Project Manager, Special Projects

ARCO Companies; Downers Grove (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

401k

Relocation assistance

Tuition reimbursement

Scholarship for associates’ children

Sabbatical and travel allowance

Volunteer leave

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Parental leave

Job summary

ARCO Companies in Downers Grove, IL is seeking a Project Manager with 1-5 years of experience to join our Special Projects team under the Tenant Solutions vertical. The role supports the lead PM, coordinating COIs, bids, and budgets for smaller, customizable tenant-improvement projects across Chicagoland.

You will work with clients and the design team, review contracts, and help manage change orders while maintaining high standards of quality and safety.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze, think critically, and problem-solve.
• Demonstrated competency in effective negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Flexibility to travel to client sites nationwide as needed.

Responsibilities

• Support lead Special Projects Project Manager with project management tasks.
• Track COIs and meeting minutes.
• Reach out to bid lists and compile bids.
• Develop preliminary concept drawings and project budgets with design team.
• Participate in client meetings to review scope and support writing contracts.
• Identify opportunities to procure materials and equipment to fit budget/schedule.
• Understand and process field work orders, submittal reviews, RFIs, pay applications, change orders, submittals.

Skills

Communication

Critical thinking

Negotiation

Travel nationwide

Problem solving

Job description

Are you a passionate problem solver? Do you act with integrity and hold yourself and others to the highest standard? If the answer is, “Yes!” then we have an opportunity that will impress you. Who are we? We are ARCO, a Family of Construction Companies.

ARCO/Murray National Construction is currently seeking a highly motivated Project Manager with 1-5 years of experience seeking an opportunity to join a larger GC our Special Projects team under our Tenant Solutions vertical in Downers Grove, IL. Our TS team builds nationally and boasts an impressive portfolio of completed projects including entertainment or hospitality related tenant improvement and/or adaptive re-use projects. This particular focus will be in the space of smaller, highly customizable special projects around the Chicagoland area with a team of Self-Perform Superintendents. Your role will primarily act as a support role with our lead Special Projects Project Manager to start as you get acclimated to the ARCO ways of working.

A Day in the Life:

• Working in conjuction with our lead Special Projects PM and supporting project management tasks as seen fit.
• Tracking COIs/meeting minutes.
• Reach out to bid lists and compile bids.
• Work closely with clients and the design team to develop preliminary concept drawings and project budget.
• Participate in the proposal meeting with clients to review the scope of work and support writing contracts.
• Identify and investigate opportunities to procure material and/or specialty equipment directly when advantageous to project budget or schedule.
• Understand and process field work orders, submittal review and tracking, RFI writing and tracking, pay applications, change orders, submittals.
• Requires an advanced understanding of the change order process and the ability to negotiate contracts and change orders.
• Most importantly…find a way to make the construction process fun for your clients, subcontractors, and vendors without sacrificing on quality or safety!

Necessary Qualifications:

• 1-5 years of experience working for a commercial sub-contractor or general contractor is preferred
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to internal and external stakeholders
• Ability to analyze, think critically, and problem-solve
• Demonstrated competency in effective negotiation and conflict resolution
• Flexibility to travel to client sites nationwide as needed required

What We Can Offer You:

We are dedicated to the well-being of our associates and are proud to be consistently recognized as a Best Place to Work. Our compensation and benefits package not only supports our associates and their families but benefits local communities and communities around the world.

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Traditional and Roth 401k
• Company supported relocation
• Tuition reimbursement for associates
• Scholarship for associates’ children up to $28,000 per child
• 1-month paid sabbatical after every five years of employment, plus $5,000 for travel
• 1-week paid volunteer leave each year
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Paid parental leave

At ARCO, our first core value is to treat people fairly and do the right thing. We are committed to building and sustaining a culture that supports diversity and inclusion. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

From recruiting, training, and hiring practices to selecting our subcontractors, we understand that diversity of all those involved in the construction process enhances our ability to deliver the best solutions to our customers. We hire the best and the brightest from across the country – constructing a team of experts in architecture, design, engineering, project management, and business services.

MAKE YOUR MOVE

We are proud to be one of the fastest-growing, privately-owned companies in America, celebrating over 30 years of experience as design-build experts. We have completed over 7,500 design-build projects nationwide. We ranked #9 on ENR’s Design-Build Firms list and #34 on ENR's Top 400 Contractors list of 2026. Most importantly, our clients like us, trust us, and want to do business with us. We are looking for people with the same enthusiasm, passion, and respect for the hard work that brought us to where we are today. Are you a person who can make a difference at ARCO? If the answer is “Yes!” we look forward to meeting you.

ARCO does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies without pre-approval from ARCO’s Human Resources team. Pre-approval is required before any external candidate can be submitted. ARCO will not be responsible for fees related to unsolicited resumes and for candidates who are sent directly to our hiring managers. Agencies must have a fully executed vendor agreement in place as well as written approval to submit candidates from an ARCO TA Manager for a specific position before submitting candidates.