Project Manager

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join Harvard University Central Administration?

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Harvard Capital Projects (HCP) is an internal resource for the Harvard community providing project management services across the entire campus. HCP works collaboratively with a variety of Harvard Schools and Departments, providing project management services for a variety of campus renewal, campus growth, and development and undergraduate house renewal projects. HCP prides itself on being a center of excellence for capital project delivery.

The Project Manager reports to the Associate Director for Campus Renewal and will be responsible for managing primarily energy and utility related projects including mechanical and electrical infrastructure upgrades, building system upgrades, and building envelope upgrades. The project manager may also manage tenant fit outs for both academic and commercial use.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Project Management

• Works independently and successfully manage, in whole or in part as assigned, core project activities: budget, scope, and schedule with demonstrated prior experience in project administration and contract negotiation.
• The individual should be able to review, organize, and analyze data to make strategic decisions on core project activities/assignments for review with Senior Project Manager or Associate Director.
• Effective management of design and consultant teams.
• Effective management of internal Harvard Campus Services stakeholders and processes.
• Established knowledge of professional project management, architecture, engineering, or construction management skills and best practices for design and construction across a variety of project types and/or stakeholders. Applies knowledge thoughtfully and strategically to manage/ implement core project requirements in alignment with department and university mission.     
• Nature of work is primarily independent on low complexity projects.
• Accountable for delivery of tasks operating within guidelines/policies. 
• Has established organization methods/tools for communication, tracking progress, and escalating issues to supervisor. 
• Prepares initial drafts of project scope, budget and schedules and is accountable for clearly defined activities with some complexity. 
• Reviews design concepts, tracks submittals, and provides day-to-day direction to project team with assistance from Senior Project Manager or Associate Director.
• Frequently works on issues requiring strategic thinking. 
• Identifies issues, potential risks, gathers facts and finds successful solutions to problems as they arise. 
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and policies to determine appropriate action or innovation to implement core project requirements. 
• Works regularly with Senior Project Manager or Associate Director to review solutions and strategies to limit risk, communicate clearly, and improve core skill set with a goal of more independent management.  
• Participates as the lead of the project team from design, permitting approvals, to construction and closeout. 
• Manages the project delivery process through all project phases. 
• Facilitates communication throughout project, particularly during transition from one phase to the next. 
• Works with HCP leadership to develop and maintain project schedules and budgets for all projects.
• Participates in the owner’s construction meetings to review construction progress and quality. Monitors, systematizes, recommends, and reports on all change proposals and monitors impact on project schedules and budgets. 
• Manages project quality control through design team, independent testing firms, commissioning authorities and other resources, as necessary.  
• Manages submittal review process to ensure expeditious processing.
• Observes all on site tests required by the contract documents and coordinates testing activities by agents retained by the Owner. Observes and reviews the contractor’s record drawings and reports any apparent failure by the contractor to maintain records. 
• Manages a timely and orderly project closeout processes. Works with consultants and operations personnel to prepare a punch-list for the contractor and ensure punch-list items have been addressed appropriately.

Financial Management

• Reviews and recommends for payment project invoices.
• Prepares and updates project cash flow projections. Provides budget updates, reviews proposed change orders and discusses project budget issues with HCP senior staff as needed.
• Guides design decisions by stakeholders to maintain the project scope within the approved scope and budget. Coordinates and takes part in the value engineering process.
• Working closely with Senior Project Manager or Associate Director, negotiating design and construction contracts and change orders.

Regulatory Approvals

• Together with other members of the project team, coordinates submissions to jurisdictional authorities for permitting. Ensures compliance with regulations and all authorities having jurisdiction. Arranges for all jurisdictional authorities’ inspection necessary to secure final approval for projects, as necessary.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications:

• Minimum 7 years of architectural, engineering, construction or project management experience.
• Bachelor’s degree is required, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience will be considered; Concentration of experience must be in a technical field (architecture, engineering, or construction) related to project management.
• Demonstrates understanding of the role and responsibility of a capital project manager for the client and stakeholders in alignment with the larger university mission.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

• Registered Professional Engineer (PE Mechanical/Electrical or Civil), or Licensed Architect is a plus. or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire date
• Project role requires the ability to gain cooperation of others, build consensus, conduct presentations of technical information concerning specific projects or schedules. 
• Demonstrates awareness of and aptitude for emotional/social intelligence as part of the successful management of team members, information, supervisors, and stakeholders on a capital project. 
• Clear communicator with an understanding of up-management and escalation of issues and information to Supervisor.
• Ability to thrive within a team structure.
• Ability to work with diverse constituencies.
• Familiarity with design and construction processes.
• Familiarity with City, State, and Federal processes, codes and/or ordinances.
• Ability to develop and maintain project budgets, cash flow projections and schedules.
• Skills in interpreting architectural and construction contracts.
• Ability to negotiate and resolve confrontational issues as they arise.
• Commitment to diversity and to serving the needs of a diverse organization.
• Design and construction of buildings with exemplary sustainability performance.

Standard Hours/Schedule: 40 hours per week

Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position

Pre-Employment Screening: Identity, Education, Criminal, CORI, References

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Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that some of the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed at a non-Harvard location. The work schedule and location will be set by the department at its discretion and based upon operational needs. When not working at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location, employees in hybrid positions must work in a Harvard registered state in compliance with the University’s Policy on Employment Outside of Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 059. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information. 

Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Generous paid time off including parental leave 
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one 
• Retirement plans with university contributions 
• Wellbeing and mental health resources 
• Support for families and caregivers 
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement 
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks 

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page. 

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.