Construction Project Manager

ACTalent; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k

Flexible PTO

Commuter benefits

Paid family leave

Professional development

Volunteer time off

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Project Manager based in Chicago to lead large-scale interior construction projects from initiation to turnover, owning schedule, cost, quality, and client satisfaction.

You will mentor junior staff, drive business development, and coordinate with owners, engineers, and vendors in mission-critical environments while modeling integrity and curiosity in every decision.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience managing commercial interior and related construction projects (incl. $1M+).
• Proven PM track record in commercial construction/GC environments.
• Experience leading teams and coordinating with clients, design partners, and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Model and reinforce core values in decision-making.
• Manage client, data center, and project-partner relationships.
• Support business development for mission-critical & commercial interiors.
• Lead procurement planning and long-lead equipment.
• Oversee project finances, contingency, and cost recovery.
• Mentor Project Engineers and Coordinators throughout the lifecycle.

Skills

Commercial PM

Data center projects

Client relationships

Leadership

MEP systems

Communication

Education

BS in Construction Management/Engineering

Tools

Procore

MS Office

Job description

Job Title: Project Manager

Job Description

The Project Manager leads multiple large-scale mission critical and commercial interior construction projects from initiation through turnover, with full accountability for financial performance, quality, schedule, and client satisfaction. This role combines strategic leadership, hands‑on project management, and mentorship of junior team members to deliver complex data center, high‑tech, and commercial projects. The Project Manager builds strong client relationships, drives business development opportunities, and ensures that all project requirements are executed to a high standard while modeling core values of empathy, perseverance, integrity, and curiosity.

Responsibilities

• Model and reinforce core values of empathy, perseverance, integrity, and curiosity in all decision‑making and day‑to‑day execution.

• Manage and grow strong, positive relationships with clients, data center operators, project partners, architects, engineers, commissioning agents, and owners.

• Participate in and support business development efforts focused on mission critical, data center, high‑tech, and commercial interior clients.

• Take initiative on new business development opportunities, including lead generation, pursuit strategy, and follow‑up with prospective clients.

• Build confidence and proficiency in interviewing, presenting, and pitching services to prospective clients and mission critical stakeholders.

• Represent the organization at project kickoff, milestone, commissioning, turnover, and closeout meetings to strengthen relationships and leave a lasting impression.

• Maintain proactive, clear, and professional communication with project partners, prioritizing verbal communication and following up with thorough written documentation.

• Manage project issues by clearly presenting both the problem and potential solutions to the Team Lead and other stakeholders.

• Deliver performance feedback and contribute to formal performance reviews for direct reports, providing clear guidance and actionable coaching.

• Delegate effectively, oversee workload balance across the project team, and provide support and direction to junior staff.

• Provide mentorship, oversight, and day‑to‑day support to Project Engineers and Project Coordinators throughout the project lifecycle.

• Participate in onboarding and training for new team members and present ongoing process improvement and best‑practice trainings.

• Serve as the final point of accountability for assigned projects, ensuring all project requirements are completed accurately, on time, and to established standards, while taking full ownership of team performance and deliverables.

• Observe and manage the prime contract process, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and project requirements.

• Participate in trade partner selection, interviews, awards, and buyouts with a particular focus on critical systems contractors and key equipment vendors.

• Participate in the creation of Scopes of Work, Exhibit A documents, and Schedules of Values for all Work Orders to ensure clarity and alignment with project objectives.

• Lead procurement planning and management for long‑lead mission critical equipment, including switchgear, generators, UPS systems, PDUs, cooling systems, and controls packages.

• Monitor project financial performance by overseeing budgets, managing contingency and allowances, and ensuring alignment with profit goals and general requirements.

• Ensure timely delivery of accounting questionnaires, pencil draw submissions, and change order or claims approvals.

• Manage claims, financial reconciliation, commissioning closeout costs, and planning for Day 2 work.

• Oversee job cost details and financial forecasting, managing cost recovery, contingency, allowances, and general requirements.

...

• Demonstrate strong integrity by following through on commitments, taking ownership of decisions, and upholding responsibility for overall project success while serving as a reliable leader for junior staff.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 8 years of experience successfully managing commercial interior projects as well as other construction projects, including projects of $1M or more.

• Proven experience as a Project Manager in commercial construction, preferably within general contracting.

• Experience managing large‑scale MEP systems and critical infrastructure installations, including equipment procurement, startup, and turnover activities.

...

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to prioritize verbal communication and follow up with clear, professional written documentation.

• Demonstrated integrity, accountability, and ownership of project outcomes, including financial performance and team deliverables.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, or a related field is preferred but not required.

...

• Interest in continuous improvement, process refinement, and sharing best practices with the broader team.

Work Environment

The Project Manager is based in a Chicago office environment and occasionally travels to project sites as needed to support field activities, commissioning, and turnover. The work involves close collaboration with field leadership, design consultants, commissioning agents, and client teams on mission critical, data center, and commercial interior projects. Projects span sectors such as workplace, amenity, retail, hospitality, healthcare, lab and life sciences, and education, offering exposure to a variety of complex, high‑stakes environments. The organization operates as a best‑in‑class general contractor with a culture built on empathy, integrity, perseverance, curiosity, humility, and respect. Team members support one another, remain accountable for doing work the right way, and focus on delivering exceptional value to clients. The environment is collaborative and fast‑paced, with high expectations for quality, safety, and performance. Technology tools such as Procore are used extensively for project management, documentation, and coordination. The role involves typical professional office attire when in the office or meeting clients and appropriate safety‑compliant attire when visiting construction sites.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $180000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Gold PPO Health Insurance 401k Plan Unlimited Flex PTO Commuter Benefits, Paid Family Leave Professional Development Volunteer Time Off

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 27, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News‑Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.