New

Senior Project Manager, Capital Projects

Duke Clinical Research Institute
United States, North Carolina, Durham
Oct 08, 2026
Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke. Senior Project Manager, Capital Projects Be You. At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As a Senior Project Manager, Capital Projects, you'll play a critical role in shaping the physical environment that supports world-class education, research, healthcare, and innovation. You'll join a collaborative team of professionals dedicated to delivering impactful capital projects that strengthen Duke's campus and advance our mission. In this role, you'll partner with faculty, staff, administrators, design professionals, contractors, and Facilities Management colleagues to lead complex construction and renovation projects from concept through completion. Your expertise will help create spaces where learning, discovery, and collaboration thrive. Be Bold. As a senior leader within Facilities Management, you'll independently manage a diverse portfolio of capital projects while guiding project teams through planning, design, construction, commissioning, and occupancy. You'll make strategic decisions, solve complex challenges, and help deliver exceptional outcomes for the Duke community. What You'll Do Lead Capital Projects from Start to Finish Manage all phases of assigned capital projects including planning, programming, design, construction, commissioning, occupancy, and closeout. Serve as the primary project leader for large, complex, and high-visibility campus projects. Coordinate activities among project stakeholders, consultants, contractors, and university partners. Ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with project goals. Build Strong Partnerships Collaborate with university clients to understand project objectives, requirements, schedules, and funding needs. Facilitate project committees and stakeholder meetings throughout the project lifecycle. Maintain strong relationships with schools, departments, consultants, contractors, and Facilities Management teams. Support a highly collaborative environment that encourages teamwork and exceptional customer service. Manage Design and Construction Excellence Guide the selection and management of architects, engineers, contractors, and specialty consultants. Review and evaluate proposals, qualifications, contracts, and project deliverables. Monitor design development and construction activities to ensure quality, functionality, sustainability, and compliance with University standards and applicable codes. Resolve project challenges and develop practical solutions to maintain momentum and project success. Drive Financial and Schedule Performance Develop, monitor, and maintain project budgets, schedules, and financial records. Prepare project status updates and financial reports for leadership and stakeholders. Review invoices, payment applications, change orders, and consultant requests for accuracy and compliance. Manage contingency funding and proactively identify risks that could impact budget or schedule performance. Support Safety and Operational Excellence Review construction safety plans and site logistics strategies. Coordinate utility outages, permits, inspections, and regulatory approvals. Ensure construction activities are properly planned within occupied and operational facilities. Verify completed work and confirm adherence to contract documents and project requirements. Mentor and Develop Others Provide guidance, training, and mentorship to less experienced project management staff. Support departmental process improvements and project management best practices. Contribute to the continued growth and success of the Facilities Management team. What You'll Bring Required Qualifications Education Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field. Equivalent combination of technical training, education, knowledge, and experience may be considered. Experience Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in construction, design, engineering, or project management. Demonstrated success managing complex commercial, institutional, research, educational, or industrial construction projects. Experience overseeing all project phases from planning and design through construction, commissioning, and occupancy. Experience managing capital budgets, project schedules, and multidisciplinary project teams. Preferred Qualifications Experience managing projects within a higher education or institutional environment. Professional licensure in a related discipline. Master's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field. Experience presenting projects, budgets, and approvals to executive and senior leadership teams. Experience reviewing change orders, construction claims, and design service proposals. Experience managing laboratory infrastructure replacement projects in occupied or partially occupied facilities. What Makes You Successful You have: Strong knowledge of construction methods, building systems, design processes, and project management principles. The ability to evaluate bids, proposals, contracts, and cost estimates effectively. Experience managing project budgets, schedules, risks, and quality outcomes. Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously. Excellent communication, negotiation, interpersonal, and customer service skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project management software. The ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, contracts, and construction documentation. The ability to navigate active construction sites and perform visual inspections of work in progress. Choose Duke. At Duke, you'll have the opportunity to contribute to projects that support one of the nation's leading research universities and healthcare systems. Your work will directly impact the spaces where groundbreaking discoveries are made, students learn, and communities are served. When you join Duke, you become part of a culture that values collaboration, innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning. You'll be empowered to bring your expertise, lead meaningful projects, and build a lasting legacy across our campus. Ready to Make a Difference? Apply today and help shape the future of Duke through transformational capital projects that support education, research, healthcare, and community impact. Apply at www.hr.duke.edu and reference requisition#275885. Minimum Qualifications Education Requires a Bachelor's Degree or related in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or equivalent technical training, knowledge, and experience in design and construction. Experience Requires at least seven (7) years of stable and progressively responsible experience in design, construction, and project management related duties and activities, managing large and diverse project teams that includes supervision of commercial/institutional building renovation and/or new construction projects, and capital budget preparation and administration. This experience must include management of all phases onsample major projects from the initiation of programming and design through the completion of construction, commissioning, and occupancy. Experience should demonstrate competency and exposure to large scale building projects involving all building trade divisions for a research, educational facility, or related commercial or industrial facilities. Familiarity in coordinating multiple interest groups and stakeholders is important. Ability to work within complex phasing constraints and within existing densely built mature facilities environments is a plus. Experience in project management in a university setting or related institutional facilities is desirable. A professional license and master's degree in a related field, along with additional years of relevant experience, are preferred. Degrees, Licensures, Certifications Anticipated Pay Range: Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $79,727.00 to USD $127,255.00. Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. Your total compensation goesbeyond the dollars on your paycheck. Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/ Equal Opportunity Employer: Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender,gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy- related conditions), sexual orientation, or military status. Duke aspires to create a community built oncollaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values. Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and reasonable accommodation(s) can be requested with Duke Access and Accommodations Services (email: DAAS@duke.edu; phone: 919-668-1267).