Senior Project Manager (Mission Critical)

Woolpert, Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 104,400 - 174,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Freedom to Work program

Principal program: become an owner

Flexible PTO

Career development

Health, life, dental insurance

Retirement plan

Wellness & reimbursements

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Woolpert, Inc. in Chicago seeks a Senior Project Manager for our Mission Critical Project Management team. This role supports full‑time in‑person/hybrid work and remote arrangements with a strong emphasis on leadership and delivery of complex projects.

The candidate will oversee cross‑functional teams, manage scope and budget, and foster client relationships while advancing Woolpert’s position as a leader in mission-critical services.

Qualifications

• Active Professional Registration (Licensed Architect or Licensed Engineer) is desired.
• Minimum of 15 years related Architectural, Engineering, or Construction industry experience.
• Experience in mission-critical projects such as airports, healthcare facilities, large transportation terminals, semiconductor facilities, or projects of equivalent complexity and scale (~400,000 sq ft).
• Extensive project management experience on data center projects is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of project management fundamentals and ability to facilitate technical discussions when needed.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to negotiate, influence, and manage risk.
• Must travel to local, regional, and national clients and projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional project teams to plan, direct, and coordinate architectural and multidisciplinary projects.
• Oversee quality of deliverables, including fee plans, work plans, risk mitigation plans, and contracts.
• Resolve issues impacting project objectives and client satisfaction.
• Lead or support scope, schedule, and budget/pricing for proposals and dynamic planning.
• Support client relationships and business development aligned with the strategic plan.
• Act as internal point of contact for communication; identify variances between plan and actual performance.
• Promote Woolpert as a leader in mission-critical practice with new and existing clients.
• Negotiate schedule, fee, scope, and contract terms for complex multidisciplinary projects with Market Leads.
• Address and resolve project issues impacting client goals.
• Define and communicate client needs and expectations; ensure ongoing stakeholder communications.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Risk management

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

PMP Certification

Job description

We seek to move the world forward through innovative thinking.

Woolpert is an award-winning, global leader in architecture, engineering, and geospatial services. We blend design excellence with cutting‑edge technology to deliver exceptional client value. Our team is passionate about their work and committed to building the next generation of industry leaders, and as a certified Great Place to Work, Woolpert embraces progress and innovation to create limitless opportunities for career growth.

Position Overview

Woolpert is seeking a Senior Project Manager for our Mission Critical Project Management team. This position would be aligned with our office located in Chicago, IL and would support full‑time in‑person/hybrid, and remote working arrangements.

We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must already possess work authorization in the country the job is located.

What You Will Do

• Lead and facilitate the overall cross‑functional project team to plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and multidisciplinary projects.
• Oversee the quality of deliverables prepared by team members, including, but not limited to, fee plans, work plans, risk mitigation plans, and contracts.
• Resolve issues impacting project objectives.
• Lead or support team in scope and budget/pricing development for proposals and dynamic project planning.
• Support client relationships and business development in support of strategic business plan.
• Act as key point of internal contact for communication. Identify plan vs. actual performance variances in architecture and multidisciplinary projects.
• Promote SNHA, A Woolpert Company and parent company Woolpert as an industry leader for mission critical practice and service(s) with new and existing clients.
• Project Managers to work with Market Leads in negotiation of project schedule, fee, scope and contract terms for complex, multidiscipline projects.
• Identify, address and resolve any project issues impacting client goals, objectives and/or client satisfaction.
• Define and communicate client needs and expectations.
• Ensure continuous stakeholder (client, client’s manager, etc.) communications addressing, resolving and anticipating project issues.

What You Will Bring

• Active Professional Registration (Licensed Architect or Licensed Engineer) is desired.
• Minimum of 15 years related Architectural, Engineering, or Construction industry experience required; PMP Certification preferred.
• Experience in mission‑critical projects such as airports, healthcare facilities, large transportation terminals, semiconductor facilities, or projects of equivalent complexity and scale (approximately 400,000 square feet) is required.
• Extensive project management experience on data center projects is strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of project management fundamentals and ability to facilitate technical discussions when needed.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to negotiate, influence, and manage risk.
• Ability to effectively communicate in both internal and external relationships for all essential job functions.
• Ability to make sound decisions/recommendations based on evaluation and synthesis of project information and data.
• Must be able to travel for local, regional, and national clients and projects.

Benefits You Will Love

Certified as a Great Place to Work, Woolpert is one of the fastest‑growing architecture, engineering, and geospatial companies in the world. With over 75 offices and countless projects around the globe, you’ll work on meaningful assignments that improve quality of life around the world. In addition to offering competitive pay, we provide employees with a robust set of unique benefits, including:

• Freedom to Work program: Set your own schedule and location (as appropriate).
• Principal program: Earn the opportunity to become an owner of the firm.
• Flexible paid time off/vacation: Take time off when it makes sense for you and your team.
• Career development: Explore a wide range of learning and growth opportunities within and across industries.
• Health, life, vision, and dental insurance: Cover all your medical bases.
• Paid sick time, retirement plan, fitness reimbursement, pet insurance, identity protection, technology stipend, employee assistance program, and more!

Pay Range

Base pay offered may vary depending on job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience.

$139,200 — $174,000 USD

Additional Information

Find out more about what Woolpert has to offer here: http://woolpert.com/about-us/

Equal Opportunity Employment

Woolpert is an equal‑opportunity employer. Woolpert is committed to the full inclusion of all individuals. We recruit, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. You may view more about EEO on our website: Equal-Employment-Opportunity-The-Law.pdf and EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

Applicants who require an accommodation throughout the application and interview process should request this in advance by contacting [e-mail].

If you need to reschedule or cancel your interview, please reach out to your recruiter by contacting [e-mail].

Agency Notice

To all agencies: Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of Woolpert or any of our subsidiaries about this requisition. All resumes submitted by search firms/employment agencies to any employee at Woolpert via email, the internet, or in any form and/or method will be deemed the sole property of Woolpert, unless such search firms/employment agencies were engaged by Woolpert’s Talent Acquisition Team for this requisition and a valid agreement is in place. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of Woolpert’s applicant process is hired, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid.