Construction Project Manager

Description

: Serves as owner’s representative for assigned capital construction and renovation projects, managing the full project lifecycle from programming and design through construction, closeout, and occupancy. Coordinates with end-users, architects, engineers, and contractors to ensure projects are delivered on scope, on schedule, and within budget. Supports development and maintenance of campus facilities standards and contributes to capital project pipeline planning.

JOB DUTIES

• Leads assigned projects from initial client requirements and programming through design, procurement, construction, and closeout. Acts as owner’s representative, maintaining accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and quality at all project phases. Facilitates project kick-off, conducts regular progress meetings, tracks action items, and ensures timely decision-making by stakeholders.
• Manages the design process for assigned new construction and renovation projects, coordinating with architects, engineers, and consultants to develop construction documents that meet program requirements, budget targets, and campus design standards. Reviews design documents at each phase milestone for scope compliance, constructability, and alignment with TU standards. Develops and maintains project budgets from programming through construction completion.
• Monitors and controls project schedules and costs throughout all project phases. Reviews contractor schedule submittals, tracks progress against baseline, and identifies risks to schedule or budget. Reviews and processes contractor pay applications, change order requests, and potential claims. Maintains contingency logs and provides regular cost and schedule status reports to supervisor and stakeholders.
• Serves as primary point of contact between end-users, campus administrators, design professionals, and contractors throughout the project lifecycle. Communicates project status, manages stakeholder expectations, facilitates issue resolution, and escalates significant risks or decisions to supervisor. Coordinates with Facilities Services, Information Technology Services (ITS),, and other campus departments to ensure operational continuity during construction.
• Manages project closeout, including punch list completion, collection of as-built drawings and O&M manuals, commissioning coordination, systems training for Facilities staff, final payment processing, and archiving of project documentation per department policy. Tracks warranty items and coordinates resolution with contractors during the warranty period.
• Supports capital project pipeline development by evaluating proposed projects, preparing project charters, and maintaining the department’s project database. Assists with development of project scopes, preliminary budgets, and schedules for projects entering the Capital Improvement Program.
• Assists in developing and maintaining campus facilities design standards for use by design professionals on TU projects. Ensures standards address accessibility, sustainability, campus identity, and operational maintainability. Coordinates updates with Facilities Services and other stakeholders as construction practices and campus requirements evolve.
• Maintains and organizes project construction documents throughout the project lifecycle, including contracts, drawings, specifications, Requests for Information (RFIs),, submittals, change orders, meeting minutes, and correspondence. Ensures document control practices support audit readiness and institutional record-keeping requirements.
• Coordinates with building and landscape maintenance staff throughout design and construction to ensure projects account for long-term operational and maintenance requirements. Facilitates construction-to-operations handoff, including systems commissioning, staff training, and transfer of as-built documentation and warranty information to Facilities Services.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Cooperates and collaborates with other employees in the spirit of teamwork and collegiality and interacts with confidence, patience and integrity to provide professional leadership during emergencies.
• Complies with all Trinity University policies and guidelines.
• Performs other duties as required.

EDUCATION

Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred:

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Mechanical or Civil Engineering, or related field; or master’s degree in a related field.

EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Five or more years of experience in facilities design and construction project management, including experience managing projects from design through construction closeout.
• Familiarity with competitive bidding, sole-source justification, Job Order Contracting (JOC), and design-build or Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) procurement processes applicable to institutional construction projects.
• Experience with construction project management software (Procore, e-Builder, or equivalent) and document management tools (Bluebeam or equivalent). Ability to read and interpret construction documents, including architectural, civil, mechanical, and electrical drawings.
• Familiarity with with USGBCU.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
  (LEED) certification process, including documentation requirements and sustainable design principles as applied to institutional construction projects.
• Experience with construction safety compliance, including familiarity with OSHA standards applicable to commercial/institutional construction sites.

Preferred:

• Experience as an owner’s representative on construction projects within an educational institution.
• Demonstrated experience simultaneously managing a high volume of concurrent small capital projects or a Job Order Contracting portfolio.
• OSHA 10-Hour or 30-Hour Construction certification.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Required:

• Working knowledge of construction methods, materials, and commercial/institutional building codes, including familiarity with IBC International Building Code (IBC), ADA, and applicable life-safety requirements.
• Strong interpersonal, customer service, and verbal/written communication skills; ability to prepare and present clear project status reports and correspondence to diverse audiences including end-users, senior administrators, and contractors.
• Working understanding of commercial/institutional building mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems as they relate to construction project scope and budget.
• Ability to read and interpret construction documents, including architectural, structural, civil, mechanical, and electrical drawings and specifications.
• Knowledge of construction contract administration, including RFI and submittal processes, change order evaluation, pay application review, and claims avoidance principles.
• Ability to identify, document, and communicate project risks; skill in developing mitigation strategies and escalating issues appropriately to minimize schedule and cost impacts.
• Proficiency in construction project management software (Procore or equivalent), document management tools (Bluebeam or equivalent), and Microsoft Office Suite including Project or equivalent scheduling tool.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

Required:

• Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License and have a good driving history. May not have more than two moving violations in a three-year period.

Preferred:

• Engineer in Training (EIT) certification
• Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or Project Management Professional (PMP), issued by the Project Management Institute (PMI).
• LEED Green Associate, issued by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None. May provide informal work direction or guidance to student workers, interns, or junior staff on assigned projects.

NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS

None

DECISION MAKING

Plan and perform work of moderate-to-high complexity involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and evolving project conditions. Applies established department procedures and professional judgment to routine project decisions; escalates significant scope, budget, schedule, or contractual issues to supervisor for guidance and approval.

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITY

Manages total project budgets for assigned capital projects, including tracking design fees, construction costs, contingency, and soft costs. Reviews and processes contractor pay applications and change order requests. Reports budget status and variances to supervisor. No independent departmental budget authority.

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

$2,500,000 to $5,000,000