Senior Project Manager

Role Description The Senior Project Manager is a full-time, on-site role based in New York, NY, responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and delivery of development projects for not-for-profit clients. To qualify for this position, applicant must have a minimum of 10 years ground-up commercial leadership experience. Day-to-day tasks include managing project timelines and budgets, coordinating design and construction teams, and ensuring compliance with local regulations and building codes. The role involves leading expediting activities with city agencies, arranging and overseeing inspections, and resolving issues that may affect project schedules or approvals. The Senior Project Manager will collaborate with stakeholders, prepare project status reports, manage logistics related to materials and contractors, and ensure that project outcomes align with client objectives and quality standards. This position requires hands-on oversight at project sites and regular communication with internal and external partners to keep projects on track.

Qualifications

• Strong project management skills, including experience leading complex real estate or construction projects from planning through completion.
• Experience with expediting and working as an expeditor, including navigating permitting processes and coordinating with municipal agencies.
• Proficiency in inspection coordination and oversight, ensuring adherence to safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.
• Logistics management skills, including scheduling, resource allocation, and coordination of contractors, vendors, and deliveries.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage budgets, control costs, and track project financials.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management abilities, with experience collaborating with not-for-profit organizations preferred.
• Ability to work on-site in New York, NY, with strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Bachelor’s degree in project management, construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field; advanced credentials (e.g., PMP) are a plus.
• Knowledge of New York City building codes, permitting processes, and local regulatory requirements is highly beneficial.

Overall Role

• Serve as the dedicated, day-to-day leader for the Walton school, owning execution from mobilization through Certificate of Occupancy and school opening.

• Act as the primary interface between the Owner, Manatus management, Architect, and Construction Manager.

• Take full responsibility for daily coordination, decision tracking, and issue resolution.

Manatus Management

• Manage daily communication with partnerships/clients, A&E and consultant team.

• Translate program needs into executable construction direction.

• Prepare project decision packages and drive timely decisions to avoid schedule impacts.

• Manage expectations around scope, cost, and schedule, particularly when changes arise.

• Escalate material risks or unresolved issues to the Manatus team with clear recommendations.

Construction Manager & Field Leadership

• Lead daily coordination with the Construction Manager.

• Maintain a consistent field presence to enforce standards, sequencing, and accountability.

• Resolve trade conflicts and field issues decisively to maintain flow of work.

• Enforce compliance with contract documents, life-safety requirements, and school-specific standards.

• Monitor productivity and field execution quality.

Schedule & Opening Readiness

• Own the construction schedules and short-interval plannings.

• Protect critical milestones tied to the opening dates.

• Identify schedule risks early and implement recovery strategies.

• Coordinate inspections, sign-offs, and approvals required for TCO/CO.

• Drive all activities necessary to achieve school readiness for occupancy.

Budget & Cost Control

• Manage day-to-day cost control for the projects, including forecasting and cost-to-complete.

• Review and validate contractor pay applications and lien waivers.

• Review, negotiate, and recommend Change Orders.

• Manage contingency usage and communicate budget impacts promptly.

• Coordinate and report to the head of construction on progress reporting.

Design, RFIs & Changes

• Lead RFI management and resolution in coordination with the design team.

• Review submittals and shop drawings for constructability, durability, and educational use.

• Manage design clarifications and changes, ensuring impacts are documented and approved.

• Maintain design integrity while balancing value engineering and constructability.

Quality & Compliance

• Enforce on-site quality control for the following but not limited to: corridors, stairs, and egress, fire/life-safety systems, accessibility and code compliance.

• Conduct regular field walks and punch-list reviews.

• Ensure work meets durability and partner/client standards.

Systems, FF&E & Coordination

• Coordinate FF&E, IT, AV, security, and access control systems.

• Integrate specialty systems into construction sequencing.

• Coordinate testing, commissioning, and turnover of building systems.

Close-Out & Turnover

• Lead punch-list execution and close-out.

• Drive completion of close-out documentation, training, and warranties.

• Secure TCO and Final CO.

• Coordinate turnover to operations for day-one readiness.

Relationship to Manatus Management 

• The PM handles daily execution, field leadership, and coordination.

• Manatus Head of Construction retains strategic oversight, risk management, major decisions, and escalation authority.

• The PM role requires independence, judgment, and experience to operate without constant supervision.