Senior Project Executive - Pharma

Gilbane Building; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 203,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive health and welfare benefits

Generous profit-sharing/401k plan

Job summary

Gilbane Building is seeking a Senior Project Executive in Chicago to lead project teams on a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility construction project. This role requires strong technical and communication skills along with leadership capability.

The ideal candidate will have 12-18 years of construction experience, especially in pharmaceutical projects. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits package, emphasizing an inclusive workplace culture.

Qualifications

• 12‑18 years of construction experience.
• Previous experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing facility construction required.
• Ability to travel up to 100%.

Responsibilities

• Assume overall accountability for jobsite safety.
• Verify project financial forecasts and resolve potential claims.
• Lead and oversee multiple project schedules.

Skills

Strong technical skills

Strong communication skills

Leadership and management skills

Ability to work in a team

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

Do you consider yourself to be a highly technical, strong communicator with the desire to work in a team environment on complex projects? Gilbane is seeking a Senior Project Executive – Life Sciences to lead a project team, guiding the overall direction, completion, and financial outcome of a large pharmaceutical manufacturing facility construction project.

Who are we?

As a Top-10 ENR Contractor, Gilbane is a family-owned business with 45 offices that has been shaping communities since 1870. Consistently recognized as one of the most reputable construction management firms in the country, Gilbane is committed to delivering projects safely and on-time. We build schools, labs, hospitals, corporate offices, sports arenas and more! We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Who are you?

You are a coach/leader who leads with an inclusive and empathetic mindset. You provide feedback and guidance to help others excel. You determine priorities, delegate work, and effectively communicate progress. You establish measures to assess impact, quality, and timeliness of results while praising successes and sharing lessons learned. You build high-performing teams by attracting, engaging, developing, and retaining talented individuals through motivation and discipline. You leverage business insights by understanding industry trends, local market/economic conditions, and Gilbane’s business model to make critical decisions and create competitive advantage. You deploy a strategic mindset when considering solutions to long-term opportunities and risks. Your core values match Gilbane’s: Integrity, Caring, Teamwork, Toughness, Dedication to Excellence, Discipline, Loyalty, and Entrepreneurship.

What’s in it for you?

Gilbane offers employees multi-dimensional training opportunities through our award-winning Gilbane University to build leadership and technical skills. You will work with an experienced team that provides the opportunity to learn new industry skills every day. You will protect and promote the interests of both Gilbane and the client in all matters, demonstrating the personal characteristics of a developing leader.

Responsibilities

• Assume overall accountability for jobsite safety.
• Assume overall accountability for meeting contract requirements.
• Verify the accuracy of project financial forecast, notice provisions, and billings to meet contract requirements and resolve potential claims and deviations.
• Ensure the team creates a project-specific quality plan aligned with the owner contract and contract documents.
• Ensure the team creates a closeout plan in alignment with the contract documents.
• Provide leadership in motivating the project team(s) and maintain a positive work environment.
• Direct and supervise work of project administration, project superintendents, and engineers to establish operational priorities and maintain satisfactory relationships with owners, subcontractors, unions, etc.
• Assume overall accountability of subcontracting strategy and integrity of the buyout process on all projects.
• Negotiate all aspects of contracts, lead implementation of risk mitigation plan, final review of draft contracts, agreements, and purchase orders.
• Assume overall accountability to ensure project compliance with insurance and bonds.
• Manage the design phase of a GMP or design-build project; lead and oversee development of GMP/lump-sum submission.
• Oversee schedule planning and execution of multiple projects; manage schedule risks and provide guidance to prevent erosion.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the local market and profiles to create and lead a networking strategy.
• Partner with business development to ensure seamless integration with sales strategies, client capture plans, and account plans. Optimize profit levers and gross profit margin tactics to achieve performance targets on new sales. Lead opportunities to strengthen client, partner, and industry relationships that help position Gilbane as the "Builder of Choice".
• Be responsible for the career development and coaching of team members.
• Foster a positive and inclusive work environment to motivate and engage team members.
• Interpret and translate the organizational strategy, ensuring team understanding of their role in accomplishing strategic goals.

Experience / Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management.

Qualifications

• 12‑18 years of construction experience.
• Previous experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing facility construction required.
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to travel up to 100%.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong technical and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Leadership and management skills.
• Knowledge of industry standard software, Microsoft Office (preferred).

Salary & Benefits

Salary to be determined based on geographic location, skills, education, and experience. For Charlotte and Raleigh: $195,000 – $260,000 plus benefits and retirement program. For Chicago and Philadelphia: $203,000 – $280,000 plus benefits and retirement program. For Arlington: $216,000 – $300,000 plus benefits and retirement program. Gilbane offers an excellent total compensation package including competitive health and welfare benefits and a generous profit-sharing/401k plan. Qualified applicants must pass a pre-Employment substance abuse test.

Gilbane is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or disability status. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Click here to view the physical demands and working conditions required to perform this role.