Project Director (Workplace Project Management Advisory)

Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc.; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement contributions

Flextime and telecommuting

Parental leave

Job summary

Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), a merged firm with PMA, seeks a Project Director to lead complex workplace and tenant improvement projects in a sophisticated tech environment in San Francisco. This hybrid role collaborates with client leadership, facilities, and design partners to translate business objectives into delivery outcomes.

You will oversee planning, design, construction, and occupancy, mentor project teams, manage budgets and schedules, and drive exceptional client service during active

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in real estate development or project management.
• Experience leading corporate workplace or tenant improvement projects.
• Experience acting as Owner's Representative or PM for corporate clients.
• Ability to manage complex stakeholder groups and multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead client relationships and serve as trusted advisor through the project lifecycle.
• Direct planning, design, construction, and occupancy phases.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and project controls.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors, and other partners.
• Mentor Project Managers and support staff.
• Contribute to business development and client proposals.

Skills

Real estate development experience

Leadership & stakeholder management

Client relationship management

Project management

Multidisciplinary leadership

Job description

Working at B&D means more than just having a job; it means building a career. Explore a future with B&D, which offers exceptional benefits, a collaborative multidisciplinary approach, an inclusive environment, and ample opportunities for career advancement.

Brailsford & Dunlavey and PMA have integrated hiring operations after our recent merger . Explore all of our open opportunities below.

Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), which now includes Project Management Advisors (PMA), is seeking a Project Director to join our team in San Francisco.

This is a hybrid role based in San Francisco, CA.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced project management leader to support a leading technology client across a complex portfolio of workplace, tenant improvement, renovation, and capital projects. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to the client, providing strategic oversight and leading projects from early planning through design, construction, and occupancy.

The ideal candidate brings significant experience managing corporate workplace and tenant improvement projects, along with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, manage multidisciplinary teams, and deliver high-quality projects that align with business, operational, and workplace objectives.

At Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D), we lead the planning, development, and management of the places that shape and strengthen communities—where people live, learn, work, and play. B&D partners with institutions, municipalities, and organizations to deliver complex real estate and capital projects through strategic advisory and program management services across the full project lifecycle.

B&D recently joined forces with Project Management Advisors (PMA), bringing together two nationally recognized leaders in program management and real estate advisory services. Together, the combined firm offers expanded capabilities across industries and end-to-end project delivery—from early-stage strategy through design, construction, and occupancy.

As a Project Director, you will lead complex workplace and tenant improvement projects within a sophisticated technology environment. You will work closely with client leadership, workplace, facilities, and real estate teams, as well as architects, engineers, contractors, and other project partners. You will help translate business and workplace objectives into successful project outcomes while maintaining a high level of quality, design, schedule, and budget control.

How You'll Contribute

• Serve as a primary point of contact and trusted advisor to the client throughout the project lifecycle
• Lead corporate workplace, tenant improvement, renovation, relocation, and capital improvement projects from early planning through design, construction, and occupancy
• Manage multiple concurrent projects and priorities within a complex corporate workplace environment
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams, including architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other project partners
• Lead project planning, programming, budgeting, design, pre-construction, construction, and closeout activities
• Develop and maintain project budgets, schedules, reporting tools, and project controls
• Partner with client leadership and workplace, facilities, and real estate teams to understand business and operational requirements and translate them into project objectives
• Coordinate design and construction activities while maintaining alignment with client standards, workplace objectives, and operational needs
• Manage projects within active and occupied environments, developing phasing and implementation strategies that minimize disruption to ongoing business operations
• Navigate complex stakeholder groups and facilitate communication among client leadership, workplace teams, architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other stakeholders
• Maintain high standards for design quality, project execution, and client experience
• Evaluate project risks, budget impacts, schedule changes, and value engineering opportunities
• Review construction documentation and oversee project sequencing and implementation strategies
• Support contract negotiation, administration, procurement, and consultant management
• Monitor project performance to ensure alignment with client objectives, schedules, budgets, quality standards, and workplace requirements
• Lead project closeout, turnover, occupancy, and transition activities
• Provide strategic oversight and guidance to Project Managers and Assistant Project Managers
• Mentor and support project management staff
• Contribute to business development initiatives through networking, client relationship management, proposals, and interview participation

What We're Looking For

• 15+ years of experience in real estate development, construction management, project management, owner's representation, or a related field
• Significant experience leading corporate workplace, tenant improvement, office renovation, or commercial interiors projects
• Experience serving as an Owner's Representative or Project Manager representing the interests of corporate, institutional, developer, or investor clients
• Demonstrated success leading projects through planning, design, construction, and occupancy
• Experience managing large-scale or complex workplace programs with multiple concurrent projects preferred
• Experience working with technology companies or other sophisticated corporate environments preferred
• Experience managing projects in active or occupied environments, including complex phasing and implementation
• Strong understanding of workplace projects, tenant improvements, construction documentation, scheduling, budgeting, and project sequencing
• Strong understanding of project controls, risk management, procurement, and construction administration
• Experience working with high design standards and complex client requirements
• Experience managing multidisciplinary project teams and complex stakeholder relationships
• Strong organizational, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional client service and project outcomes
• Strong understanding of construction methodologies, building codes, permitting, and occupancy requirements

