POSITION TITLE: Senior Project Manager
REPORTS TO: Project Executive/Director of Operations
DEPARTMENT: Operations
TYPE: Full time, Exempt
The Senior Project Manager oversees a portfolio of larger or more complex projects - often leading a team of Project Managers and their staff - and holds the highest level of combined project and people leadership below Project Executive. This is a people-management-designated role built around leading other Project Managers and their teams, not solely running an individual project. The Senior Project Manager is a trusted advisor to clients, a mentor to rising talent, and a driver of consistent operational excellence across every job in the portfolio.
This individual carries formal supervisory responsibility for one or more Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, and/or Project Engineers, including performance evaluation, coaching, staffing decisions, and input into hiring, promotion, and compensation for direct reports. Success in this role is measured not only by the financial and schedule performance of the portfolio, but by the strength and readiness of the team behind it.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following statements describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required.
Program and Project Leadership
- Oversee delivery of multiple projects or a major program, ensuring budget, schedule, and quality objectives are met across the full portfolio
- Set standards for project execution, documentation, and reporting across the portfolio, and audit projects periodically for compliance
- Serve as the primary escalation point for complex project, contract, or client issues, and drive timely resolution
- Lead pre-construction planning, constructability reviews, and buyout strategy for major or high-risk projects
- Monitor project schedules at the portfolio level and proactively intervene where delays or resource conflicts threaten milestones
- Champion quality control and safety programs across all projects in the portfolio, partnering with site leadership and EHS staff
- Review and negotiate owner and subcontractor contracts, ensuring terms protect the company's interests and support project execution
- Serve as the day-to-day lead on joint venture (JV) projects, coordinating scope, staffing, and decision making between JV partner firms.
- Ensure JV governance, reporting, and profit-sharing obligations are met in accordance with the join venture agreement.
People Leadership
- Supervise, coach, and formally evaluate Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, and/or Project Engineers
- Build bench strength across the team and support development toward Project Manager and beyond through structured mentorship
- Calibrate performance and compensation recommendations across direct reports in partnership with the Director of Operations
- Lead staffing and workload-balancing decisions across the portfolio, aligning talent to project complexity and client needs
- Set individual and team development goals, and conduct regular one-on-ones to track progress and remove roadblocks
- Model and reinforce the company's core values of Integrity, Community, Relationships, and Innovation in daily leadership
- Partner with Human Resources on recruiting, onboarding, and succession planning for the operations team
Client and Business Relationship
- Maintain senior-level client relationships and support repeat and referral business across the portfolio
- Represent the company in preconstruction pursuits, interviews, and major client presentations
- Act as a trusted advisor to owners and design teams, anticipating needs and proactively communicating project status and risk
- Cultivate relationships with architects, engineers, subcontractors, and community stakeholders to strengthen the company's reputation and pipeline
- Support business development efforts, including proposal input, interview preparation, and client relationship strategy
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with joint venture (JV) partner firms, ensuring aligned communication with owners and design teams
- Resolve JV partner disagreements diplomatically, balancing company interests with the health of the partnership and the success of the project
Financial Oversight
- Own P&L performance for the projects within their assigned portfolio, including monthly forecasting and variance analysis, rolling results up to the Project Executive
- Review and approve project-level financial forecasts, change orders, and risk assessments before submission
- Monitor cash flow, billing accuracy, and collections across the portfolio to protect company financial health
- Identify and mitigate financial and contractual risk early, escalating material issues to the Project Executive
- Ensure accurate cost coding, job cost reporting, and close-out documentation across all assigned projects
GENERAL BACKGROUND AND MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Education / Experience
- Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or related field plus 10-13 years of relevant experience, including 3+ years as a Project Manager; OR
- 15+ years of progressive construction leadership experience without a degree, with a demonstrated Project Manager track record; OR
- Internal promotion from Project Manager based on demonstrated performance
Safety Requirement
- Completion of OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Training or willingness to obtain within 6 months of employment
- Willingness to comply with company and OSHA safety requirements
- Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) including hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses, gloves, steel toe boots, and other specialized equipment as jobs require.
- Current certifications for First Aid and CPR or willingness to obtain
- Demonstrated commitment to a strong site safety culture, including active participation in safety audits and toolbox talks
Knowledge/Skills
- Understanding of construction methods, materials, and processes
- Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and teamwork abilities
- Experience managing joint venture (JV) relationships, including governance structures, shared reporting, and inter-company coordination
- Proficiency with construction management software (e.g. Procure, Bluebeam, Microsoft Project, or similar)
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel)
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The Senior Project Manager regularly splits time between an office environment and active construction sites. The employee must be able to perform duties in each setting as project needs require:
- Sit for extended periods and use a computer, phone, and other office equipment
- Occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift office materials, weighing up to 25 pounds
- Walk across uneven terrain and active construction areas during site visits
- Climb ladders, scaffolding, and permanent and temporary stairways as needed
- Stand or walk for extended periods and navigate partially completed structures
- Bend, kneel, crouch, and lift materials or equipment that weigh up to 40 pounds
- Work outdoors in varying weather conditions and be exposed to construction noise, dust and vibration
- Review documents and construction drawings and communication in person, by phone, or virtually
- Specialty project locations (such as industrial facilities, healthcare environments, or restricted sites) may involve additional safety requirements or environmental conditions
WORK AUTHORIZATION
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Holt Brothers Construction does not provide sponsorship for employment visas and will not consider applicants who require sponsorship now or in the future.