Senior Project Manager: Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech

Northstar Project & Real Estate Services; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Northstar Project & Real Estate Services in Cambridge, MA seeks a Senior Project Manager with an engineering/architecture/ construction management background to deliver Owner’s Project or Development Management for lab design projects.

You will lead client relationships, manage budgets and schedules, coordinate design teams, and ensure constructability and compliance through all project phases. A minimum of 8+ years CRE PM experience and strong communication are required.

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, architecture, real estate, or construction management preferred.
• 8+ Years of directly related commercial real estate project management experience.
• Experience in the design and construction of laboratory environments.
• High degree of professionalism and ability to work autonomously, multi-task, and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrate good judgment and develop common sense solutions.
• Experience managing teams of design and construction professionals.
• Experience managing direct reports.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint.
• Certifications, and knowledge of LEED, WELL, Fitwel, or Passive House are a plus.
• CGMP experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with client(s) to define project goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Develop trust and relationships with client(s) and project stakeholders.
• Report project status regularly to project team and client(s).
• Drive team assembly and procurement processes for design team consultants, contractors, and suppliers.
• Negotiate and prepare contracts, including add services and change orders.
• Develop and manage master project schedule across all phases.
• Manage master project budget, forecasts, and cash flows.
• Review invoices for alignment with contracts and completed work.
• Provide day-to-day management, technical direction, and coordination.
• Lead project meetings and publish minutes documenting actions.
• Participate in design with budget/schedule constructability input.
• Review plans and specs to ensure alignment with expectations.
• Coordinate FF&E and site access logistics.
• Oversee project close-out, punch lists, and occupancy planning.

Skills

8+ years CRE PM experience

Lab design experience

Team leadership

People management

Communication skills

Sustainability knowledge (LEED/WELL/FW

CGMP experience

8+ years of directly related CRE PM

Education

B.S. degree in engineering, architecture, real estate, or construction management

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Project

PowerPoint

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Project Manager with an educational background in engineering, architecture, or construction management to provide Owner’s Project or Development Management services to our clients. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in lab design and construction. Candidates must have a minimum of 8+ years prior project management experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with client(s) to define project goals, objectives, and priorities
• Develop strong trust and performance-driven relationships with client(s) and project stakeholders
• Report project status regularly to project team and client(s)
• Drive team assembly process, including preparation of RFPs, bid alignment, analysis, and award recommendation to client(s) for design team consultants, contractors, and all required suppliers
• Negotiate and prepare all required contracts, including all add services and change orders
• Develop, manage, and update master project schedule incorporating all phases of the project and identifying key project milestones
• Develop and manage master project budget including tracking budget reallocations, commitments, expenditures, and develop forecasts and cash flows regularly
• Review project invoices to ensure invoice amount aligns with contract value and work completed to date and recommend approval or denial
• Provide day-to-day management, technical direction, supervision, and coordination of all project activities
• Chair and lead regularly scheduled project team and client-only project meetings. Publish meeting minutes to document what was discussed and agreed to, as well as actions required
• Participate in the design process providing budget, schedule, and constructability input
• Review and interpret plans and specifications
• Identify and provide recommended actions for issue resolution
• Ensure client’s internal stakeholders such as IT, AV, security, facilities, and distribution are involved and vested in the project design and understand project schedules, expectations, and deliverables
• Tour project sites during construction to ensure work in place is compliant with design documents and the progress is in alignment with agreed-to schedule
• Work with property management and/or facilities to coordinate project team access, fire alarm and sprinkler impairments, electrical service or HVAC system disruptions
• Review project RFIs and submittals to ensure what is being submitted aligns with client’s expectations and budget, as well as ensuring responses are being submitted within required timeframes
• Coordinate all furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) as required
• Tour project sites upon project completion and before turning space over to client(s) to ensure project is complete and site conditions meet expectations. Administer punch list and project close-out activities, including acceptance and completion of project
• Manage occupancy planning as required
• Demonstrate a high level of leadership skills
• Must work well in a fast-moving, high-expectation environment, including managing multiple projects in various phases and locations at any given time

Required Skills/Qualifications

• B.S. degree in engineering, architecture, real estate, or construction management preferred
• 8+ Years of directly related commercial real estate project management experience
• Experience in the design and construction of laboratory environments
• High degree of professionalism and strong work ethic with the ability to work autonomously, multi-task in an organized manner, produce quality work, and meet strict deadlines
• Demonstrate good judgment and develop common sense solutions
• Experience managing teams of design and construction professionals
• Experience managing professional direct reports
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint
• Certifications, experience, and knowledge of sustainability initiatives such as LEED, WELL, Fitwel, or Passive House are a plus
• CGMP experience is a plus