Program Manager, K-12 Education - DSA | Owner's Representative | San Mateo, CA - MyGreat Recruitment

Program Manager - K-12 Education (DSA)

Location: San Mateo, CA Salary: $190,000 - $220,000

This Program Manager leads a portfolio of K-12 education projects across the San Mateo and Peninsula area, providing owner's-side oversight for multiple concurrent projects and teams. The role is responsible for running a programnot a single projectwhile managing Senior Project Managers, ensuring DSA compliance, and serving as a trusted partner to school district leadership. The position requires deep California K-12 experience, strong public-sector credibility, and local presence.

Must Haves

• 12+ years of progressive experience in owner's-side construction management, program management, or public-sector project delivery
• Proven experience leading multi-site, multi-project K-12 education programs in California
• Demonstrated ability to run a program rather than a single project, with responsibility for multiple concurrent projects across multiple clients and locations
• Direct experience managing, mentoring, and overseeing Senior Project Managers and project teams
• Deep working knowledge of California DSA requirements, processes, and compliance expectations for K-12 projects
• Strong credibility working with school districts, superintendents, facilities leadership, and public-sector stakeholders
• Experience navigating public procurement, governance, board approvals, and community-facing processes
• Demonstrated success managing scope, schedule, budget, risk, and quality across complex, compliance-driven programs
• Ability to synthesize program-level reporting, forecasting, and executive-level communication
• Excellent written, verbal, and organizational communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and common construction/project management platforms
• Ability to live on or very near the San Mateo Peninsula area and travel locally without reliance on long bridge commutes

Nice to Haves

• Experience working directly with Bay Area school districts and Peninsula-based education clients
• Background delivering modernization, upgrade, or capital improvement programs rather than only ground-up construction
• Familiarity with DSA closeout, certification, and post-construction requirements
• Experience establishing or improving program-level standards, processes, and controls
• Working knowledge of Primavera P6, Procore, or similar scheduling and project controls tools
• Professional certifications such as PMP, CCM, or DBIA
• Experience supporting bond-funded programs or long-term capital improvement plans

Responsibilities

• Serve as the owner's-side Program Manager overseeing multiple K-12 projects across multiple school districts and locations
• Lead and manage a portfolio of concurrent education projects, ensuring consistency, compliance, and performance across the program
• Directly manage, mentor, and oversee multiple Senior Project Managers and project teams
• Act as a trusted advisor and primary program-level point of contact for district leadership and key stakeholders
• Establish and maintain program-level controls for budget, schedule, risk, reporting, and quality
• Ensure all projects comply with California DSA requirements, public-sector processes, and district standards
• Coordinate architects, engineers, inspectors, contractors, and consultants across the full program
• Provide clear executive-level reporting on program status, risks, forecasting, and key decisions
• Lead program-level planning, prioritization, and resource allocation across projects
• Proactively identify and mitigate risks impacting schedule, cost, safety, and compliance
• Support procurement strategies, consultant selection, and contractor coordination as needed
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings, presentations, and public-facing communications
• Ensure successful delivery of projects while maintaining strong client relationships and long-term program continuity