Senior Project Manager

County of Orange; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

County of Orange seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead planning, design, and construction of complex airport capital improvement and facilities-alteration projects. The role requires coordinating multiple disciplines, regulatory compliance, and minimizing disruption to operations and the traveling public.

As owner’s representative, you will manage contracts, oversee design development, and drive project delivery from conception through commissioning and close-out, ensuring scope, schedule,

Qualifications

• Seven+ years of progressively responsible experience delivering complex capital projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or related field preferred; master’s degree desirable.
• Professional licensure (PE, Architect), PMP or CCM valued.

Responsibilities

• Lead full lifecycle of capital improvement projects from scope to close-out.
• Coordinate design consultants, contractors, and internal experts in an active airport environment.
• Monitor project performance, cost and schedule, and manage risks and change orders.
• Ensure adherence to safety, building codes, and regulatory requirements.

Job description

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

This recruitment will establish an open eligible list that will be used to fill current and future Senior Procurement Buyer positions. The eligible list established may also be used to fill positions in similar and/or lower classifications throughout the County of Orange.

DEADLINE TO APPLY

This recruitment will be open for a minimum of five (5) business days and will close on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 11:59 pm (PST).

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT

With consistently Award Winning guest experience, John Wayne Airport (JWA) has been a major cornerstone of Orange County for more than 100 years. Located in beautiful Southern California, we currently serve approximately 11.7 million annual passengers. We strive to provide a superior guest experience to ensure travel is convenient and stress-free. The County of Orange owns and operates the airport, and the service area includes more than three million people within 34 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County and beyond. As a medium-hub airport, we offer commercial flights to more than 40 nonstop destinations in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Eleven commercial airlines and two air cargo airlines fly out of the Airport. It is home to nearly 500 general aviation (private, non-commercial) aircraft, representing 60% of total operations, and includes two full-service fixed base operators and one limited-use general aviation facility.

• Mission: ConnectingPeople, Places and Opportunities.
• Vision: To be an airport of choice by creating exceptional experiences.
• Core Values:
  • Respect
  • Environmental Stewardship
  • Accountability
  • Collaboration
  • Honesty

THE DIVISION

The Planning and Development Division oversees and delivers the airport's $700 million Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which includes airside, landside, and terminal renovations, as well as major utility projects and long-term infrastructure planning. The Division is also a key partner in the implementation of the General Aviation Improvement Program and the Terminal Tenant Concession Redevelopment Program. This team has 28 professionals in a variety of roles. This Division’s functional areas include engineering, airport land use planning, environmental compliance, and capital project delivery.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Senior Project Manager is a key technical leader responsible for managing the planning, design, construction, and delivery of complex airport capital improvement and facilities-alteration projects. Operating within an active airport environment, this role ensures projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and with minimal disruption to airport operations, tenants, and the traveling public.

The Senior Project Manager serves as an owner’s representative and project delivery professional - coordinating design consultants, contractors, internal experts across multiple disciplines, regulatory agencies, and utility providers. The role administers public works contracts, oversees technical development, manages project controls, conducts constructability reviews, and leads project execution from conceptual scoping through commissioning and close-out.

This position is best suited for an experienced project manager capable of navigating operational constraints, regulatory requirements, and stakeholder expectations while delivering excellence in scope, schedule, budget, quality, and safety.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Delivery & Technical Oversight
  • Lead and manage the full lifecycle of capital improvement projects - including scope definition, pre-design planning, design development, technical review, bidding, construction oversight, commissioning, and close-out
  • Develop scopes, schedules, budgets, technical specifications, logistics plans, and resource allocations for vertical and horizontal infrastructure projects
  • Oversee preparation of construction documents, design submittals, cost estimates, technical specifications, and permitting requirements
  • Conduct constructability analyses, review design packages, and coordinate engineering disciplines to resolve conflicts prior to construction
  • Administer and manage public works contracts, including A/E agreements, construction contracts, job order contracts, and alternative delivery methods (CMAR, DB, Progressive DB)
• Construction Execution & Compliance
  • Oversee contractors, inspectors, consultants, and construction management teams to ensure adherence to contract requirements, safety programs, building codes, and airport security protocols
  • Review and negotiate change orders, support guaranteed maximum price development, evaluate claims, and maintain strict compliance with public-sector contracting laws
  • Perform site inspections and ensure work conforms to specifications, plans, regulatory requirements, and safe construction practices
• Stakeholder Coordination
  • Maintain effective communication with internal airport divisions (operations, maintenance, finance, IT, security, environmental), external agencies, cities, utility providers, regulatory bodies, contractors, and consultants
  • Serve as a technical representative in meetings with contractors, consultants, tenants, community groups, and leadership
  • Coordinate logistics within an active airport environment to minimize impacts on passengers, tenants, and critical airport operations
• Project Controls & Risk Management
  • Monitor and report on project performance, cost/schedule status, technical risks, and milestone achievements
  • Identify issues early, recommend corrective actions, and guide project teams through problem resolution
  • Ensure project documentation, communication, and reporting meet division standards and regulatory requirements

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate will demonstrate at least seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience delivering complex capital projects, preferably within operating, secured, or campus-scale environments. Airport experience is beneficial but not required.

A bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, or a related field is preferred; a master’s degree is desirable. Professional licensure (PE or Architect), PMP, or CCM certification is valued.

Technical Experience | Technical Knowledge

• Extensive experience in public works, engineering, construction, architecture, business, project management, and capital project/contract administration
• Proven ability to independently plan, administer, review, and manage the design and construction of capital projects while applying industry-standard project management practices, including budgeting, scheduling, coordination, and monitoring
• Strong leadership and management skills with experience guiding multidisciplinary teams of construction managers, engineers, project managers, and inspectors
• Ability to communicate complex technical information, analyses, and recommendations in a clear and understandable manner for executive audiences
• Comprehensive knowledge of architectural and engineering design, construction practices across multiple disciplines, project management software, and applicable California, federal, state, and local building, contracting, safety, and regulatory requirements

Leadership Skills

• Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, and resources while providing recommendations to ensure successful project delivery
• Lead project teams and coordinate stakeholders from project conception through completion, aligning efforts with organizational goals and project strategies
• Support executive management in the development of departmental objectives and provide leadership to internal and contracted staff to achieve business and project outcomes
• Build strong customer relationships by understanding and addressing needs within policy guidelines while maintaining a focus on service excellence
• Make ethical, well-informed business decisions using sound judgment, including in situations involving limited, complex, or conflicting information, while promoting safety compliance and safe work practices

Analysis and Problem Solving

• Interpret, enforce, and ensure compliance with project plans, specifications, schedules, contracts, and related requirements
• Identify, anticipate, and address issues affecting project scope, budget, schedule, and technical specifications, recommending and implementing necessary changes
• Perform quantity calculations, cost estimates, and other analyses required to support project planning and execution
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal staff, external stakeholders, contractors, agencies, and regulatory partners
• Research, evaluate, and apply technical data, policies, and industry standards to solve complex problems and provide accurate recommendations to management

Planning and Organization

• Plan, organize, and prioritize work effectively to ensure assignments and project deliverables remain on schedule
• Consistently complete assignments on time while adhering to budgetary and policy requirements
• Successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously while balancing competing demands and deadlines
• Adapt to changing priorities and business needs while maintaining focus on critical objectives and deliverables

Communication Skills | Oral & Written

• Experience presenting proposals, progress reports, recommendations, and project updates both orally and in writing to executive leadership, governing boards, contractors, and external stakeholders
• Demonstrated political acumen and professionalism when engaging with diverse internal and external stakeholders, including airport staff, tenants, community groups, public agencies, and elected officials
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical information into clear, concise, and actionable messaging
• Proven ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with individuals and groups representing diverse interests, including contractors, department representatives, and business partners
• Experience leading negotiations and managing competitive procurement and bidding processes for complex contracts and project initiatives

LICENSE REQUIRED

The successful candidate must obtain, possess, and maintain the following licenses:

• Valid California Driver's License, Class C or higher, by date of appointment
• Valid Airport Access Badge with an Airport Driving Endorsement within ten (10) days of employment

AIRPORT ACCESS REQUIREMENTS

Employees must clear a background check, which includes a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) check, and Security Threat Assessment (STA) check. Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Airport Access Badge with an Airport Driving Endorsement within ten (10) days of employment. Airport Access Badge must be maintained and renewed every year.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

Application Screening (Refer/Non-Refer)

Applications and supplemental responses will be screened for qualifications that are highly desirable and most needed to successfully perform the duties of this job. Only those applicants that meet the qualifications as listed in the job bulletin will be referred to the next step.

Structured Oral Interview (SOI | Exam (Weighted 100%))

The Structured Oral Interview is a timed assessment. Applicants will provide answers to job-related questions, which will be rated by a panel of subject matter experts using standardized evaluation criteria. Only the most qualified candidates will move forward to the next step in the recruitment process or will be placed on the eligible list.

Eligible List | Score Groups

Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference

The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION

The County of Orange is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should notify the recruiter listed on the job posting as soon as possible. Documentation supporting the accommodation request may be required.

EMAIL NOTIFICATION

Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account. NOTE: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply. Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the GovernmentJobs.com site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with governmentjobs.com and ocgov.com. If your email address should change, please update your profile at www.governmentjobs.com.

Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.