Construction Project Specialist (TOP SECRET CLEARANCE REQUIRED)

ISI Professional Services; Lakewood (CO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

ISI Professional Services is seeking up to three full‑time Project Specialists – Level 3 to support the National Park Service Denver Service Center in providing design and pre‑construction program support for secure facilities.

The Project Specialist will assist NPS Project Managers with cradle‑to‑grave project execution, design reviews, contract administration, and stakeholder coordination on complex, multi‑trade construction in sensitive environments.

Qualifications

• Four‑plus‑year Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction, or ABET‑accredited field with eight years of relevant work experience and current registration as a US professional engineer or architect.
• Alternatively Master’s degree with at least six years of relevant experience or Doctorate with at least four years of relevant experience.
• Experience as Design Manager, Construction Management Representative, Owner’s Representative, Project Specialist, Project Manager, or similar role.
• Experience on at least three construction projects in the past five years with construction value ≥ $1 million.
• Active Top Secret clearance; ability to travel to Washington, DC and other project locations for classified review and site visits.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive government information.

Responsibilities

• Assist NPS Project Managers with cradle‑to‑grave project execution from planning through closeout.
• Serve as technical point of contact for assigned projects and provide PM and design review support.
• Oversee and inspect work by design contractors for constructability and compliance.
• Review submissions for constructability, practicality, and security considerations.
• Coordinate with NPS, Denver Service Center, government agencies, contractors, designers, and stakeholders.
• Support scope, schedule, budget, quality, and programming criteria; propose corrective actions.
• Prepare scopes of work, cost estimates, and contract modification documentation.
• Review price proposals, work proposals, schedules, and contractor requests for payment.
• Participate in negotiations, prepare pre‑negotiation positions, and document outcomes.
• Coordinate and de‑conflict stakeholder comments; prepare meeting agendas and minutes.
• Support project meetings, progress updates, risks, and required decisions.
• Assist in disputes resolution and prepare completion reports and closeout documents.

Skills

Project management

Construction management

Contract administration

Stakeholder coordination

Design review

Cost analysis

Schedule analysis

Technical writing

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/Engineering/Construction

Master’s degree in ABET‑accredited Engineering/Construction

Doctorate in ABET‑accredited Engineering/Construction

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Project

Job description

ISI Professional Services provides mission‑critical expertise across a wide range of functional and operational areas. ISI brings over 30 years of experience providing tailored workforce and project management solutions across the U.S. we specialize in Program and Project Management, Construction Management, Real Estate Advisory, Acquisition Management, Logistics, Leadership Development, and more.

At ISI, our people are the heart of our success. We prioritize engagement, professional growth, and a strong culture to succeed together. As a Service‑Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), we are proud to support Veterans by creating opportunities for them to succeed.

Join ISI and be part of a team making a meaningful impact—delivering excellence and exceeding expectations every step of the way.

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. The salary range represents a general guideline as ISI considers several factors when determining compensation to include but not limited to the candidate’s experience, education, skills, and market location of the position.

Position Summary

ISI is seeking up to three full‑time Project Specialists – Level 3 to support the National Park Service Denver Service Center in providing design and pre‑construction program support for secure facilities.

The Project Specialist will assist NPS Project Managers with cradle-to‑grave project execution and technical construction administration support. The role includes design and constructability reviews, contract administration, stakeholder coordination, contractor oversight, technical document review, schedule and cost analysis, preparation of project documentation, and support for contract modifications, RFIs, submittals, claims, and project closeout.

