experience, operational needs, and long-term strategic objectives.
The Senior Project Manager will lead multiple high-value and highly complex projects simultaneously, serving as the primary liaison among Campus Planning and Facilities, University leadership, architects and design professionals, contractors, consultants, and campus stakeholders. The position will be expected to exercise substantial independent judgment in establishing project strategy, evaluating alternatives, managing risk, resolving complex issues, and recommending solutions involving scope, schedule, budget, procurement, design, and construction.
The role will offer the opportunity to lead an unusually diverse portfolio of projects across the University's three campuses, including residence halls, classrooms, laboratories, food service facilities, libraries, public assembly spaces, campus infrastructure, and historic restoration. Projects may range from complex renovations within occupied facilities to institutionally significant capital initiatives.
In addition to direct project leadership, the Senior Project Manager will contribute to the University's capital planning process, advance best practices and standards for capital project delivery, and provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to other project management staff as appropriate.
The successful candidate will be a highly experienced, strategic, and collaborative capital project leader who brings sound judgment, exceptional communication skills, and a proactive approach to complex challenges. They will be comfortable representing the University in high-stakes project environments, building consensus among diverse stakeholders, challenging conventional approaches when appropriate, and making clear recommendations when competing priorities must be balanced. Above all, they will be someone who enjoys making things happen-working across disciplines, solving complex problems, and delivering exceptional spaces that have a lasting impact on the University community.
Position Duties
• Lead complex and high-value capital projects and major capital initiatives from conception through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout, establishing project strategy and ensuring achievement of University objectives for scope, quality, schedule, budget, risk, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Serve as the senior project representative for the University, establishing clear lines of communication and coordinating project-related communications among the University community, impacted departments, consultants, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Provide senior-level leadership and independent judgment on project scope, delivery strategy, budget, schedule, design, procurement, risk, and construction issues, making recommendations to the Director of Campus Planning and University leadership as appropriate.
• Participate in and support the University's annual and long-range capital planning process, including evaluation of proposed projects, development of preliminary scopes and budgets, prioritization of capital needs, and preparation of recommendations for project approval and funding.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and mentorship to Project Managers and other members of the Campus Planning and Facilities team, sharing expertise in project delivery, contract administration, risk management, cost control, and stakeholder management.
• Issue RFP's, contracts and other project documents in compliance with University policies and procedures as outlined in the "Purchasing & Contracts Comprehensive Buyers Guide".
• Analyze programmatic needs and make recommendations for effective, efficient, and innovative space utilization.
• Develop, manage, and communicate comprehensive project budgets, including contingencies, commitments, cash flow, forecasts, projected costs at completion, and funding requirements; provide senior leadership with clear assessments of financial performance and emerging risks.
• Evaluate the financial implications of major scope, design, procurement, and construction decisions and recommend appropriate courses of action.
• Develop and effectively manage project schedules to ensure timely project delivery and proactively address schedule risks and potential delays.
• Collaborate with the University's Director of Engineering, Director of Energy and Resiliency, and Director of Design to ensure that projects meet the University's broader operational, technical, sustainability, resiliency, and design objectives.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with senior University leadership, academic and administrative leaders, Facilities, Finance, Purchasing, Legal, IT, Security, Energy and Sustainability, and other institutional partners.
• Facilitate resolution of complex or competing stakeholder priorities and develop recommendations that balance institutional objectives, project constraints, and long-term operational considerations.
• Represent Campus Planning and Facilities in meetings and discussions involving significant capital projects and institutional initiatives.
• Evaluate and recommend appropriate project delivery methods, procurement strategies, contracting approaches, and project governance structures based on project scope, complexity, schedule, risk, funding, and institutional objectives.
• Follow best practices in contractor selection and contract administration.
• Provide evaluations and reports on the overall performance of contractors and architects.
• Ensure compliance and conformance of construction with approved plans, specifications, codes, standards, and University requirements.
• Manage architects, engineers, contractors and projects consultants. Ensure that all regulatory agency requirements are met.
• Conduct regular site visits to monitor progress, quality, coordination, and conformance with project requirements.
• Review, negotiate as needed, and approve change orders and applications for payment. Evaluate the cost and schedule impacts of proposed changes and maintain appropriate project documentation. Resolve conflicts that may occur during construction.
• Lead comprehensive risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring for complex capital projects; anticipate emerging technical, financial, schedule, procurement, regulatory, operational, and stakeholder risks and develop mitigation strategies before they materially affect project outcomes. Provide clearly defined alternatives and risk mitigation recommendations.
• Perform final inspection of projects and establish in collaboration with design professionals, substantial and final completion dates.
• Ensure that close out punch lists are comprehensive and have been addressed in advance of final payment. Ensure timely completion of commissioning, owner training, warranties, operations and maintenance documentation, and other project closeout requirements.
• Coordinates the interruption of utilities, power, steam/water, roads and parking caused by construction projects with affected departments and minimizes disruption to university operations.
• Apply sustainable design, energy efficiency, resiliency, and green building standards to all new construction and major renovation projects.
• Engage University stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle to establish consensus, communicate project decisions and impacts, and ensure that project outcomes align with institutional priorities.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of University-wide capital project management processes, standards, templates, reporting practices, and best practices, in coordination with Campus Planning and Facilities leadership.
• Perform other such duties as may be assigned from time to time
Position Qualifications
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or a closely related field. LEED accreditation or other relevant professional certification preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible design and construction project management experience, including substantial experience serving as an owner's representative for complex capital projects. Candidates with 15+ years of directly relevant experience are strongly preferred.
• Professional registration as an Architect or Professional Engineer, LEED accreditation, PMP, CCM, or other relevant professional certification is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex capital projects through the full project lifecycle, including programming, planning, design, permitting, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Demonstrated experience managing significant project budgets and financial forecasts, including contingencies, commitments, cash flow, change management, and projected costs at completion.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating and implementing project delivery methods and procurement strategies appropriate to project scope, complexity, schedule, and risk.
• Previous experience with higher education, government, or another complex institutional environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience serving as the client/owner's primary representative on major capital projects and managing architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other project partners.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, change management, project controls, construction administration, commissioning, and project closeout.
• Superior ability to read, interpret, and evaluate construction drawings, specifications, contracts, schedules, cost estimates, and other project documentation.
• Familiarity with relevant design and project-management software including AutoCAD/Revit, Sketch-Up, In-Design, Microsoft Project and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong knowledge of applicable building codes, ADA requirements, permitting and regulatory requirements, and sustainable design and construction practices.
• Exceptional verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership as well as technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, resolve complex problems, manage competing priorities, and make sound recommendations under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and support less-experienced project managers and contribute to the development of project management standards and best practices.
• Must be familiar with multiple project delivery methods and have experience managing projects in occupied or operational facilities.
• Must be familiar with multiple AI platforms and able to creatively leverage AI to increase productivity, improve project controls, and streamline workflows.
• Excellent project planning, organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills.
Work Hours: Mon - Fri 9:00 am - 5:00 plus additional hours may be required as needed.
