Design & Construction Manager

Overview

Salary Range

$95,000.00 - $125,000.00 Salary

Position Type

Full Time

Education Level

4 Year Degree

Category

IL Leasing License NOT Required

Description

Position Title: Design & Construction Manager – EHP

Department: Evergreen Construction Company / Evergreen Housing Preservation

Reports To: Senior Project Manager

Location: Chicago, IL - Hybrid (Office /Remote/ Project Sites) 2 to 3 days per week travel, depending on project assignments; travel throughout the Midwest and to select projects in other states)

Salary Range: $95k-$125k + Bonus Opportunity

Job Summary

Evergreen Real Estate Group is seeking a Design & Construction Manager / Owner’s Representative to represent Evergreen’s interests throughout the planning, design, construction, renovation, and close-out of active and proposed development projects.

Evergreen is expanding its acquisition-rehab and development portfolio throughout the Midwest and in select additional markets across the United States. This position will serve as a hands-on owner-side project leader, working closely with Evergreen’s development, construction, property management and operations teams, as well as architects, engineers, general contractors, consultants, vendors, and other project partners.

The Design & Construction Manager will help ensure that projects are delivered in accordance with Evergreen’s objectives for scope, budget, schedule, quality, design intent, functionality, and operational readiness. The role will participate throughout the project lifecycle—from due diligence and pre-development through design, permitting, construction, turnover, and post-completion—while providing oversight of owner-controlled and owner-purchased scopes.

On select projects, a key component of the role may be to manage and coordinate owner-purchased and owner-furnished items, including furniture, fixtures, equipment, appliances, technology, signage, window treatments, and other vendor-direct packages that fall outside the general contractor’s scope. The position will ensure that these items are properly specified, procured, scheduled, delivered, installed, and integrated with the overall construction and opening schedule.

Key Responsibilities

Owner’s Representative & Project Leadership

• Represent Evergreen’s interests throughout the design and construction process and serve as a primary owner-side point of contact for project-related matters in collaboration with the project’s Development Manager.
• Establish and maintain a clear understanding of project scope, schedule, budget, design objectives, operational requirements, and project risks.
• Coordinate with Evergreen’s development, construction, asset management, property management and operations teams to ensure project decisions align with both development objectives and long-term operational needs.
• Monitor project performance and proactively identify issues, risks, conflicts, and opportunities requiring owner attention.
• Coordinate communication among the owner, architect, engineers, consultants, general contractor, subcontractors, vendors, and other project stakeholders.
• Participate in project meetings, including OAC, design coordination, construction progress, and turnover meetings; document decisions, responsibilities, risks, and action items.
• Escalate significant schedule, budget, quality, design, or construction issues to senior leadership with recommended courses of action.
• Prepare presentations, status updates, and correspondence for internal leadership and external partners as needed.

Pre-Development & Due Diligence

• Support acquisition, feasibility, and pre-development activities for prospective projects.
• Review available property and building information and assist in identifying construction, rehabilitation, design, and operational considerations.
• Coordinate site investigations, building assessments, surveys, environmental reports, engineering studies, and other technical due diligence as required.
• Assist with preliminary project scopes, budgets, schedules, and development assumptions.
• Identify potential construction risks, scope gaps, permitting considerations, and other issues that could affect project feasibility or execution.
• Participate in consultant and design-team selection and onboarding as appropriate.

Design Management

• Coordinate the owner’s review of architectural, engineering, and consultant deliverables from conceptual design through construction documents.
• Review drawings, specifications, finish selections, equipment schedules, and other design documents for completeness, constructability, coordination, and alignment with Evergreen’s requirements.
• Coordinate comments and decisions from internal stakeholders and consolidate owner feedback for the design team.
• Monitor design development against approved project scope, budget, schedule, and operational requirements.
• Help identify design conflicts, scope gaps, constructability concerns, and opportunities for value engineering.
• Coordinate design changes and owner-directed revisions with the project team and evaluate impacts on cost and schedule.
• Support permitting and agency coordination as needed.

Construction Management & Field Oversight

• Monitor GC and subcontractor performance, including progress, schedule, quality, coordination, and general conformance with contract documents.
• Conduct regular site visits and construction progress walks, including inspections supporting construction draws, and identify potential delays or sequencing issues.
• Observe workmanship and overall project quality and communicate deficiencies or concerns to the appropriate project team members.
• Track RFIs, submittals, change orders, requests for owner decisions, and other project documentation as appropriate.
• Coordinate resolution of field issues among the GC, design team, consultants, vendors, and Evergreen stakeholders.
• Review and provide owner-side input on proposed changes, substitutions, schedule impacts, and other construction-related decisions.
• Maintain awareness of jobsite safety and promptly escalate significant concerns to the appropriate parties.
• Support construction progress reporting to Evergreen leadership.

