Pharma Construction Program Lead

ERM; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Construction Program Manager to lead a multi-workstream capital program in a pharmaceutical or life‑sciences environment. You will coordinate planning, design, procurement, construction execution, and turnover, maintaining a strong on‑site presence to ensure safety, schedule, and budget objectives are met.

The role requires 12+ years of complex project experience, proficiency in CPM and cost control, and hands‑on leadership across design, construction, CQV, and operations.

Qualifications

• 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) 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.

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.

Skills

Schedule management (CPM)

Cost control

Stakeholder management

Leadership

On-site leadership

Procore/ACC

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Procore/ACC

Excel/Power BI

Job description

ERM is seeking a Construction Program Manager to lead a multi-workstream capital program in a pharmaceutical or life‑sciences environment. You will coordinate planning, design, procurement, construction execution, and turnover, maintaining a strong on‑site presence to ensure safety, schedule, and budget objectives are met.

The role requires 12+ years of complex project experience, proficiency in CPM and cost control, and hands‑on leadership across design, construction, CQV, and operations.