Senior Project Manager

About this role

Job title: Senior Project Manager

Summary:

Under the general direction of the Director of Public Works and Assistant Public Works Director, the Senior Project Manager – Capital Projects leads the planning, design, and delivery of complex capital infrastructure and facility projects for the City of San Rafael. This role focuses on high-value construction and modernization projects, including buildings, utilities, and public infrastructure. The position serves as a critical liaison between City departments, consultants, contractors, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure successful execution of capital projects within scope, schedule, and budget.

Distinguishing characteristics:

This is a senior-level, mid-management position requiring substantial independent judgment, technical expertise, and leadership in managing capital improvement projects. The position reports to the Director of Public Works or designee and may supervise professional and technical staff. This role requires a deep understanding of project delivery, procurement, and public sector processes related to large-scale infrastructure.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

This list is intended to be illustrative and does not represent an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. Incumbents may not perform all duties and responsibilities listed. Other duties may be assigned.

• Plans, organizes, directs and controls all parts of projects from concept through design, permitting, bidding, and construction to the closeout for a portfolio of complex capital improvement projects.
• Prepares and monitors project budgets, including support for obtaining funding.
• Coordinates work of a multi-disciplinary development team across organizational boundaries, including design architects and construction professionals.
• Develops and maintains detailed project schedules and budgets, tracks expenditures, and recommends cost control strategies.
• Reviews and processes change orders, ensures quality control, and oversees contractor compliance with plans, specifications, and safety standards.
• Prepares reports, presentations, and communications to inform internal and external stakeholders, including City Council.
• Ensures that contractors are maintaining safe work sites and that the needs of the staff at each project are being protected.
• Coordinates final project closeout including punch list items, documentation, and transfer to operations.
• Manages consultant contracts and coordinates with engineers, architects, construction managers, and inspectors.
• Facilitates cross-departmental coordination and public outreach related to project scope, impacts, and progress.
• Supports grant application processes and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal funding requirements.

Knowledge of:

• Technical aspects of architectural, civil, mechanical, electrical, structural and geotechnical engineering design and specifications.
• Financing, estimating and budgeting, including planning and estimating, calculating overhead, design and construction costs. General knowledge of various funding sources and restrictions.
• Regulations and regulatory agencies and commissions affecting planning, zoning, design and construction.
• Requirements of final bid packages.
• Construction management techniques and practices.
• Knowledge of move management and purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment.
• Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibilities Guidelines (ADAAG), and California accessibility requirements that are in Title 24 of California Code of Regulations.
• Principles and practices of capital project delivery, including public procurement and contract management.
• Public works design and construction standards, codes, regulations, and funding programs.
• Construction methods and materials across civil, structural, electrical, and mechanical disciplines.
• CEQA and permitting processes at local and state levels.
• Knowledge of planning and building department review process for capital improvement projects.

Ability to:

• Schedule and budget capital projects; monitor and track project progress and expenditures and implement cost controls.
• Use computer-based scheduling software, documentation management, and project management systems.
• Work effectively in a team environment; negotiate and resolve contract disputes; maintain client contractor relationships; and communicate effectively with the public, community groups, other City departments, stakeholders, agencies, and private contractors.
• Supervise, prepare, or participate in the design and production of final architectural contract documents for a wide variety of small construction and maintenance projects.
• Plan and organize; analyze and solve problems; make judgment on all decisions; and deal effectively with government officials.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work as part of a City-wide team.
• Manage multiple high-value, high-impact projects simultaneously.
• Prepare and interpret construction documents and technical specifications.
• Lead teams and coordinate with diverse stakeholders.
• Prepare clear reports, presentations, and correspondence.
• Negotiate and administer consultant and construction contracts.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with a wide range of audiences.

Education and experience requirements:

Any combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge and abilities listed. Typically, equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in construction management, project management, civil, structural or mechanical engineering, facilities planning, design management, architecture, business, economics, planning or a related field AND five years of progressively responsible experience in project management related to the area of assignment.

The required education is interchangeable with project management experience related to the area of assignment on a year-for-year basis up to a maximum of two years. Possession of a master’s degree in a field noted above, professional registration or licensure, or Project Management Institute (PMI) / Construction Management Institute (CMI). Either may be substituted for one year of required experience.

Certificates, licenses, registrations:

Valid CA driver’s license required. Registration as a licensed architect or engineer in the State of California is desirable. Project Management Institute (PMI) / Construction Management Institute (CMI) certification is desired.

Language skills:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to prepare clear and comprehensive written reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Mathematical skills:

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, proportions, and percentages.

Reasoning ability:

Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in construction related situations. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions and reports furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Physical demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee must be able to frequently travel to project sites and navigate construction areas. The employee must be able to work in indoor and outdoor environments, sometimes in inclement weather or noisy conditions. The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; walk on uneven surfaces; stoop, kneel or crouch. The employee may regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outdoor weather conditions and regularly works in inside environmental conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but occasionally loud.

FLSA status: Exempt

Prepared by: Marissa Sanchez, Human Resources Director

Prepared date: February 2019

Revised date: April 2025

Approved by: City of San Rafael

Approved date: July 15, 2019