Princeton University · 17 hours ago
Executive Director, Project Management
Princeton, NJ
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$243K/yr - $274K/yr
15+ years expPrinceton University is seeking an Executive Director, Project Management to oversee the Capital Plan projects within the Facilities Organization. This role involves strategic planning, collaboration with various stakeholders, and leadership in executing design and construction projects.
AlumniEducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
Provide Program Managers, Project Managers and construction personnel guidance that is complementary to the organization’s strategic objectives and track the alignment of strategic objectives to project objectives
Allocate resources to projects within a program in accordance with the organization’s priorities and commitments and coordinate with leadership on OCP workload and staff resources
Work with Office of University Architect (OUA) and leadership to establish benchmarks
Participate in the creation of Value Proposition and PPO’s; discuss early relationships with user and executive sponsors
Lead Program Mangers and project teams, particularly at initiation through project milestones to completion
Provide input to project teams on governance, resources, priorities, risks and communications
Serve as liaison with executive sponsor, users and University administration
Monitor a plan for project governance, authorization and approval
Support PGMs & PMs to position them for success
“Clear the path” to secure approvals, establish funding strategies, and set priorities
Monitor “hot” issues to ensure resolution
Responsible for preparation and presentation of FPG capital approval process
Develop project requests into executable projects
Assign projects and manage PM workload, including “standing in for PM” when unavailable
Ensure client and stakeholder communication is ongoing
Work with PM and Project Planner to draft project scope for RFP’s
Work with PM to establish project schedule, with inputs from PM, OUA and others
Participate in project team selection, including AE/CM
Responsible for managing budget building process and funding approvals at milestones
Work closely with PM and procurement to establish contracts
Work with senior administration to establish Facilities or campus initiatives, policies and procedures, such as ADA compliance, Fire Code compliance, Design Standards, wayfinding and campus space utilization
Follow up on quality assurance for performance of teams’ ability to meet DSM compliance after tech team progress reports
Closely monitor team performance and ability to achieve milestones
Work with PGM and project team when issues arise on performance, cost control or schedule slippage
Collaborate to ensure PMs have established agendas and scheduled meetings
Lead discussions with CM and A/E on cost estimating process
Work closely with PM and finance team to monitor budget, including options early on and alternates as documentation progresses
Work closely with PM and Project Planner, lead discussion to create and monitor overall project schedule including design process, procurement, approvals and construction/move in
Ensure communication is inclusive and includes project stakeholders and user representative
Actively participate in preparation for and meeting with senior leadership where PM reports out on project progress and risks
Closely monitor construction, turnover, and move-in preparation to ensure smooth project delivery
Ensure post construction issues are resolved
Ensure progress during project close out
Provide executive leadership in the financial and human resources related to project services, maintaining and growing partnerships with Facilities Finance and Information Services, the Office of Sustainability, Operations, Engineering, Office of the University Architect and the Contracts Group
Develop PGMs as leaders within the organization and expand their capabilities to assume more and greater responsibility for project success, through a variety of means such as training, mentoring, and coaching
Serve as role model for the PM and project team through making timely and supportive decisions
Closely monitor progress and performance of team
Ensure quick resolution by PM/team as issues arise
Provide clear and timely communications on risks and project issues
Participate in senior leadership updates
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as engineering, architecture, real estate, etc. or equivalent combination of education and experience
15 years successful experience in managing capital design and construction projects
Familiarity with construction contract law
Broad knowledge and expertise in various building types (e.g. wet labs, residential, classroom, athletic, etc
Knowledgeable in municipal approval processes
Demonstrated leadership of people with proven skills in effectively engaging and motivating staff
Significant experience and a well-developed maturity in decision processes and leading/managing diverse teams with conflicting needs or requirements
Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as the ability to develop and maintain effective customer relationships within a team approach to construction management
Ability to manage multiple complex projects with varying scope and multiple stages of completion
Possess assertive and collaborative skills capable of maintaining momentum of projects and driving it to successful conclusion in a politically sensitive manner
Effective organizational, prioritization and multi-tasking skills
Ability to understand existing policies, processes and procedures; and conceive of and implement new work procedures to enhance efficiency or execution to individual project circumstances
Preferred
Master's degree in engineering, business, or related field
Previous experience working in the higher education environment, in the construction industry, or real estate development
Benefits
Comprehensive benefit program
Company
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private Ivy League university that offers a variety of master’s degrees and Ph. D.s.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Princeton University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (301)
2024 (220)
2023 (218)
2022 (172)
2021 (207)
2020 (193)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$11.44MKey Investors
US Department of EnergyAlfred P. Sloan FoundationNational Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
2024-06-06Grant· $2M
2023-08-14Grant
2022-02-15Grant· $5.5M
Leadership Team
Amy Robinson Sterling
Executive Director, Eyewire
Anne-Marie Maman
Founding Director - Princeton Entrepreneurship Council
Recent News
2026-01-09
2026-01-07
2025-12-28
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