Senior Project Manager

Villanova University; Lower Merion Township (Montgomery County); On-site; USD 135,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Villanova University in Villanova, PA seeks a Senior Project Manager to plan, design, bid, and deliver capital and maintenance projects across a range of sizes in occupied facilities. The role requires independent management, stakeholder communication, and mentoring of staff.

Responsibilities include leading RFP processes, coordinating design professionals and contractors, overseeing budgets and schedules, and ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory compliance throughout project lifecycles.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a closely related field is required.
• 10+ years of experience in design and construction planning, budgeting, procurement, and construction.
• Experience managing complex, phased, and occupied-facility projects.
• Professional licensure or project management certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan, design, bid, construct, and close out capital and maintenance projects.
• Lead budgeting, scheduling, risk, and scope management across projects.
• Manage consultants, contractors, and design professionals through RFPs and contracts.
• Provide on-site field oversight and coordinate occupancy phases.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Bluebeam

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

Posting Details

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Posting Number: 20260456S

Position Title: Senior Project Manager

Position Type: Staff

Location: Villanova, PA

Recruitment Type: Internal/External Applicants

Work Schedule: full-time/12-months

Department: 806-Project Management

Position Summary

The Senior Project Manager proactively manages the planning, design, and construction efforts necessary to implement projects of varying size and complexity, including new construction, major renovations, and smaller capital and maintenance projects. The Senior Project Manager performs project management duties with a high degree of independence and limited oversight and manages multiple projects concurrently, including large, phased, or otherwise complex projects and work in occupied facilities. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for planning and implementing assigned projects, including preparing Requests for Proposals (RFPs), supporting contract execution, and coordinating the selection of design professionals, consultants, and contractors. These responsibilities include proactively managing scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, risk, and communications; anticipating issues; developing and recommending solutions; and communicating decisions and project status clearly to University leadership and stakeholders. The Senior Project Manager also mentors less experienced project management staff and supports the development of departmental standards and procedures.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.

Why work at Villanova?

• Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University’s founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
• Villanova has been included among the nation’s best colleges and universities. VU’s inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 “Best Colleges” rankings is another indication of the University’s continued prominence and forward momentum.
• Villanova’s most precious asset is our people. As an employee, you will receive a holistic benefits package, generous paid time off, a competitive retirement savings plan, flexible work options, wellness programs including gym membership, professional development, tuition assistance, and more.

Duties And Responsibilities

Project Planning, Design & Construction Management: Manages assigned capital and maintenance projects through planning, design, bidding, construction, closeout, and occupancy. Responsibilities include projects of varying size and complexity, from smaller renovation and maintenance projects to major renovations, infrastructure improvements, and new construction.

Capital Planning, Budgeting & Project Initiation: Leads early planning for assigned projects and supports University departments in the development of annual capital budget requests. Develops preliminary project scopes, cost estimates, schedules, phasing plans, and feasibility assessments. Coordinates field investigations and conceptual studies and advises University leadership and stakeholders on project priorities, risks, options, and tradeoffs before design initiation.

Design & Consultant Management: Manages the programming and design phases of assigned projects. Develops consultant procurement strategies and manages architects, engineers, legal counsel, and specialty consultants through Requests for Proposals, selection, contract execution, and design. Reviews drawings, specifications, estimates, and schedules for alignment with project objectives, applicable codes, permitting requirements, University standards, and available funding. Supports the AVP Planning, Design, & Construction and the Director of Capital Projects in preparing for presentations to authorities having jurisdiction, regulatory agencies, community groups, and other external stakeholders, including assembling documentation, coordinating consultant input, and preparing presentation materials.

Bidding, Procurement & Contract Administration: Leads competitive bidding and procurement activities in coordination with Procurement and in accordance with University policies. Develops bid and contracting strategies; prepares and reviews bid packages, construction contracts, purchase requisitions, and related procurement documentation; and manages clarifications, negotiations, and recommendations for award. Evaluates contractors and vendors based on qualifications, cost, schedule, risk, and project requirements.

Construction Management & Field Coordination: Manages the construction phase of assigned projects, coordinating contractors, vendors, consultants, campus partners, and occupants to ensure timely and successful project delivery. Monitors construction progress, quality, safety, and schedule performance and proactively addresses issues affecting scope, cost, operations, or schedule. Provides on-site field oversight as required and leads coordination for phased work in occupied facilities.

Financial Oversight, Change Management & Project Closeout: Develops and monitors project budgets, forecasts, commitments, expenditures, and contingency use. Reviews and processes contractor and vendor invoices and evaluates and recommends approval or disapproval of change orders to the AVP Planning, Design, & Construction and the Director of Capital Projects. Maintains required project documentation and contract records and identifies emerging budget or schedule risks for timely resolution. Coordinates project closeout activities, including commissioning, occupancy, as-built documentation, training, warranties, and final financial reconciliation.

Stakeholder Communication & Project Reporting: Manages project communications and provides clear, timely, and accurate status updates to University stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle. Communicates project scope, schedule, budget, decisions, risks, and anticipated impacts. Ensures stakeholders understand upcoming activities, required decisions, and changes affecting project delivery or campus operations. Escalates significant issues to University leadership with appropriate background and a recommended course of action.

Team Leadership & Departmental Support: Mentors and supports less experienced project management staff and provides project-based guidance, technical review, and assistance with issue resolution. Supports consistent project management practices, document standards, reporting, and process improvement across the department. Assists the AVP Planning, Design, & Construction and the Director of Capital Projects with capital planning, special initiatives, and presentations to University leadership and governing bodies as assigned.

Perform additional duties and assist with special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Formal Education: Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, or a closely related field is required. Equivalent technical training, knowledge, and at least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in design and construction may substitute for a technical degree. Professional licensure or project management certification is preferred.

Specific Job Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of construction materials and techniques and working knowledge of building envelope, structural, plumbing, electrical, HVAC , and life-safety systems. Demonstrated experience in construction contract administration and in managing complex, phased, and occupied-facility projects.

Minimum Work Experience: 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in the planning, design, budgeting, estimating, procurement, and construction of capital projects. Experience managing complex institutional or commercial projects with significant budget, schedule, stakeholder, or regulatory requirements is required. Higher education experience is preferred. This experience must include independent management of all phases of projects from programming and design through bidding, construction, commissioning, closeout, and occupancy. Must be well-versed in the design process, construction methodologies and procedures, codes, and project management principles; able to solicit, evaluate, and negotiate estimates, bids, and cost proposals; proficient in managing project budgets and schedules; and able to read and interpret design and construction contracts and contract documents, including drawings, specifications, payment applications, and change orders.

Equipment Knowledge: Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Bluebeam, and project management and scheduling software is required. Familiarity with database programs, Autodesk AutoCAD, and Autodesk Revit is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours

Work outside with moderate exposure to weather, noise, dust and other conditions typical of construction projects.

Walking, bending, reaching, climbing ladders, and ability to lift up to 50 lbs.

Occasionally attend and/or support meetings or presentation outside of normal working hours.

Special Message To Applicants

Posting Date: 10/09/2026

Closing Date (11:59pm ET):

Salary Posting Information: This position falls within salaried grade 19 and the range is $135,000-150,000. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate’s qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.

Salary Grade: 19

Job Classification: exempt

References Needed

Minimum Number of References Needed 3

Maximum Number of References Needed 3