Construction Project Management Office Manager

Metro’s Construction Project Management Office is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking leader to join our team as the Construction Project Management Office Manager. In this pivotal position, you will have the opportunity to lead a dedicated team of nine project managers, overseeing the successful delivery of capital projects across Metro’s diverse and impactful facilities. You will play a key role in ensuring that all construction projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality. This team collaborates cross-functionally with Metro departments, external contractors, and community stakeholders to align outcomes with Metro’s strategic priorities and community values.

As the Construction Project Management Office Manager, you will oversee construction projects at a wide range of facilities, including the Oregon Zoo, Metro’s solid waste stations, the Oregon Convention Center, the Portland Expo Center, Metro Regional Center, and Portland'5 Centers for the Arts, and Metro park properties. As a senior leader, this role offers the opportunity to advance the department’s strategic goals, prioritize sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience. You would have the chance to make a significant impact, both within Metro and the broader community, by ensuring the successful execution of complex projects that contribute to Metro’s mission of building vibrant and thriving community.

As the Construction Project Management Office Manager, in these areas, you will:

• Project Leadership: Oversee and manage the full lifecycle of public construction projects, including projects at Metro buildings, transfer stations, zoo exhibits, and other public infrastructure. Ensure each project meets Metro’s standards for scope, schedule and budget.
• Team Leadership and Development: Lead and mentor a team of project managers, offering personalized support, professional growth development opportunities, and constructive performance feedback. Create an inclusive, collaborative, high-performance culture that empowers each team member to thrive, while also driving collective success and achieving team goals.
• Contract Management: Guide the preparation, negotiation, and administration of project contracts, ensuring clear terms and alignment with project goals. Collaborate with procurement team to select qualified contractors; work alongside project managers to draft, solicit, and execute public contracts and inter-governmental agreements.
• Risk Management: Proactive approach to identifying potential risks and developing effective mitigation strategies. Implement contingency plans to reduce project disruptions and control costs, ensuring that risk management protocols are integrated into every phase of a project delivery.
• Stakeholder Collaboration and Issue Resolution: Serve as the key liaison for internal stakeholders, maintaining clear and consistent communication on project status, risks, and strategies. Lead efforts to resolve complex issues in design and construction project delivery; effectively address sensitive inquiries or complaints. Prepare detailed reports with actionable recommendations for the Department Director and executive leadership, ensuring alignment and informed decision-making across all levels.
• Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance: Ensure all projects comply with local, state, and federal regulations, building codes, and environmental standards. Champion quality control assurance efforts by enforcing rigorous procedures to maintain highest standards of project integrity, safety and compliance at every stage.
• Reporting and Documentation: Deliver succinct and timely project updates to senior leadership, Metro Council, and community stakeholders. Maintain procedures for accurate and thorough documentation throughout all project phases, ensuring full transparency, accountability and traceability.
• Training and Process Development: Develop and implement a robust internal training curriculum for construction project management, focusing on industry best practices across the agency. Provide team members access to clear, practical procedures and ongoing learning opportunities, reinforcing the agency’s commitment to excellence in project management.

Attributes for success

• Project Management Expertise: Deep knowledge of project budgeting, scheduling, risk assessment, and quality control, with a proven ability to successfully manage construction projects from inception to completion.
• Capital Improvement Planning: Proven experience in planning and executing capital improvement plans with a solid understanding of best practices for capital project budgeting.
• Commitment to Public Benefit Initiatives: Skilled in delivering capital projects that align with policy objectives, including workforce development, contract diversity, and sustainable building practices, ensuring that each project enhances community impact.
• Leadership Excellence: Ability to lead, inspire, and develop high-performing teams, combined with strong decision-making and conflict-resolution skills that guide both team members and stakeholders through complex projects.
• Exceptional Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the capability to convey complex project information for diverse audiences, from technical staff to community stakeholders and executive leadership.
• Process Improvement Orientation: A proactive approach to developing and implementing policies and procedures that drive consistent and improved project outcomes. Familiarity with portfolio and project management software systems is preferred in order to support efficient and effective project delivery.

Approximate Recruitment Timeline

• First round interview week of December 16, 2024
• Second round interview week of January 6th
• Reference check week of January 13th

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

Learn more about Metro’s Diversity Action Plan

Working Conditions

It is expected that the position will be onsite to meet with project managers and facility staff on regular basis of 3-4 days per week.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Hybrid Telework

At this time, this position is designated as “hybrid telework.” You will have the option to work away from the office, although there will be times that coming into the office will be required. The manager will work with you to identify a schedule that balances the operational needs of the department and your needs. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro.

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• PMP, CCM, or other relevant certifications.
• 7 years of experience working in construction project management.
• Previous experience working in a union an environment.
• Experience in using portfolio management and/or project management software systems is preferred.

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Public Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years in construction project management, with at least 5 years in a supervisory or managerial role, ideally within a public or government setting.
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.