Budget, Schedule & Risk Management

• Monitor project budgets and commitments in coordination with Evergreen’s construction and development leadership.
• Review project cost information, change orders, allowances, contingencies, and potential exposures from an owner’s perspective.
• Identify scope, cost, and schedule risks early and assist in developing mitigation strategies.
• Track critical project milestones and coordinate activities necessary to maintain the overall project schedule.
• Evaluate the potential cost and schedule impacts of owner decisions, design changes, procurement issues, and field conditions.
• Assist with project forecasting and reporting to senior leadership.
• Review contractor pay applications, invoices, and vendor billing for accuracy and alignment with contract terms and completed work; help resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Support identification of cost-saving opportunities and assist in negotiating favorable terms with vendors and owner-direct contractors.

Owner-Purchased & Owner-Furnished Scope

• Manage Evergreen’s owner-purchased and owner-furnished scope on select projects, including FF&E, appliances, technology, low-voltage systems, signage, window treatments, equipment, furnishings, and other vendor-direct packages.
• Coordinate procurement, submittals, approvals, lead times, delivery, storage, installation, and final acceptance of owner-purchased items.
• Maintain procurement and delivery schedules and coordinate them with the overall construction schedule and track long-lead items that could affect construction or opening dates.
• Confirm site readiness and required infrastructure for owner-direct installations.
• Coordinate owner-direct vendors with the GC and subcontractors to ensure proper access, sequencing, staging, installation, and commissioning.
• Identify conflicts between owner-purchased scope and the GC/design scope and drive timely resolution.
• Maintain appropriate documentation related to owner-purchased equipment, warranties, manuals, and vendor contacts.
• Serve as the owner’s on-site point of contact for owner-direct vendors, coordinating their access, sequencing, and staging with the GC and subcontractors

Opening Readiness & Turnover

• Lead or support owner-side readiness activities in the weeks leading up to substantial completion, turnover, and community opening.
• Conduct detailed inspections of units, common areas, amenity spaces, back-of-house areas, and other project spaces.
• Track punch-list and outstanding construction items through completion and acceptance.
• Coordinate final installation, delivery, commissioning, cleaning, signage, furnishings, technology, and other opening-related activities.
• Work closely with Evergreen’s operations and property management teams to ensure facilities are operational and ready for occupancy.
• Coordinate turnover documentation, warranties, training materials, equipment information, and other close-out requirements.
• Assist with post-opening issue resolution and warranty coordination.

Close-Out & Post-Construction

• Support substantial completion, final completion, and project turnover activities.
• Coordinate collection and review of as-built drawings, O&M manuals, warranties, equipment documentation, certifications, and other close-out materials.
• Track outstanding close-out and warranty items through resolution.
• Participate in post-project reviews and identify lessons learned that can improve future Evergreen projects.
• Support preparation of project reports and documentation required by regulatory agencies, lenders, investors, or compliance monitors, as applicable.
• Help ensure continuity between the development/construction team and property operations after opening.

Education & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate, Business, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• 5+ years of experience in construction management, development, architecture, engineering, project management, or owner-side project coordination, ideally on acquisition-rehabs
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple stakeholders, projects, and competing priorities.
• Experience reading and interpreting architectural, engineering, and construction drawings and specifications.
• Experience working on active construction sites and coordinating with general contractors and subcontractors.
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing, scheduling, project documentation, and construction processes.
• Ability to travel regularly to project sites throughout the Midwest and select projects in other states.

Preferred:

• Experience working in an Owner’s Representative, developer, construction management, or owner-side project management capacity.
• Experience with multifamily, senior living, affordable housing, or other residential/occupied development, particularly acquisition-rehabilitation or renovation projects.
• Experience managing design consultants and coordinating design development.
• Experience with project budgets, change orders, cost management, and construction schedules.
• Experience coordinating FF&E, owner-furnished equipment, vendor-direct contracts, or other owner-controlled procurement.
• Experience taking projects through substantial completion, opening, turnover, and warranty.
• Experience with Microsoft Project, Procore or Autodesk Forma, Bluebeam, or similar construction/project management platforms.

Licenses & Certifications

• OSHA 30-Hour Certification preferred.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Technical & Physical Skills

• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, schedules, and other technical documents.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with construction/project management software preferred.
• Ability to conduct regular site walks at active construction and renovation projects.
• Ability to travel throughout the Midwest and to select projects in other states, potentially including overnight travel.
• Ability to work in and around active construction environments, including uneven surfaces, construction materials, noise, dust, and varying weather conditions.

Travel

This position is based in Chicago, Illinois, with project assignments throughout the Midwest and in select additional states. Anticipated travel is approximately 2 to 3 days per week, varying by project portfolio and phase, and may include site visits, project meetings, inspections, construction milestones, turnover, and community openings.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This is a hands-on, field-oriented role involving regular site walks at active construction sites and periodic travel, including to project sites in the Midwest and other states as necessary. Evergreen Real Estate Group provides reasonable accommodations to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role. This role may occasionally require evening or weekend work to meet critical deadlines, including around punch list completion, turnover, and community openings.