Pre-Construction Project Manager

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Utah is seeking a Pre-Construction Project Manager to lead capital projects from programming through pre-construction, coordinating with architects, engineers, contractors, and facilities staff. The role focuses on budgeting, schedules, risk management, and stakeholder engagement to position projects for successful execution.

The position requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) with six years of related experience, or a master’s with four years.

Qualifications

• Requires bachelor’s (or equivalent) + 6 years of related experience, or master’s (or equivalent) + 4 years.
• Experience managing design, construction, facilities, or capital projects and coordinating scope, schedules, and budgets.
• Preference for higher education, healthcare, research, or institutional construction projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage capital projects through programming, planning, and pre-construction phases.
• Facilitate project initiation, feasibility studies, and project scope development.
• Coordinate planning with university departments, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and facilities personnel.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, schedules, cost estimates, and funding projections.
• Review plans and specs for alignment and feasibility.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Lead project meetings and update leadership.
• Ensure compliance with university policies, codes, accessibility, and regulations.
• Coordinate campus infrastructure impacts during planning.
• Assist in procurement activities including consultant selection and contract administration.
• Support value engineering and evaluate alternatives for cost effectiveness.
• Prepare executive summaries, presentations, and recommendations for leadership.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining quality, schedule, and budget.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting

Scheduling

Risk assessment

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management or related field

Master’s degree in related field

Tools

Project management software

Construction management software

Job description

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)

Job Summary

The Pre-Construction Project Manager is responsible for leading and managing planning, programming, design coordination, budgeting, estimating, scheduling, risk assessment, and stakeholder engagement activities for capital construction, renovation, and infrastructure projects. This position serves as the primary point of contact during the Pre-Construction phase and collaborates with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, facilities personnel, department leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure projects are strategically planned, appropriately scoped, and positioned for successful execution. The successful candidate will possess strong project management, communication, budgeting, and problem-solving skills and demonstrate the ability to manage projects of increasing size, complexity, and organizational impact.

Pre Construction Project Manager III (P48473) Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related field, or equivalency, plus six years of directly related experience; or a master’s degree, or equivalency, plus four years of directly related experience. Demonstrated experience managing design, construction, facilities, or capital projects and coordinating project scope, schedules, and budgets.

Pre Construction Project Manager IV (P48474 )Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related field, or equivalency, plus eight years of directly related experience; or a master’s degree, or equivalency, plus six years of directly related experience. Demonstrated experience leading complex capital projects, managing project planning and design activities, and coordinating diverse stakeholder groups.

Pre-Construction Project Manager V (P48475) Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, Facilities Management, or a related field, or equivalency, plus ten years of directly related experience; or a master’s degree, or equivalency, plus eight years of directly related experience. Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, project development, risk management, and executive-level stakeholder engagement while managing large-scale or highly complex capital construction projects.

The department may hire at one of the following levels based on organizational needs and the candidate’s qualifications, skills, and experience and demonstrated competencies.

Responsibilities

• Manage capital projects through programming, planning, and pre-construction phases.
• Facilitate project initiation, feasibility studies, and project scope development.
• Coordinate project planning efforts with university departments, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and facilities personnel.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, schedules, cost estimates, and funding projections.
• Review architectural and engineering plans, specifications, and other technical documents for project alignment and feasibility.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Lead project meetings and provide regular updates to stakeholders and leadership.
• Ensure compliance with applicable university policies, building codes, accessibility standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate campus infrastructure, utility, operational, and facility impacts during project planning.
• Assist in procurement activities including consultant selection, contractor engagement, and contract administration.
• Support value engineering efforts and evaluate project alternatives to maximize cost effectiveness and operational outcomes.
• Prepare executive summaries, presentations, reports, and recommendations for leadership review.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects while maintaining quality, schedule, and budget expectations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT : 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor’s degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).

Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:

Pre-Construction Project Manager, III : Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 6 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 4 years of directly related work experience.

Pre-Construction Project Manager, IV: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 8 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 6 years of directly related work experience.

Pre-Construction Project Manager, V: Requires a bachelor’s (or equivalency) + 10 years or a master’s (or equivalency) + 8 years of directly related work experience.

Preferences

• Experience managing higher education, healthcare, research, or institutional construction projects.
• Professional certifications such as PMP , CCM , LEED , DBIA , or equivalent.
• Knowledge of construction delivery methods including Design-Bid-Build, CM/GC, and Design-Build.
• Experience with capital planning, facilities management, and campus development.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, cost estimating, scheduling, and risk management principles.
• Experience facilitating stakeholder engagement across diverse groups.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with project management and construction management software.

Type

Special Instructions Summary

Additional Information

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at [phone] for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at [phone] or [phone] or University Human Resource Management at [phone] if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX ( OEO ). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non‑Discrimination page.

Online reports may be submitted at https://oeo.utah.edu

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/ This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members , a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.

University Human Resource Management
250 East 200 South, Suite 125 Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Contact us: [phone] By Email: [e-mail]