Construction Program Manager – Field Based

Jobtailor; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks an experienced Owner's Representative to lead complex capital construction programs on site in New Orleans. You will manage governance, schedules, costs, and CQV readiness, coordinating design development, procurement, contract administration, and safety.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree and 12+ years of capital construction experience, preferable in CM/GC environments. Strong CPM, cost control, and stakeholder management are essential, with pharma/life sciences exposure a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 12+ years managing complex capital construction projects, preferably as an owner's representative or in a CM/GC organization.
• Proven track record delivering projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Strong command of CPM and cost control (forecasting, contingency management).
• Experience with procurement, bid processes, contract administration, and change management.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership; able to influence without authority.
• Proficiency with Primavera P6, MS Project, Procore/ACC, Excel, Power BI.
• On-site work 100% in an active program environment.
• Preferred: pharma/life sciences project experience; CQV coordination; BIM/VDC familiarity.
• Certifications: PMP, CCM, CM-Lean or similar.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the owner's representative and primary liaison between program leadership, design partners, GC/CMs, and specialty contractors.
• Lead governance processes, including decision logs, risk/issue registers, action trackers, and meeting cadences.
• Ensure scope clarity, workstream alignment, and timely resolution of cross-functional issues.
• Lead integrated master schedules, phasing strategies, and site logistics plans.
• Coordinate design development for constructability, operational alignment, and CQV readiness.
• Develop contracting strategies, bid packages, and procurement timelines.
• Own cost and schedule performance, including forecasting, variance tracking, and contingency management.
• Perform critical path analysis and schedule risk reviews; drive recovery actions.
• Manage change control and negotiate scope, cost, and time adjustments.
• Lead bid solicitations, evaluations, award recommendations, and contract onboarding.
• Administer contracts; validate progress, pay applications, and deliverables.
• Identify claims risks, drive dispute avoidance, and support resolution activities.
• Maintain daily field presence to validate progress, sequencing, manpower, and adherence to plans/specifications.
• Coordinate workface planning, logistics, and constraint removal with GC/CM.
• Oversee quality assurance, submittals, inspections, non-conformance management, and punchlist execution.
• Champion safety expectations and hold teams accountable for proper planning and execution.
• Track safety concerns, corrective actions, and systemic improvement opportunities with Client/GC/EHS teams.
• Manage the program risk register and execute mitigation and contingency strategies.
• Convert field details, contractor inputs, and technical data into executive-ready updates and dashboards.
• Lead coordination meetings across design, construction, operations, permitting, quality, and CQV teams.
• Communicate proactively with stakeholders to prevent gaps, misalignment, and schedule impacts.

Skills

Construction Management

Schedule Management

Cost Control

Contract Administration

Stakeholder Management

Leadership

Critical Path Analysis

Change Management

Procurement

Risk Management

Communication

Education

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

12+ years capital construction project experience

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Procore/ACC

Excel

Power BI

Job description

• Serve as the owner's representative and primary liaison between program leadership, design partners, GC/CMs, and specialty contractors
• Lead governance processes, including decision logs, risk/issue registers, action trackers, and meeting cadences
• Ensure scope clarity, workstream alignment, and timely resolution of cross-functional issues
• Lead integrated master schedules, phasing strategies, and site logistics plans
• Coordinate design development for constructability, operational alignment, and CQV readiness
• Develop contracting strategies, bid packages, and procurement timelines
• Own cost and schedule performance, including forecasting, variance tracking, and contingency management
• Perform critical path analysis and schedule risk reviews; drive recovery actions
• Manage change control and negotiate scope, cost, and time adjustments
• Lead bid solicitations, evaluations, award recommendations, and contract onboarding
• Administer contracts; validate progress, pay applications, and deliverables
• Identify claims risks, drive dispute avoidance, and support resolution activities
• Maintain daily field presence to validate progress, sequencing, manpower, and adherence to plans/specifications
• Coordinate workface planning, logistics, and constraint removal with GC/CM
• Oversee quality assurance, submittals, inspections, non-conformance management, and punchlist execution
• Champion safety expectations and hold teams accountable for proper planning and execution
• Track safety concerns, corrective actions, and systemic improvement opportunities with Client/GC/EHS teams
• Manage the program risk register and execute mitigation and contingency strategies
• Convert field details, contractor inputs, and technical data into executive-ready updates and dashboards
• Lead coordination meetings across design, construction, operations, permitting, quality, and CQV teams
• Communicate proactively with stakeholders to prevent gaps, misalignment, and 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
• Preferred: Experience coordinating with CQV teams and integrating construction with startup/qualification needs
• Preferred: Familiarity with safety management frameworks and working alongside EHS teams
• Preferred: Experience with BIM/VDC workflows and model-based coordination
• Preferred: Professional certifications: PMP, CCM, CM-Lean, or similar

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in managing complex capital construction projects, ensuring scope clarity, cost control, and schedule management while effectively communicating with stakeholders. Proficient in leading governance processes, contract administration, and safety management within active construction environments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Construction Management
• Schedule Management
• Cost Control
• Contract Administration
• Stakeholder Management

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Critical Path Analysis
• Change Management
• Risk Management
• Bid Processes
• Forecasting

Soft Skills

• Excellent Communication
• Leadership Skills
• Influencing Without Authority

Certifications & Qualifications

• PMP
• CCM
• CM-Lean

Industry Keywords

• Capital Construction Projects
• CQV
• Pharmaceutical
• Life Sciences
• Safety Management

Tools & Technologies

• Primavera P6
• MS Project
• Procore/ACC
• Excel
• Power BI