Project Manager - Columbia University : Job Details

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $110,000 - $135,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

The Planning and Capital Project Management (CPM) group at Columbia University plays a vital role in shaping the future of our campuses. With the primary responsibility of overseeing the planning, design, and construction processes for capital projects at the Morningside Campus, Baker Athletic Complex, and Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory Campus, CPM is instrumental in enhancing the university's infrastructure and ensuring a safe and functional environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Our collaborative team works closely with various Facilities departments, including Construction Business Services, Communication, Finance and Administration, Campus Operations, Real Estate, and Public Safety. Each year, we manage a diverse portfolio of construction projects valued between $75M to $150M, delivered by a talented staff of approximately 30 planners, architects, engineers, and project managers with expertise in construction management, mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering, and architecture.

Within this framework, the Exteriors and Historic Preservation group-often referred to as Exteriors -serves as a specialized business unit responsible for maintaining the integrity and beauty of our university's built environment. This group oversees state-of-good-repair building envelope projects across a range of building types and historical periods, addressing needs such as facade repairs, roof and window replacements, and compliance with the NYC DOB Facade Inspection Safety Program (FISP). The Exteriors team also manages hardscape, plaza, and historic preservation projects, ensuring the preservation and restoration of facilities that are central to the university's heritage.

Responsibilities

• Reporting directly to the Director of Exteriors within the CPM group, the successful candidate will take on the critical role of project manager, overseeing a portfolio of 15 to 20 projects valued between $10,000 and $5MM throughout all standard project phases.

• Responsible for accurately developing scopes of work, corresponding budgets, and schedules, while ensuring strict adherence to regulatory compliance for each assigned project.

• The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience managing roofing, hardscape, masonry, and historic preservation projects, with technical expertise in waterproofing, conservation, facade repair, and/or window replacement strongly preferred.

• Coordinate and collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders and external participants-including vendors-will be key to the successful delivery of projects that enhance our university's infrastructure.

• Key responsibilities will include:

  • Managing the planning and development phases of assigned projects, including budget and schedule formulation.
  • Overseeing design, bidding, procurement, contract management, and construction management for each project.
  • Ensuring the regulatory and financial closeout of projects meets all required standards.
  • Handling administrative tasks, including records maintenance, project status updates, and governance reporting to relevant clients and stakeholders.
  • Additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required. Advanced degree and/or Construction Management Certifications desirable.
• Minimum of five (5) years experience in the management of similar projects, ideally including multiple years managing high-quality and complex historic preservation projects as well as 'state-of-good-repair' building envelope maintenance projects in the New York City tri-state region required.
• Must be effective communicators, possess strong interpersonal skills, value consensus-building in a collaborative work environment, be able to effectively prioritize project-related tasks and goals, and be able to concurrently managing multiple projects and vendors.
• Must possess excellent time management skills, be process-driven, highly organized and motivated, and oriented toward problem-solving, critical and strategic thinking.
• Must have a demonstrated working knowledge of applicable building codes and regulations; a general industry knowledge of building systems; as well as demonstrated proficiency in construction project management and delivery, including beneficial use of relevant industry tools and software (e.g. MS Project, AutoCad, etc.).
• The individual must have the ability to work in a client facing service environment and exercise discretion and judgement.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.