Senior Project Manager, Digital Technology
3 days ago
Washington
WHO WE ARE Whether in your home, office or out in your community, the walls that surround you must be safe, structurally sound, and sustainable. It’s our job to make that happen. We were created by act of Congress in 1974 to be the nation’s authoritative source of findings and recommendations that impact and improve the built environment for the American people. At the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), we connect research, policy, and practical application to advance innovation in the built environment. Our mission is to create a safer, more resilient, and technologically advanced infrastructure that serves American communities and strengthens our nation’s future. Building American Innovation isn’t just our tagline - it’s our commitment. We foster collaboration between government, industry, and academia to drive forward-thinking strategies for resilient communities. Because at NIBS, we don’t just build structures, we build solutions. SUMMARY We are looking for a visionary Senior Project Manager of Digital Technology to lead the execution of complex, multidisciplinary projects from initiation through closeout, advancing client-driven goals in resilience, innovation, and community impact. The Senior Project Manager supports the Digital Technology Portfolio and by ensuring delivery within approved scope, schedule, and budget, establishing themselves as a central point of contact for stakeholders internal and external to the organization. This role bridges technical expertise in Building Technology and Transportation Engineering, serving as the strategic lead for an Industrialized Construction Planning program and a Digital Technology Transportation portfolio. The Senior Project Manager can operate with autonomy at the project level while collaborating closely with executives on organization-wide strategy, policy, and financial authority. Beyond project delivery, the Senior Project Manager plays a critical organizational leadership role by proactively identifying and mitigating risks, mentoring and developing junior staff, and aligning project outcomes with broader financial and performance targets. They engage strategically with stakeholders, cultivating long-term relationships that strengthen client trust and advance program growth. The role emphasizes thought leadership and proactive adoption of industry innovations, ensuring NIBS remains at the forefront of technical standards and criteria modernization. The Senior Project Manager also contributes to business development by identifying opportunities to expand revenue and organizational reach, while externally representing NIBS to elevate the Institute’s brand and influence at the national and industry levels. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES includes the following. Other duties may be assigned. Operations, Program & Project Delivery • Leads the end-to-end lifecycle of high-profile and complex projects, from strategic planning to execution, with a focus on building technology, transportation, and innovation., • Defines and manages project scope, success criteria, budgets, schedules, and KPIs, managing progress across delivery and financial responsibilities., • Utilize tools and standardized processes to increase project management efficiencies and expand project portfolio., • Utilizes data-driven performance management to track project financials and conduct financial forecasting to meet performance targets., • Identifies and manages both project and client relationship risks, resolving conflicts between parties efficiently and with professionalism and escalating to executive leadership when necessary., • Oversees the development of project documentation and ensures deliverables meet or exceed quality management frameworks., • Coordinates cross-functional teams including architects, engineers, researchers, and subcontractors., • Monitors industry trends in BIM, Digital Twins, AI, and Industrialized Construction to integrate best practices into project delivery., • Maintains professional verbal and written communication channels between the client and subcontractors., • Manage project-level contracting, invoicing, and compliance requirements. Mentorship and Team Development • Cultivate a high-performing team through mentoring, training, and talent development., • Proactively assess and identify competencies critical to staffing current and future projects., • Creates effective means of communication between team members which foster inclusivity and solidarity. Business Development and Growth • Develops long-term relationships with existing clients and identifies strategic growth opportunities to expand revenue opportunities and organizational reach., • Leads proposal development, including scope, schedules, cost estimates, and technical approaches., • Monitors subcontractor proposal development and compliance., • Identifies industry opportunities to expand current clientele with existing NIBS services and digital products., • Presents strategic initiatives for future development of NIBS portfolio offerings to NIBS leadership. Industry & Community Impact • Leads pro-bono and strategic initiatives that enhance community resilience., • Contributes to eminence and thought leadership: presenting at events, publishing articles, and developing white papers, blog posts, or answering company-wide solicitation for interview question responses. SECURITY CLEARANCE Individual must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance throughout the period of employment. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES This position will have direct reports. Supervisory responsibility of internal and external project partners is a core component of the role. QUALIFICATIONS To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE The position requires a candidate with a Bachelor’s degree in project management, engineering, architecture, transportation engineering, construction management, or related field, or 8 years’ experience in these fields or equivalent combination of education and experience. 5 or more years of project management experience, including 3 or more years managing multi-stakeholder projects; projects in the built environment/transportation industry is preferred. Experience with federal government contracting and reporting requirements preferred. TECHNICAL AND OTHER SPECIALIZED SKILLS AND ABILITIES: • Excellent writing and communication skills including technical reports, proposals, journal articles, and conference presentations. Strong ability to lead and collaborate within diverse, multidisciplinary project teams., • Proficiency of project management methodologies (PMI, Agile, or equivalent)., • Demonstrated expertise in processes, tools, and data standards required to deploy building technologies including BIM and Digital Twins preferred., • Strong proficiency project management software such as Monday.com or Microsoft Project or similar, MS Office Suite, project collaboration tools (e.g., SharePoint, Power BI), and task management tools/methods (Kanban, Backlog management, other)., • Conceptual understanding or better in processes, tools, and data standards required to deploy Industrialized Construction, Artificial Intelligence for the built environment, and/or blockchain for the built environment., • Ability to digest client needs into actionable steps, document steps, update schedules, and coordinate and direct team members and subcontractors in completing work., • Excellent written, verbal, and graphical communication skills., • Strong leadership, facilitation, and negotiation skills., • Ability to thrive in a dynamic, collaborative, and fast-paced environment. 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 sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to walk and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and depth perception. WORK ENVIRONMENT NIBS is primarily a remote work environment. Position specific business needs will determine when individuals need to work in the office or on-site at a third party. For example, meetings with external and internal stakeholders can necessitate coming to the office. Staff can voluntarily choose to work in the office at any time. The physical demand of NIBS positions is typical of those in an office environment. Positions require frequent use of a computer to communicate both orally and in writing. Estimated amount of travel, not including periodic trips to the office, is up to 15%. BENEFITS • Opportunity to work at the intersection of industry, government, and academia., • Work alongside some of the most respected experts in the building sciences and technology fields, gaining insight into best practices across industry and government., • Professional development and training opportunities., • NIBS offers a competitive salary and benefits package including fully paid health care premiums for medical, dental, and vision. This position is contingent upon project funding/award and is intended to be a full-time role with benefits once funding is confirmed. HOW TO APPLY If you feel you are a great fit for this role, please send your resume, cover letter, and salary requirement to today!