What Sets You Apart

• You are a proactive and strategic leader who takes ownership of outcomes
• You understand the unique challenges of corporate workplace and tenant improvement projects
• You are comfortable operating within large, complex programs with multiple stakeholders and concurrent projects
• You bring exceptional relationship-building skills and emotional intelligence to client and team interactions
• You have a polished executive presence and strong verbal and written communication skills
• You are confident navigating complex projects and high-profile stakeholder relationships
• You understand how to balance business needs, workplace objectives, employee experience, design quality, and project constraints
• You have experience working in environments where quality, design, execution, and attention to detail are held to a high standard
• You approach challenges with curiosity, creativity, and a solutions-oriented mindset
• You demonstrate sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential information
• You thrive in collaborative environments and are committed to mentoring and developing others
• You operate with integrity, professionalism, and a strong sense of accountability
• You are motivated by delivering exceptional projects and creating lasting value for clients

Why People Choose B&D

Impactful Mission
Be part of meaningful work that helps shape the places where people live, learn, heal, work, and connect.

Learning & Growth
We invest in mentorship, leadership development, and continuous learning at every stage of your career.

Strong Culture
Entrepreneurial thinking, collaboration, intellectual curiosity, integrity, and excellence drive how we work together.

Robust Benefits
Comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, retirement benefits, professional development support, paid time off, and more.

This role's target base annual salary range is currently $150,000-210,000. Pay scales are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay is determined through interviews and an assessment of several factors unique to each candidate, including, but not limited to, job-related skills, relevant education, experience, certifications, candidate abilities, and pay relative to other team members.

The company benefits listed above are a summary of the benefits. Specific details, availability, and eligibility requirements apply in accordance with company policies.

Brailsford & Dunlavey Inc. is committed to providing a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

Brailsford & Dunlavey, Inc. participates in E-Verify.

Each person who joins the B&D team has demonstrated excellence in his or her field.

We recruit project managers, construction managers, planners, architects, economists, finance specialists, management consultants, and other experts. The merging of these diverse skill sets and backgrounds helps us meet—and often exceed—our firm’s goals. We are committed to every employee’s rapid professional development and provide many opportunities for everyone to stretch their intellectual capacities.

“I appreciate B&D’s commitment to inclusivity. As a woman in the real estate development space, all too often, I’m the only minority or woman in the room. It feels great to know that I have the B&D family behind me to make me feel appreciated.”

B&D Employee

OUR COMMITMENT

B&D’s benefits are second to none in any industry.

We believe that a comprehensive benefits package is critical to supporting our employees’ personal and family needs, and demonstrates our true commitment to work-life balance.

Whether you are looking for a company that shares the burden of health care costs, permits occasional working-from-home flexibility, or invests heavily into each employee’s 401(k), B&D delivers a complete package.

B&D provides a complete package to our full-time employees.

• 100% company-paid medical, prescription, and dental insurance premiums for employees and their children
• Flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses
• Company-paid contributions to 401(k) retirement accounts
• Flextime and telecommuting
• Parental leave
• Voluntary vision insurance
• Company-paid disability and life insurance
• Vacation, sick, and holiday pay
• Adoption assistance program
• Reimbursement for professional memberships/certifications
• Learning & Development department dedicated to providing in-house training
• Employee assistance program
• Corporate fitness center access at most locations
• Cell phone reimbursement
• Wellness Committee and wellness-based programming

Our collaborative approach relies on passionate and ambitious individuals.

Each B&D employee embodies these attributes:

• Willing to take intellectual, emotional, & financial risks
• Committed to excellence for excellence’s sake
• Predisposed to initiate deliberate, disciplined action
• Intellectually curious
• Of high personal integrity
• Ambitious for the firm
• Engaging
• Able to endure to achieve excellence

INCLUSION

We are invested in providing an inclusive environment where everyone has a voice.

Throughout B&D’s history, firm leaders have shown a commitment to creating positive, inclusive, and diverse environments for both our client communities as well as the firm. Inclusion is an essential part of our purpose.

In addition to making concerted efforts to hire and retain a diverse group of employees, we have an active Inclusion Committee that is dedicated to ensuring we all feel connected and included at B&D. As a firm, we are examining our biases together, which makes us all better and allows us to make smarter decisions for our clients. Working for B&D means making inclusion a top priority in your day‑to‑day words and actions.

FOSTERING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Employee Resource Group (ERG)

At B&D, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture. This is why we are proud to have an Employee Resource Group, which was formed organically through the efforts of many individuals passionate about equity in the workplace.

In the true spirit of inclusion, this group is open to all employees. The ERG meets regularly to discuss issues, host events, provide peer support and advise HR and senior leadership on matters related to the workplace and the broader community. Our ERG helps expand representation to include new perspectives at all levels of the organization. Interest groups represented within our ERG include, but are not limited to, LGBTQ+ employees, black employees, women employees, employees who are parents, health and wellness initiatives, and more.

Read Paul & Chris's statement on B&D's commitment to inclusion

Brailsford & Dunlavey is an Affluent