Senior Project Manager

ACTalent; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

ACTalent is seeking a Senior Project Manager in Chicago to lead multiple large-scale interior construction projects from initiation through turnover, with full accountability for financial performance, quality, schedule, and client satisfaction. This role requires strategic leadership, hands-on project management, and mentorship of junior team members on data center, high-tech, and commercial projects.

The ideal candidate will manage client relationships, participate in business development, and

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of experience managing commercial interior and large-scale projects.
• Experience with MEP systems and critical infrastructure is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple large-scale mission critical projects from initiation through turnover.
• Manage budgets, schedules, and client satisfaction; drive PM best practices.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Budgeting

Risk management

Procore

Mentoring

Pursuit strategy

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or related field

Tools

Procore

Job description

Job Title: Senior Project Manager

Job Description

The Senior Project Manager leads multiple large-scale mission critical and commercial interior construction projects from initiation through turnover, with full accountability for financial performance, quality, schedule, and client satisfaction. This role combines strategic leadership, hands‑on project management, and mentorship of junior team members to deliver complex data center, high‑tech, and commercial projects. The Senior Project Manager builds strong client relationships, drives business development opportunities, and ensures that all project requirements are executed to a high standard while modeling core values of empathy, perseverance, integrity, and curiosity.

Responsibilities

• Model and reinforce core values of empathy, perseverance, integrity, and curiosity in all decision‑making and day‑to‑day execution.

• Manage and grow strong, positive relationships with clients, data center operators, project partners, architects, engineers, commissioning agents, and owners.

• Participate in and support business development efforts focused on mission critical, data center, high‑tech, and commercial interior clients.

• Take initiative on new business development opportunities, including lead generation, pursuit strategy, and follow‑up with prospective clients.

• Build confidence and proficiency in interviewing, presenting, and pitching services to prospective clients and mission critical stakeholders.

• Represent the organization at project kickoff, milestone, commissioning, turnover, and closeout meetings to strengthen relationships and leave a lasting impression.

• Maintain proactive, clear, and professional communication with project partners, prioritizing verbal communication and following up with thorough written documentation.

• Manage project issues by clearly presenting both the problem and potential solutions to the Team Lead and other stakeholders.

• Deliver performance feedback and contribute to formal performance reviews for direct reports, providing clear guidance and actionable coaching.

• Delegate effectively, oversee workload balance across the project team, and provide support and direction to junior staff.

• Provide mentorship, oversight, and day‑to‑day support to Project Engineers and Project Coordinators throughout the project lifecycle.

• Participate in onboarding and training for new team members and present ongoing process improvement and best‑practice trainings.

• Serve as the final point of accountability for assigned projects, ensuring all project requirements are completed accurately, on time, and to established standards, while taking full ownership of team performance and deliverables.

• Observe and manage the prime contract process, ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and project requirements.

• Participate in trade partner selection, interviews, awards, and buyouts with a particular focus on critical systems contractors and key equipment vendors.

• Participate in the creation of Scopes of Work, Exhibit A documents, and Schedules of Values for all Work Orders to ensure clarity and alignment with project objectives.

• Lead procurement planning and management for long‑lead mission critical equipment, including switchgear, generators, UPS systems, PDUs, cooling systems, and controls packages.

• Monitor project financial performance by overseeing budgets, managing contingency and allowances, and ensuring alignment with profit goals and general requirements.

• Ensure timely delivery of accounting questionnaires, pencil draw submissions, and change order or claims approvals.

• Manage claims, financial reconciliation, commissioning closeout costs, and planning for Day 2 work.

• Oversee job cost details and financial forecasting, managing cost recovery, contingency, allowances, and general requirements.

• Independently develop and manage accurate monthly project profit forecasts.

• Identify project risks related to procurement, commissioning, schedule impacts, and operational readiness, and proactively develop mitigation strategies.

• Manage multiple tasks and competing priorities with the support of a Team Lead while maintaining high standards of execution.

• Participate in initial project setup, including permitting, procurement planning, project controls setup, and schedule development in partnership with the Superintendent.

• Participate in project kickoff meetings to align team members on expectations, procurement strategy, commissioning milestones, schedule, profit targets, and responsibilities.

• Maintain comprehensive awareness of project milestones, equipment delivery schedules, commissioning activities, and critical path items.

• Estimate projects with approval from the Team Lead and Preconstruction team, contributing to accurate and competitive proposals.

• Actively mentor junior staff throughout each phase of the project lifecycle and consistently identify opportunities to support their growth and development.

• Effectively manage multiple large‑scale mission critical projects concurrently, demonstrating strong organizational, leadership, and decision‑making capabilities.

• Assume responsibility for projects at any stage, quickly assessing status, identifying priorities, and driving successful outcomes.

• Coordinate closely with field leadership, commissioning agents, design consultants, and client teams to ensure successful startup, testing, turnover, and operational readiness.

• Lead the management of RFIs, submittals, change orders, procurement logs, commissioning documentation, and turnover deliverables.

• Maintain a strong understanding of project financial structure, job cost details, and mission‑critical project delivery requirements.

• Apply sound construction, operational, and risk‑management judgment during estimating, buyout, procurement, and financial oversight activities.

• Serve as a trusted resource for critical systems coordination, procurement strategy, and project execution, drawing on deep understanding of mission‑critical construction processes.

• Maintain working knowledge of critical electrical infrastructure, including switchgear, generators, UPS systems, PDUs, and power distribution systems.

• Maintain working knowledge of critical mechanical infrastructure, including chilled water systems, CRAH and CRAC units, cooling plants, controls systems, and building automation systems.

• Understand commissioning processes, startup procedures, integrated systems testing, turnover requirements, and operational readiness planning, and ensure they are executed properly.

• Support quality assurance and quality control processes to ensure compliance with client standards, contract requirements, and commissioning objectives.

• Foster client retention by building strong, trust‑based relationships and leading collaborative, high‑performing project teams.

• Demonstrate strong integrity by following through on commitments, taking ownership of decisions, and upholding responsibility for overall project success while serving as a reliable leader for junior staff.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 8 years of experience successfully managing commercial interior projects as well as other construction projects, including projects of $1M or more.

• Proven experience as a Project Manager in commercial construction, preferably within general contracting.

• Experience managing large‑scale MEP systems and critical infrastructure installations, including equipment procurement, startup, and turnover activities.

• Strong understanding of mission critical project delivery, commissioning processes, operational readiness, and turnover requirements.

• Demonstrated proficiency in project scheduling, procurement, scope development, contract review, financial oversight, risk management, and commissioning coordination.

• Proficiency using Procore for project management and documentation.

• General contractor background, with experience working for a GC rather than as an owners representative.

• Client‑facing experience with the ability to present confidently, build rapport, and maintain professional relationships with owners, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders.

• Ability to manage a fast‑paced, high‑volume workload while maintaining accuracy, quality, and attention to detail.

• Strong organizational, leadership, and decision‑making skills, with the ability to manage multiple large‑scale projects concurrently.

• Exceptional people management and team leadership skills, with a highly engaged, empathetic, and team‑centered approach.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to prioritize verbal communication and follow up with clear, professional written documentation.

• Demonstrated integrity, accountability, and ownership of project outcomes, including financial performance and team deliverables.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Project Management, or a related field is preferred but not required.

• Experience in commercial interiors and broader sectors such as workplace, amenity, retail, hospitality, healthcare, lab and life sciences, and education is highly beneficial.

• Experience with mission critical and data center projects, including critical electrical and mechanical systems, is a strong plus.

• Experience participating in business development activities, including lead generation, interviewing, presenting, and pitching to prospective clients.

• Experience with procurement planning and management of long‑lead mission critical equipment, such as switchgear, generators, UPS systems, PDUs, cooling systems, and controls packages.

• Demonstrated ability to develop Scopes of Work, Exhibit A documents, and Schedules of Values for Work Orders.

• Experience overseeing job cost details, financial forecasting, contingency management, and profit forecasting.

• Track record of professional growth and advancement within prior organizations, demonstrating commitment and progression rather than frequent job changes.

• Experience mentoring Project Engineers, Project Coordinators, and other junior staff, including participation in onboarding and training.

• Comfort working with commissioning agents, design consultants, and field leadership to coordinate startup, testing, and turnover.

• Ability to identify