Senior Project Manager, CPD

About The Department

Facilities Services supports the mission of the University of Chicago through efforts to maintain and enhance the University campus and environment and provide superior client service to our community including faculty, students, staff, neighbors and visitors.

Reporting to the Director of Construction Management, Director of Design and Project Management, or Assistant Director of Project Management, the Facilities Services Capital Project Delivery (CPD) Senior Project Manager is responsible for providing professional project management and leadership on important capital projects for the University.

• Works with limited guidance to manage the planning, design, and execution of major capital projects by providing project leadership, communication, coordination & conflict resolution to ensure project goals are met and client relationships are maintained.
• Manage a project portfolio that could range from a single large complex project to a program of smaller projects for university unit(s).
• Support Facilities Services and other University departments and units in pre-project planning activities, including annual capital improvement plans including assessments, programming/scope development, budget and schedule preparation, and identification of submittals & approval processes.
• Manage projects from initiation through final project construction completion and closeout.
• Manage and be responsible for project budget, schedule, and procurement processes, including but not limited to design and construction services.
• Drive progress of consultants to achieve expected functionality and qualitative and quantitative aspects of the design. Recommend alternatives to keep the project on schedule and within budget and consider upfront costs versus long range maintenance requirements.
• Facilitate timely decisions, consulting with CPD leadership and campus representatives, to report progress and issues impacting the project goals to stakeholders.
• Take responsibility for timely and comprehensive communications with all project stakeholders and the larger University community.
• Ensure timely review of contract documents throughout all phases of the project, including building code compliance and accessibility reviews to avoid delays to the project.
• Ensure that stakeholder comments are provided, documented and are responded to, and that resolutions of the comments are incorporated into the projects.
• Facilitate Departmental and University approvals at each design milestone and as required during construction.
• Advocate with integrity for the University in contract negotiations.
• Review and approve design and construction contracts, changes, technical service contracts, GMP submittals, bid documents, pay applications, in accordance with University policies.
• Apply departmental project control processes and systems for consistency, to mitigate risks, and to assure compliance with policies, rules, and regulations as well as all applicable authorities having jurisdiction.
• Primary project liaison with campus, facility user groups, operations, and administration throughout a project to ensure timely input, manage expectations, resolve conflicts and facilitate decisions, deliver project on time and within budget and meet or exceed the programmatic and client goals for the project.
• Senior Project Managers are considered lead managers, in that they will be expected to set a positive example, provide technical support and mentorship to other Project Managers and/or Assistant Project Managers in addition to managing their own projects.
• Senior Project Managers will be expected to lead and/or contribute to various CPD program processes, process improvements, and initiatives on an ongoing and as needed basis.
• Continually communicate between the Capital Project Delivery Leadership team, the staff of Facilities Services including Operations and Maintenance, Finance and Business Services, and Campus Planning and Sustainability. Additionally coordinate with other University and departmental stakeholders to ensure a common understanding of objectives, resources, and priorities.
• Ensure client satisfaction by quality work and communication.
• Ensure that the project’s program objectives are met by:
  Encouraging strong user group involvement; testing consistency and compatibility of design to end-user needs; developing prioritization of scope and design elements; documenting and defining clear goals and defining the roles and responsibilities of the Project Team (including consultants and members of the University); ensuring communication through all stakeholders using feedback and direction; ensuring that the project’s design objectives and its integration with university standards are met by reviewing design documents for clarity, completeness, coordination of discipline and constructability for use by internal and external parties;
  
  coordinating the design and construction of spaces and buildings with the University Architect;…