Capital Projects & Procurement Manager

Valliant Consulting Group; Laguna (NM); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pueblo of Laguna Department of Education in Laguna, NM is seeking an experienced Procurement / Capital Improvements Project Manager to oversee capital improvement projects across educational facilities and infrastructure.

The role reports to Finance & Accounting and requires strong project management, procurement, and leadership skills to maintain schedules, budgets, and regulatory compliance. Onsite in Laguna with commuter support for Albuquerque/Grants residents.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, or related field.
• Minimum five years of experience managing capital improvement or construction projects, in government, Tribal, educational, or public sector.
• Experience with budgets, procurement, and construction activities; NM procurement certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Directs all phases of capital improvement projects from planning to closeout.
• Manages schedules, budgets, procurement, and contractor activities to ensure on-time delivery.
• Coordinates with school leadership, tribal departments, and regulators.
• Ensures compliance with tribal, state, and federal requirements.
• Leads staff development, performance reviews, and teamwork initiatives.

Skills

Project management

Procurement

Contract management

Budgeting

Communication

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project management software

Procurement software

Job description

The Pueblo of Laguna Department of Education is seeking an experienced and organized Procurement / Capital Improvements Project Manager to oversee capital improvement projects that support educational facilities and infrastructure throughout the organization.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Accounting, this position manages the planning, procurement, coordination, construction, and successful completion of capital improvement projects while ensuring projects remain on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with Tribal, State, Federal, and organizational requirements.

The successful candidate will serve as the primary liaison among contractors, consultants, Tribal departments, school leadership, and regulatory agencies, providing project oversight from initial planning through project closeout. This position requires a collaborative leader with strong project management, procurement, communication, and organizational skills who can successfully manage multiple projects, a team focused on financial outcomes, while maintaining a commitment to quality, safety, and fiscal responsibility.

This position is onsite in Laguna, New Mexico. Commuter support will be provided for candidates residing in Albuquerque or Grants.

Responsibilities / Essential Functions:

1. Capital Improvement Project Management

• Directs and manages all phases of capital improvement projects, including planning, budgeting, design, procurement, permitting, construction, inspection, and project closeout.
• Coordinates project schedules, milestones, contractor activities, and project deliverables to ensure successful completion.
• Conducts project inspections, monitors construction progress, and ensures compliance with approved plans, specifications, safety standards, and applicable regulations.
• Identifies project risks and develops solutions to minimize delays and maintain project schedules.

2. Procurement & Contract Administration

• Develops Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), bid specifications, and procurement documentation for capital projects.
• Coordinates contractor and consultant selection processes while ensuring compliance with applicable procurement regulations.
• Administers contracts, change orders, project documentation, and project records throughout each phase of construction.

3. Team Leadership & Development:

• Recruits, hires, trains, supervises, develops, mentors, and evaluates assigned staff for continual improvement.

4. Budget & Financial Oversight

• Develops and monitors project budgets, expenditures, and financial forecasts to ensure projects remain within approved funding.
• Assists with capital improvement planning, infrastructure budgeting, and departmental capital budgets.
• Reviews project costs, prepares financial updates, and identifies budget impacts or funding concerns.

5. Stakeholder Communication & Collaboration

• Serves as the primary point of communication for project stakeholders, including school leadership, Tribal departments, contractors, consultants, and regulatory agencies.
• Prepares and presents project updates, timelines, budget reports, and status presentations to the Board of Directors, Tribal Council, and organizational leadership.
• Collaborates closely with Public Works, Finance, Planning, and program leadership to support successful project implementation.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Engineering Technology, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience managing capital improvement or construction projects, preferably within a governmental, Tribal, educational, or public sector environment.
• Experience overseeing project budgets, contractor performance, procurement processes, and construction activities.
• New Mexico Chief Procurement Officer certification preferred or the ability to obtain certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Valid New Mexico Driver's License.
• Working knowledge of procurement regulations, construction administration, project budgeting, and applicable Tribal, State, and Federal requirements.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of capital improvement project planning, construction administration, procurement, and contract management.
• Understanding of engineering concepts, infrastructure construction, project scheduling, and construction inspection practices.
• Working knowledge of applicable Tribal, State, and Federal regulations governing public construction and procurement.
• Strong project management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present project information to executive leadership, governing boards, and Tribal Council.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships with contractors, consultants, Tribal leadership, and internal departments.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and project management, procurement, and financial software.