Construction Program Manager (Field Based)

ERM; Central (LA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Construction Program Manager to provide senior-level leadership across a multi-workstream capital program within a pharmaceutical or life-sciences manufacturing environment.

The role oversees planning, design coordination, procurement, construction execution, and turnover activities to ensure alignment between the owner, designers, contractors, commissioning/startup teams, and site operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a related field.
• 12+ years of experience managing complex capital construction projects, preferably as owner’s representative.
• Proven track record delivering projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Strong command of schedule management and cost control, with procurement and contract administration experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as owner’s representative and primary liaison among program leadership, design partners, GCs, and specialty contractors.
• Lead governance processes including decision logs, risk registers, and action trackers.
• Ensure scope clarity and cross-functional alignment; resolve cross-functional issues.
• Manage integrated master schedules, phasing strategies, and site logistics plans.
• Coordinate design development for constructability and CQV readiness; ensure operational alignment.
• Develop contracting strategies, bid packages, and procurement timelines to meet cost and schedule objectives.
• Own cost and schedule performance, including forecasting and contingency management.
• Perform critical path analysis and drive recovery actions as needed.
• Manage change control with contractors and vendors; negotiate scope, cost, and time adjustments.
• Lead bid solicitations, evaluations, award recommendations, and contract onboarding.
• Administer contracts with input from legal teams; validate progress and deliverables.
• Identify risks of claims early; drive dispute avoidance and resolution activities.
• Maintain daily field presence to validate progress and adherence to plans.

Skills

Schedule management

Cost control

Stakeholder management

Leadership

On-site supervision

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Procore/ACC

Excel/Power BI

Job description

ERM is hiring a Construction Program Manager in Multiple locations. The Construction Program Manager (Owner’s Representative) will provide senior‑level leadership across a multi‑workstream capital program within a pharmaceutical or life‑sciences manufacturing environment. This role oversees planning, design coordination, procurement, construction execution, and turnover activities – ensuring alignment between the owner, designers, contractors, commissioning/startup teams, and site operations.

The CPM translates complex field and technical information into clear, actionable insights for program leadership. They maintain a strong daily presence on site, proactively remove obstacles, and ensure the project is delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with quality and regulatory expectations.

While this role integrates strongly with Safety, Quality, and CQV stakeholders, it does not serve as a safety technical expert; rather, it champions safe work planning, engages the appropriate SMEs, and ensures issues are surfaced, tracked, and resolved.

This is a full‑time (40 hours per week) limited‑term role, with a duration of 12 months, renewable.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the owner’s representative and primary liaison between program leadership, design partners, GC/CMs, and specialty contractors.


• Lead governance processes (decision logs, risk/issue registers, action trackers, meeting cadences).


• Ensure scope clarity, workstream alignment, and timely resolution of cross‑functional issues.


• Lead creation and management of integrated master schedules, phasing strategies, and site logistics plans.


• Coordinate design development to ensure constructability, operational alignment, and alignment with CQV readiness.


• Develop contracting strategies, bid packages, and procurement timelines to support cost and schedule objectives.


• Own cost and schedule performance across the program, including forecasting, variance tracking, and contingency management.


• Perform critical path analysis and schedule risk reviews; drive recovery actions as needed.


• Manage change control processes and negotiate scope, cost, and time adjustments with contractors and vendors.


• Lead bid solicitations, evaluations, award recommendations, and contract onboarding.


• Administer contracts with support from commercial/legal teams; validate progress, pay applications, and deliverables.


• Identify risks of claims early, drive dispute avoidance strategies, and support resolution activities.


• Maintain a daily field presence to validate progress, sequencing, manpower, and adherence to plans/specifications.


• Coordinate closely with GC/CM on workface planning, logistics, and constraint removal.


• Oversee quality assurance processes, including submittals, inspections, non‑conformance management, and punchlist execution.


• Champion safety expectations and hold teams accountable for proper planning and execution.


• Interface with the Client/GC/EHS teams to track safety concerns, corrective actions, and systemic improvement opportunities.


• Manage the program risk register, ensuring risk mitigation and contingency strategies are defined and executed.


• Convert field details, contractor inputs, and technical data into concise executive‑ready updates and dashboards.


• Lead coordination meetings across design, construction, operations, permitting, quality, and CQV teams.


• Communicate proactively with key stakeholders to prevent gaps, misalignment, or schedule impacts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field (or equivalent experience).


• Minimum 12+ years managing complex capital construction projects, preferably as an owner’s representative or in a CM/GC organization.


• Demonstrated success delivering projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.


• Strong command of schedule management (CPM, critical path analysis) and cost control (forecasting, contingency management).


• Experience with procurement, bid processes, contract administration, and change management.


• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills; able to influence without direct authority.


• Proficiency with construction management tools (e.g., Primavera P6, MS Project, Procore/ACC, Excel/Power BI).


• Comfortable working 100% on site in an active construction program environment.

Preferred

• Experience delivering capital projects in pharmaceutical or life sciences environments.


• Experience coordinating with CQV teams and integrating construction with startup/qualification needs.


• Familiarity with safety management frameworks and working alongside EHS teams.


• Experience with BIM/VDC workflows and model-based coordination.


• Professional certifications: PMP, CCM, CM‑Lean, or similar.

Who We Are:

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world‑class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Thank you for your interest in ERM!