Section Manager PM

Responsibilities

• Periodically spot-check projects for compliance with SSOE and department requirements and best practices.
• Verify that Project Managers maintain alignment among scope, schedule, and budget; actively address misalignment of spent progress vs completion progress; and promote proper documentation.
• Aid Project Managers in developing and fully implementing recovery plans.
• Promote strong and proactive client communication.
• Promote continuous business development.
• Proactively engage with the section to resolve client issues.
• Support proposal development through staffing alignments, review of hours/approaches/fees, and reinforce that proposals include a well-fit execution strategy with comprehensive scope definition.
• Assess incoming opportunities and recommend resource assignments based on fit, priorities, and availability.
• Manage high-value proposals directly.
• Some direct project management may be assigned.
• Balance workload and assign value-added work when capacity exists.
• Minimize undue burdens and monitor overtime for team health and capacity.
• Review Time Analysis weekly: productivity, misallocated time, and under/over-utilization trends.
• Review team capacity across all projects; identify structural overload, gaps, or misalignment of skillsets; propose adjustments or hiring needs.
• Ensure 100% of submitted proposals and awarded projects have a resource plan in Vantagepoint and resolve expired plans within the business week.
• Ensure resource plans are maintained regularly for all projects; ensure forecasts reflect realistic execution.
• Collaborate with Project Controllers and Finance and identify high-risk or trending-negative projects early for margin erosion and forecast inaccuracies.
• Validate project forecasts vs actuals and accuracy of ETCs and resource plans.
• Ensure PMs follow up on overdue invoices with clients and send documentation to Finance in a timely manner.
• Confirm all team submissions are complete and on time.
• Track misses, patterns, and enforce correct time charging behavior.
• Implement corrective actions for repeated issues.
• Conduct regular 1:1 discussions with team members for in-flight mentoring and coaching to provide recognition; reinforce expectations and priorities; raise team feedback, health, and input for leadership; and drive continuous improvement.
• Assess strengths and opportunity areas of section personnel to identify and prioritize training needs and succession recommendations.
• Monitor and encourage active participation in the mentoring program to support development plans, knowledge transfer, and pipeline of talent.
• Reinforce a culture of accountability and communication standards — ensure accurate coverage planning (calendars, meeting responses, out-of-office messages, preparation for those covering).

Qualifications

• Bachelor or master's degree in Architecture/Engineering with minimum of eight (8) years related experience or six (6) to eight (8) years direct experience in Lead PM Position managing design-related projects.
• PMP Certification preferred.
• Strong project management background with accurate financial forecasting capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and hold accountable a team of project professionals.
• Experience with resource planning tools (e.g., Vantagepoint) and time analysis platforms (e.g., Power BI).
• Solid understanding of project delivery standards and quality assurance practices.
• Demonstrated skills in mentoring, coaching, and performance management.
• Strong communication skills for client engagement, team leadership, and cross-functional coordination.
• Ability to balance workload, identify staffing gaps, and make data-driven resourcing decisions.
• Familiarity with financial metrics (EAC, ETC, % complete vs % spent, margin analysis, EV, WIP).
• Experience in proposal support, scope definition, and business development activities.