Senior Project Manager

Position Summary

The Senior Project Manager will join KIPP during an exciting phase of growth and development. KIPP is currently at the peak of our real estate construction, building new facilities to support our expansion in Stockton and enhancing the quality of our facilities in the Bay Area. This individual will work closely with the Chief Financial and Operating Officer and the Director of Real Estate to address the full spectrum of real estate needs and capital projects for existing schools, while also collaborating with the KIPP facilities department. The position reports to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer.

This role is crucial in ensuring strong execution and enabling our portfolio of schools to be housed in stable, safe, long-term facilities. Responsibilities primarily include managing a variety of construction projects such as ground-up construction, major and minor renovations, deferred maintenance projects and repairs on building envelopes, interiors and exterior sites. The role also involves fostering the ongoing development of external and vendor relationships and contributing to other real estate functions as needed, such as managing budgets for capital projects and analyzing construction-related data like space utilization and construction costs. The aim is to identify trends, forecast future needs, and optimize resource allocation. Additionally, this role entails creating reports, trackers, dashboards, visualizations, and tools to support decision-making processes and enhance the operational efficiency of school facilities.

The ideal candidate possesses knowledge of K12 construction and school operations as they relate to buildings and equipment, with the ability to anticipate problems, implement solutions, and complete major and minor construction projects on time and on budget. This individual should demonstrate strong customer service and project management skills and the capacity to build effective relationships with school-based staff, manage vendors, and navigate ambiguity with ease. They should be enthusiastic about addressing a variety of high-priority challenges faced by the organization and be willing to roll up their sleeves to help out. We seek a dedicated individual who can self-perform and independently execute many of the required activities, while being passionate about KIPP’s mission and embodying our organization’s values.

The role is based out of our Regional Office in downtown Oakland (BART accessible), with frequent travel to our local schools and communities throughout the Bay Area – including San Jose, the Peninsula, San Francisco, the East Bay, and Stockton. This is a hybrid role with the expectation that two to four days per week be spent on-site at our school campuses and/or at our Regional Support Office in Oakland.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

At least 8 years of experience in K-12 school construction projects as owner's representative/ owner’s project manager on construction projects in excess of $20M.

Education:

Bachelor's degree required

Knowledge/skills required:

Exhibits exceptional customer service and communication skills. Ability to maintain continuous, empathetic relationships with on-site school staff. Demonstrates expertise in understanding their challenges and effectively collaborating to develop tailored solutions that enhance operational efficiency and achieve high customer satisfaction. This approach fosters strong partnerships, ensuring that all facility-related school needs are addressed promptly and effectively to support the organization’s mission and values.

Outstanding project management skills and the ability to coordinate and manage teams towards deadlines and key deliverables. Results orientation and the ability to get things done well, with careful attention to detail. Ability to self‐direct and prioritize among competing goals and exhibit flexibility in a fast‐paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Skilled at creating slide decks, as well as analyzing, interpreting, and using data for improvement, and driving results. Proficient using Ms Office/G-Suite applications to create spreadsheets and trackers for space, utilities, building sub-systems, maintenance, vendors and other facility related tasks and systems.

Construction management experience including knowledge of buildings and equipment with ability to foresee problems, implement solutions via utilization of capital funds and complete relevant major capital or minor renovation projects in a timely manner.

Knowledge of key buildings systems and facilities maintenance programs, to inform design and execution of major maintenance projects.

Extensive experience in construction permitting and scheduling, with a detailed understanding of all construction phases. This includes the necessary sequencing of activities for preconstruction, construction, and post-construction phases.

Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, project specifications, and plans. Skilled in parring with designers and contractors to interpret construction documents, understand code requirements, and develop effective construction delivery strategies and timelines.

Demonstrated knowledge of building trades including plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and carpentry.

Knowledge of applicable codes and regulations related to K-12 facilities and building system operations. Ability to read building codes and provide a roadmap for repairs and improvements based on existing conditions of systems and assets. Familiarity with DSA permitting, public bidding requirements and construction execution process within school district sites.

Planning, fiscal, and forecasting experience with an understanding of how to keep costs to a minimum while providing maximum outcome with efficient utilization of limited funds

Inclination to quickly and effectively build relationships and engage a diverse group of stakeholders including school administrators, landowners and school district administrators.

Strong financial acumen and analytics; resourceful with limited budget and resources.

Adept at thinking strategically, translating plans into action, and exhibiting excellent judgment.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Development and execution of diverse capital projects across 22 (and growing) KIPP schools, ensuring stable and safe environments conducive to teaching and learning.

Project Planning and Execution:

Oversee the development of capital projects from planning, scheduling, design, and execution, ensuring completion on time and on budget.

Develop comprehensive plans for various types of projects with a detailed understanding of preconstruction, construction, and post-construction phases.

Develop and execute multi-year major maintenance and replacement plans at a set of schools for which KIPP is responsible for major maintenance, to ensure assets are being optimized over the long term.

Develop detailed scopes of work based on interactions with school staff and site visits.

RFP and Vendor Management:

Create and issue RFPs to hire, engage, and manage consultants, including architects, general contractors, and other specialized professionals, ensuring the successful delivery of projects.

Foster the ongoing development of external and vendor relationships to ensure quality and timely project delivery.

Stakeholder Communication:

Effectively communicate with stakeholders, including school districts, city officials, school staff, and in-house colleagues, to ensure timely and accurate information flow regarding construction projects.

Schedule and conduct regular meetings with schools to address their construction needs and/or inform them to ensure project alignment.

Budget and Resource Management:

Manage budgets for capital projects, ensuring financial efficiency and alignment with organizational goals.

Optimize resource allocation by processing and analyzing construction-related data such as space utilization and construction costs.

Regulatory Compliance:

Ensure all construction projects comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including obtaining necessary permits and approvals.

Coordinate with city officials and other regulatory bodies to facilitate smooth project execution.

Construction Oversight:

Conduct regular site visits to assess project progress, perform inspections, oversee construction activities, and meet with contractors, vendors, and landlords.

Supervise and coordinate work with contractors, vendors, and other service providers.

Review and approve pay applications, change orders, and other construction-related issues, acting as the representative safeguarding the KIPP NorCal’s rights.

Manage the invoice processing, generate invoice trackers, project initiation documents and other administrative tasks as needed.

Reporting and Documentation:

Create reports, trackers, dashboards, and visualizations to support decision-making processes and enhance operational efficiency.

Maintain comprehensive records of all construction activities, including document retention and inventory of physical assets.

Collaborate with the Accounting department to ensure accurate accounting records of capital projects

Risk Management and Problem Solving:

Anticipate potential issues, implement solutions, mitigate construction related risks promptly to minimize disruption.

Develop contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges during construction.

Training and Development:

Provide training and support school leaders and staff on construction-related processes and best practices.

Collaborate with the Director of Real Estate to develop and implement long-term construction plans.

Regulatory Compliance and Documentation:

Manage special projects such as preparing for district presentations, supporting school start-ups, and rolling out new facility initiatives.

Collaborates in the creation of slide decks for Facility Advisory Council, board meetings and other senior leadership meetings, supporting the CFOO in presenting and updating on capital projects.

Team Collaboration:

Act as a team player, collaborating effectively with other departments and colleagues to support the overarching goals of KIPP Public Schools Northern California.

Perform additional duties related to real estate and capital projects as assigned by the Chief Financial and Operating Officer ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to evolving organizational needs.

Physical, Mental and Environmental Demands

Physical: Ability to navigate office and school campuses, and hold meetings in different spaces. Much of the day involves sitting and visiting schools. Ability to access and utilize technology. Occasional lifting/carrying of equipment 1-20 lbs. Physical agility to move self in various positions in order to execute duties effectively, which may include kneeling, walking, pushing/pulling, squatting, twisting, turning, bending, stooping and reaching overhead

Mental: Stress of deadlines and normal work standards, ability to analyze problems and generate alternatives, work with interruptions, concentrate for long periods of time, read, calculate, perform routine math problems, memorize and recall objects and people.

Environmental: Office and school environment subject to constant interruptions and distractions. Frequent on site school environment and travel up-to 4 days a week. KIPP adheres to health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC, CDE, and public health agencies’ recommendations.

Classification

This is a full-time, exempt position based on a full year calendar cycle, based out of our Regional Support Office with frequent travel to schools.

About KIPP Public Schools Northern California

We are a thriving nonprofit network of 22 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Our student community consists of 6,800 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San Jose, Redwood City, and Stockton. 79% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 23% are multilingual learners, and 10% have special needs. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students’ diversity.

Compensation

KIPP Northern California is dedicated to you and your family's well-being! We offer a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and transportation benefits.

We benchmark annually against comparably-sized non-profit organizations in the regions where we operate, to offer competitive salaries. The salary range for this position is between $165,000 and $200,000. Most candidates would be compensated at $180,000.