This role is best suited for a cleared, experienced construction professional who has served as an Engineer, Construction Management Representative, Owner’s Representative, Project Specialist, Project Manager, or similar role on complex, multi‑trade construction projects in secure, sensitive, or highly constrained environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist NPS Project Managers with cradle‑to‑grave project execution from planning and design through construction and closeout.
• Serve as a technical point of contact for assigned projects and provide project management, and design review support.
• Oversee, manage, monitor, guide, and inspect work performed by design contractors on assigned projects.
• Review Government, A/E, contractor, design‑build, shop drawing, vendor, and other technical submissions for constructability, practicality, logistical considerations, security considerations, and compliance with established requirements.
• Coordinate with NPS, Denver Service Center, other Government agencies, contractors, designers, and project stakeholders.
• Support project compliance with scope, schedule, budget, quality, programming criteria, contract requirements, and project constraints.
• Identify technical, schedule, cost, and coordination issues; develop recommendations and corrective actions; and support resolution with the Project Manager and Contracting Officer.
• Prepare, review, and support Scopes of Work, technical documentation, cost estimates, Government estimates, Requests for Price Proposals, and contract modification documentation.
• Review and analyze contractor price proposals, work proposals, schedules, requests for payment, claims for additional cost and/or time, and related contract documents.
• Participate in fact‑finding, clarifications, and contract negotiation support; prepare pre‑negotiation positions and records of negotiation as required.
• Review, comment, track, and process contractor submittals, including Division 01 submittals and management plans.
• Coordinate and de‑conflict stakeholder comments on designs, shop drawings, submittals, and other technical documents.
• Prepare timely and accurate responses to Requests for Information through coordination with project stakeholders and review of contract documents.
• Arrange, conduct, and potentially chair project meetings; prepare agendas, meeting minutes, action items, and follow‑up documentation.
• Participate in recurring project conference calls and provide updates on progress, outstanding issues, upcoming work activities, risks, and required decisions.
• Assist in resolving disputes arising from contractor, stakeholder, and Government coordination issues.
• Prepare draft completion reports and other project closeout documentation.
• Support site visits, inspections, investigations, and meetings as required, including preparation of written findings, results, and recommendations.
• Maintain clear written and verbal communication in a complex, high‑visibility, secure, multi‑stakeholder construction environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Candidate must meet one of the following qualification paths:
• Four‑plus‑year Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction, or a related ABET‑accredited field; and at least eight years of relevant work experience; AND current registration as a Registered Architect or Professional Engineer in a U.S. state or territory;
• OR Master’s degree in an ABET‑accredited Engineering, Construction, or related field; and at least six years of relevant experience;
• OR Doctorate in an ABET‑accredited Engineering, Construction, or related field; and at least four years of relevant experience.
• Experience serving as a Design Manager, Construction Management Representative, Owner’s Representative, Project Specialist, Project Manager, or similar role.
• Experience on at least three construction projects within the previous five years, with each project having a construction value of at least $1 million.
• Active Top Secret clearance required.
• Must be able to travel occasionally to Washington, DC, and/or other project locations for classified document review, meetings, inspections, investigations, and site visits.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and comply with all requirements for handling classified, sensitive, privileged, and confidential Government information.

Other Experience Qualifications

• Experience coordinating closely with a Government or Owner representative.
• Experience supporting project activities near sensitive natural, cultural, historic, or similarly protected resources, including buildings, historical artifacts, or similar resources.
• Experience coordinating communication and work among multiple stakeholders in a project portfolio management environment.
• Experience representing and communicating the Government’s, Owner’s, or firm’s interests to stakeholders with varying and competing interests.
• Experience reviewing engineering designs, contractor shop drawings, vendor specifications, plans, or similar documents to determine constructability, practicality, and adherence to standards and requirements.
• Knowledge of design and construction practices, applicable building codes, construction contract administration, cost breakdown estimating, negotiation support, and technical writing.
• Knowledge of project management concepts and the authorities, responsibilities, and accountabilities of a project management environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel; ability to open, review, and manipulate Microsoft Project schedules.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience supporting high‑security federal programs.
• Experience supporting design‑build projects, phased construction, occupied facilities, historic properties, monuments, secure campuses, or mission‑critical federal facilities.
• Experience supporting contract modifications, claims analysis, schedule impact analysis, cost/time entitlement review, and dispute resolution.
• Experience preparing written technical analyses, formal correspondence, meeting minutes, project reports, negotiation documentation, and completion reports.
• Experience with Federal construction, Federal acquisition support, Government estimates, and owner’s representative responsibilities.

Work Schedule and Environment

• This is a full‑time position based on an average of 40 hours per week. Work will be performed primarily remotely, with occasional (monthly) office presence at Lakewood, CO; and travel to Washington, DC and/or other locations as required for classified document review, site visits, inspections, investigations, and meetings.
• Work hours are generally eight hours per day between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. Core hours are between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Alternate or compressed work schedules may be available only if approved.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to occasionally move and lift 20-30 pounds.
• Must be able to climb, erect and maintain balance on a 30-40 pound ladder.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary computer position for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to walk up to 1.5 miles per day between buildings.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods.
• Must be willing to work in external environments of rain, high heat and significant cold.
• Must be able navigate active construction sites containing uneven ground, debris, and active construction hazards such as sharp objects, electrical hazards, and potential fall hazards.
• Must be able to occasionally go into confined spaces and crawl.

To view ISI Professional Services' Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) statement, please visit: https://www.isiwdc.com/careers/eeo-policy-statement/