Construction Program Manager (Field Based)

ERM • Baton Rouge, LA

12d • Onsite

About The Position

ERM is hiring a Construction Program Manager (Owner’s Representative) to provide senior-level leadership across a multi-workstream capital program in a pharmaceutical or life-sciences manufacturing environment. The role oversees planning, design coordination, procurement, construction execution, and turnover, ensuring alignment among the owner, designers, contractors, commissioning/startup teams, and site operations. The position translates complex field and technical information into actionable insights for program leadership, maintains a strong daily presence on site, removes obstacles, and supports safe, on-schedule, on-budget delivery consistent with quality and regulatory expectations. The role champions safe work planning and coordinates with Safety, Quality, CQV, and other subject-matter experts, but is not a safety technical expert.

This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week limited-term role for 12 months, renewable. It is based 100% on site in an active construction program environment and is available in multiple locations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least 12 years managing complex capital construction projects, preferably as an owner’s representative or in a CM/GC organization.
• Demonstrated success delivering projects safely, on schedule, and within budget.
• Strong command of schedule management, including CPM and critical path analysis, and cost control, including forecasting and contingency management.
• Experience with procurement, bid processes, contract administration, and change management.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and leadership skills, including the ability to influence without direct authority.
• Proficiency with construction management tools such as Primavera P6, MS Project, Procore/ACC, Excel, or Power BI.
• Ability to work 100% on site in an active construction program environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience delivering capital projects in pharmaceutical or life-sciences environments.
• Experience coordinating with CQV teams and integrating construction with startup and qualification needs.
• Familiarity with safety management frameworks and working alongside EHS teams.
• Experience with BIM/VDC workflows and model-based coordination.
• Professional certification such as PMP, CCM, CM-Lean, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the owner’s representative and primary liaison among program leadership, design partners, general contractors/construction managers, and specialty contractors.
• Lead governance processes, including decision logs, risk and issue registers, action trackers, and meeting cadences.
• Ensure scope clarity, workstream alignment, and timely resolution of cross-functional issues.
• Lead development and management of integrated master schedules, phasing strategies, and site logistics plans.
• Coordinate design development to ensure constructability, operational alignment, and CQV readiness.
• Develop contracting strategies, bid packages, and procurement timelines in support of cost and schedule objectives.
• Own program cost and schedule performance, including forecasting, variance tracking, and contingency management.
• Perform critical path analysis and schedule risk reviews, and drive recovery actions as needed.
• Manage change control and negotiate scope, cost, and time adjustments with contractors and vendors.
• Lead bid solicitations and evaluations, award recommendations, and contract onboarding.
• Administer contracts with commercial and legal support; validate progress, pay applications, and deliverables.
• Identify potential claims early, drive dispute-avoidance strategies, and support resolution activities.
• Maintain a daily field presence to validate progress, sequencing, manpower, and adherence to plans and specifications.
• Coordinate with general contractors/construction managers on workface planning, logistics, and constraint removal.
• Oversee quality assurance processes, including submittals, inspections, non-conformance management, and punchlist execution.
• Champion safety expectations and hold teams accountable for proper planning and execution.
• Work with client, GC, and EHS teams to track safety concerns, corrective actions, and systemic improvement opportunities.
• Manage the program risk register and ensure risk mitigation and contingency strategies are defined and executed.
• Turn field details, contractor inputs, and technical data into concise executive-ready updates and dashboards.
• Lead coordination meetings across design, construction, operations, permitting, quality, and CQV teams.
• Communicate proactively with key stakeholders to prevent gaps, misalignment, and schedule impacts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior