Senior Project Manager – Asset Delivery, Construction & Operations of Buildings

Published 15 August 2024

Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA

The Company 

Plenary Americas is a leading specialized developer of long-term public-private partnership (P3/PPP) projects.  Since its inception in 2005, we have built a portfolio of 60+ projects and more than $27 billion in North American assets under management. We are determined in our approach to deliver first-class infrastructure, build the right delivery solutions for the projects we work on and inspire people with our vision for transformational spaces. 

Why Work for Plenary? 

Recognized as one of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures, ranked as a Best Place to Work in Canada and certified as a Great Place to Work in both the US and Canada, we pride ourselves on our winning workplace culture. Our focus is on empowering our employees, driving results, building strong camaraderie, and celebrating our wins as a team. Together, we bring infrastructure to life. 

The Role

As a member of the Asset Delivery team, you will perform management responsibilities of all technical components of large-scale infrastructure and property transactions from project conception to facility construction, commissioning, and operations. Your primary objective will be to ensure that Plenary successfully manages its obligations and meets its project commitments in public infrastructure buildings it is developing and operating under a P3 framework, and thereby contribute to a premier reputation for Plenary with government client entities, business partners and community stakeholders in the concessions market.

The ideal candidate must be a lateral thinker with the ability to identify solutions to a wide spectrum of issues that may arise on Plenary’s projects. The candidate must have strong technical and contractual background and working knowledge of large-scale development projects, including permitting, design development, and commissioning processes. Strong organizational, management, and communications skills are paramount to success in this role as it involves coordination with multiple stakeholders including partners, contractors, consultants, and clients. This position will be based out of Plenary’s Los Angeles office.

Responsibilities

Design & Construction

• Manage design & construction phases on assigned Plenary buildings projects. This includes the design process, construction duration, change order management, contract compliance, and client relationship management.
• Implement a Project Management system framework that complies with Plenary requirements and the Project Agreement (prime contract with public-sector client) for the projects you are assigned.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of the Project Agreement and related sub agreements (e.g. construction and facilities management services contracts, etc.) and develop an inventory of contractual deliverables for Plenary and its partners. Implement a system to manage the timely delivery of obligations.
• Attend and participate in all design and construction meetings to ensure compliance with the contract documents and efficient communications between all project parties.
• Review and provide feedback on project documentation submitted by Plenary’s construction and facilities management service partners (e.g. policies and procedures manuals, transition reports, etc.).
• Manage contractor pay application process, in conjunction with Lender’s Technical Advisor and any other consultants.
• Responsible for ensuring that close working relationships are established among key Project stakeholders.
• Oversee the commissioning, operational readiness, and transition of an asset under construction so there is a seamless commencement of facility management services after construction completion. Ensure transition management that effectively delivers on Plenary’s obligations while seamlessly integrating with client transition plans. From facilities management services commencement, the project enters the asset management phase.
• Support completion of all deliverables and milestones including management and tracking of risks throughout the project lifecycle from the initial opportunity identification through construction and operational handover for all assigned Plenary projects.
• Prepare accurate project reporting for submission to Plenary management and project-specific boards.

Asset Management

Oversee and monitor the facility management services of building assets to ensure:

• Project Agreement and related contract obligations for the term of the concession are documented and managed.
• Facilities management contractor(s) performance is upheld through Plenary’s ongoing operating contract oversight and enforcement.
• Contractual compliance and performance monitoring.
• Establishing and maintaining quality and OH&S systems, where required.
• Strong management of Plenary’s liability risks, including where services are self-performed.
• Maintenance and maximization of building assets and equipment.
• Income maximization (third party income) and income protection (protect project cash flows from performance related reductions by abatement free service delivery).
• Effective cost and performance management of all sub-contracts, service providers, and in-house staff.
• Fulfillment of board, management, regulatory and lender reporting obligations.

Contract Management and Administration

• Establish and maintain a system to administer all obligations under the Project Agreement and ensuring Plenary deliverables are accurate and issued in a timely manner.
• Proactively manage issues in a diplomatic manner before they escalate.
• Develop a clear process for issue resolution and escalation with sponsors and partners, and manage issues judiciously to, where possible, avoid formal dispute resolution.
• Expedite and manage disputes that enter the formal dispute resolution process to mitigate direct and indirect exposure for Plenary.
• Document and track lessons learned from assigned projects and make recommendations to the PSI and Management group on how to avoid and or improve these situations in future.

Client Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with representatives from client /sponsor organizations, through regular formal and informal meetings, by building trust by making and keeping commitments, and by demonstrating a commitment to their success.
• Ensure good communication protocols and channels are established with client/sponsor contacts at all levels with within theirs/Plenary organization.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with procurement representatives and client advisors and work to protect and build on Plenary’s reputation as the preferred infrastructure developer of choice in North America.

Leadership

• Support and provide mentorship to junior colleagues and lead by example.
• This role requires strong attention to detail while also seeing the bigger picture, time management and ability to manage multiple projects at once, excellent communication, ownership of outcomes, self-initiative, work ethic, integrity, and leadership skills.
• Support senior management in other Asset Delivery activities and corporate initiatives as required. Roles and responsibilities may be modified by Senior Management to reflect changing business needs.

Qualifications

• Post-secondary education in engineering, construction management, or related field.
• 6+ years of working experience in construction project management or facility management –would be an asset to have experience on large complex construction projects in excess of $150M.
• A professional attitude to successfully deliver major capital works.
• A solid knowledge of the design, construction, permitting and engineering industries and their processes throughout the life of a project.
• An understanding of contract law, commercial terms, and interpretation, and demonstrated contract management experience.
• Skills in cost planning and cost control of major capital projects.
• Sound project management and documentation control skills.
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and excellent writing and editing skills.
• Effectively manage multiple projects of varying size and complexity under tight deadlines.
• Strong work ethic and high level of personal and professional integrity.
• Work positively within a cohesive team to achieve the common goal of project completion.
• Strong initiative, enthusiasm, drive, and commitment. This role may require travel and extended work hours based on project needs.
• P3/DBFOM or other alternative delivery project experience is viewed favorably.
• Experience using SharePoint, Bluebeam, and a scheduling or project management software would be an asset.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary with annual bonus potential
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental and vision, and 401k plan with employer contribution.
• Four weeks’ vacation.
• Long-term development opportunities and ability to be part of an exciting and growing industry.
• Salary range $140k +

Note: Only those applicants under consideration will be contacted. Please accept our utmost appreciation for your interest. We are committed to continuous improvement, and a diverse and inclusive workplace for all. Plenary Americas is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and employment decisions are based on merit and business needs only. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request.