Senior Program Manager

US-NJ-Princeton

Job ID: 2021-12719
Type: Full-Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Facilities Management and Physical Plant

Princeton University

Overview

Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Capital Projects within the Facilities Organization, the Senior Program Manager plays a critical role within the Office for Capital Projects (OCP) in executing on the Capital Plan projects at Princeton University. As Princeton implements the Capital Plan, the Senior Program Manager will set a strategic and integrated approach to implementing facilities projects within a defined program or collection of projects.

This individual must embody core values essential to the Facilities Organization including collaboration with academic and administrative leadership to support the Capital Plan, while cultivating and sustaining cooperative working relationships with local, county, and state agencies. The position will support the VP of Facilities, the AVP of Capital Projects and the University Architect in preparing for the Board of Trustees, Facilities Planning Group, and other committees involving developing projects.

Responsibilities

Project Administration

• Provide Project Managers (PM) guidance that is complementary to the organization’s strategic objectives and track the alignment of strategic objectives to project objectives.
• Allocate resources to projects within a program in accordance with the organization’s priorities and commitments and coordinate with leadership on OCP workload and staff resources.
• Work with Office of University Architect (OUA) and leadership to establish scheduling- and budgeting-related benchmarks.
• Provide input to project teams on governance, resources, priorities, risks and communications.
• Serve as liaison with executive sponsor, users and University administration.
• Monitor and assist project managers through project governance activities, including Facilities Planning Group and Trustee-level authorizations and approvals.
• Manage campus partnerships as necessary, and numerous other specialized areas of expertise that may be required.
• Create and be accountable for managing scope, budgets and service delivery to the project / program teams.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to Capital Projects team in support of their work.
• Participate in the selection process for consultant, preconstruction and contractor selection, when appropriate.
• Manage and oversee the lifespan of internal projects; including ongoing monitoring and oversight of service delivery and compliance with documentation standards.

Construction

• Closely monitor team performance to achieve project objectives.
• Work with PM and project team to take corrective action when issues arise on performance, cost control or schedule slippage.
• Collaborate to ensure PMs have established agendas and scheduled meetings.
• Lead discussions with CM and A/E on cost estimating process.
• Work closely with PM and finance team to monitor budget, including early phase options and alternates as documentation progresses.
• Work closely with PM and Project Planner, lead discussion to create and monitor overall project schedule including design process, procurement, approvals and construction/move in.
• Ensure communication is inclusive and includes project stakeholders and user representative(s).
• Actively participate in preparation for and meeting with senior leadership where PM reports out on project progress and risks.
• Closely monitor construction, turnover, and move-in preparation to ensure smooth project delivery.
• Ensure post construction issues are resolved.
• Ensure progress during project close out

Other

• Develop PMs as leaders within the organization and expand their capabilities to assume more and greater responsibility for project success, through a variety of means such as training, mentoring, and coaching.
• Serve as role model for the PM and project team through making timely and supportive decisions.
• Closely monitor progress and performance of team.
• Ensure quick resolution by PM/team as issues arise.
• Provide clear and timely communications on risks and project issues.
• Participate in senior leadership updates.

Qualifications

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as engineering, architecture, real estate, etc. or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrable successes in managing capital design and construction projects.
• Familiarity with construction contract law.
• Broad knowledge and expertise in various building types (e.g. Wet labs, residential, classroom, athletic, etc.)
• Knowledgeable in municipal approval processes.
  Demonstrated leadership of people with proven skills in effectively engaging and motivating staff.
• Significant experience and exercise good judgement in decision processes and leading/managing diverse teams with conflicting needs or requirements.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as the ability to develop and maintain effective customer relationships within a team approach to construction management.
• Ability to manage multiple complex projects with varying scope and multiple stages of completion.
• Possess assertive and collaborative skills capable of maintaining momentum of projects and driving them to successful conclusion in a politically sensitive manner.
• Effective organizational, prioritization and multi-tasking skills.
• Ability to understand existing policies, processes and procedures; and conceive of and implement new work procedures to enhance efficiency or execution to individual project circumstances.
• Be inherently collegial and service oriented.
• Strong ability to analyze complex data and discover insights that produce real-world impact and improvement.
• Political and organizational savvy, remaining sensitive to the culture of the University and its many constituencies, but driven both to accomplish progress and to develop others.
• Possess the ability to successfully manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in engineering, architecture, business, or related field.
• Previous experience working in the higher education environment, in the construction industry, or real estate development.

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. EEO IS THE LAW

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