Construction Project Manager

O'Leary Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

O’Leary Group is seeking an experienced Construction Project Manager to act as the trusted client representative across multiple projects in New York City. You will guide decisions, maintain alignment among architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, vendors, and ownership, and take meaningful ownership while knowing when to elevate issues.

You will lead from planning through closeout, set priorities, and report progress to clients and internal leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in a related field.
• 5–10+ years in construction management, development, or owner-side PM.
• Experience delivering commercial construction or interior build-out projects.
• Strong understanding of sequencing, budgets, schedules, and procurement.
• Ability to read architectural, structural, and MEP drawings and specs.
• Experience reviewing payment apps, change orders, bids, and submittals.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Confidence leading meetings with clients, consultants, and senior stakeholders.
• Excellent organization, prioritization, and follow-through.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from early planning through construction and opening.
• Serve as primary day-to-day representative and trusted client advisor.
• Establish project priorities, decisions, and next steps.
• Coordinate architects, engineers, contractors, vendors, and clients.
• Develop and manage project schedules and budgets.
• Review bids, change orders, and submittals with accuracy.
• Lead meetings and report clearly to clients and leadership.
• Conduct site walks and monitor progress, quality, and sequencing.
• Identify risks early and plan practical resolutions.
• Support procurement, bidding, and negotiation processes.

Skills

Communication skills

Project management

Leadership

Organization

Problem solving

Independent work

Team collaboration

Client management

Education

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

Tools

Smartsheet

Microsoft Project

Procore

Microsoft Excel

Google Workspace

AI-enabled tools

Job description

O’Leary Group is a client representative project management firm that leads development and construction projects from the owner’s side of the table.

We help clients make informed decisions, protect their investment, and move complex projects forward with greater clarity and control. From early due diligence and planning through design, construction, and opening, we coordinate the people, information, and decisions required to deliver a successful project.

Our work spans retail, hospitality, wellness, commercial interiors, and other experience-driven environments. We are a hands-on, highly collaborative team known for thoughtful planning, proactive problem-solving, and an unwavering commitment to our clients and project partners.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Construction Project Manager to serve as a trusted client representative across multiple projects.

This role is for someone who understands construction deeply but also knows successful project leadership requires more than managing a schedule. You will help clients navigate complex decisions, establish accountability across the project team, proactively anticipate risks, and maintain alignment among architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, vendors, and ownership.

You will be expected to take meaningful ownership of your projects while knowing when to elevate an issue, seek input, or engage OLG leadership.

What You Will Own

• Lead projects from early planning and due diligence through construction, closeout, and opening
• Serve as the primary day-to-day representative and trusted advisor to the client
• Establish clear project priorities, responsibilities, decisions, and next steps
• Coordinate architects, engineers, contractors, expeditors, consultants, vendors, and client stakeholders
• Develop, maintain, and actively manage project schedules
• Track project budgets, commitments, forecasts, change orders, and potential cost exposures
• Review contractor proposals, bids, payment applications, change orders, submittals, and supporting documentation
• Lead project meetings and provide clear, concise reporting to clients and internal leadership
• Conduct site walks and monitor construction progress, quality, sequencing, and alignment with the project documents
• Identify risks early and develop practical plans to resolve them before they affect the project
• Support contractor procurement, competitive bidding, negotiation, and recommendation processes
• Maintain organized project documentation and a reliable record of decisions, approvals, and outstanding items
• Protect the client’s goals, budget, schedule, design intent, and overall project standard
• Travel to project sites as required

What Success Looks Like

Successful Project Managers at OLG:

• Create clarity when a project feels complicated or unclear
• Communicate proactively rather than waiting for clients or leadership to ask
• Understand both the details and the larger project objective
• Identify issues early and bring forward thoughtful recommendations
• Hold project partners accountable while maintaining productive relationships
• Provide realistic expectations and reliable follow-through
• Exercise sound judgment and know when a decision requires escalation
• Treat the client’s time, money, and project as though they were their own
• Contribute to the continued improvement of OLG’s systems, standards, and client experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
• Approximately 5–10+ years of relevant experience in construction management, general contracting, development, or owner-side project management
• Demonstrated experience delivering commercial construction or interior build-out projects
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing, contracts, budgets, schedules, procurement, and project controls
• Ability to read and interpret architectural, structural, and MEP drawings and specifications
• Experience reviewing contractor payment applications, change orders, bids, submittals, and schedules
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Confidence leading meetings and communicating with clients, consultants, contractors, and senior stakeholders
• Excellent organization, documentation, prioritization, and follow-through
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities without losing sight of critical details
• Strong judgment, resourcefulness, and a solutions-oriented mindset
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a small, high-performing team

Experience with retail, hospitality, wellness, restaurant, or complex commercial interior projects is strongly preferred. Prior design experience or experience working closely with design teams is a plus.

Technology

Candidates should be comfortable learning and working across modern project-management platforms. Experience with the following is helpful:

• Smartsheet
• Microsoft Project or similar scheduling software
• Procore or comparable construction-management platforms
• Microsoft Excel and the Microsoft Office or Google Workspace suites
• AI-enabled tools used to improve project documentation, analysis, and communication

Specific platform experience is valuable, but strong construction judgment, communication, and project leadership are more important than familiarity with every tool listed.

Location and Travel

This is a full-time position based in New York City. The role requires regular attendance at client meetings, project sites, and OLG team meetings. Travel outside New York may be required depending on project assignments.

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range is $100,000–$140,000, based on the candidate’s relevant experience, capabilities, and demonstrated level of project ownership.

The position is also bonus eligible.

• O’Leary Group is an equal opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.