Project Management Practice Area Leader

CESO•Akron, OH

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Are you seeking purpose, challenge, and talented colleagues? With a diverse portfolio of residential, energy, commercial, light industrial and public programs, CESO has the opportunity for you to develop your career. We develop leaders and empower our associates to use their skills and talents to positively impact the world through service – to our coworkers, clients, and communities. We subscribe to the mission of “empowering our people to impact communities by bringing clients’ visions to life,” so if this speaks to you, let’s connect! At CESO, a Practice Area Leader for Project Management (PM) serves as the strategic leader responsible for defining, elevating, and standardizing the Project Management practice across all Business Units. This position ensures alignment with CESO’s organizational goals, financial expectations, and the One CESO client experience. The leader develops and maintains enterprise-wide project management standards, drives operational consistency, supports financial performance, and champions talent development across the PM career path. Acting as a collaborative partner to Business Unit, Market and Discipline Leaders, this position ensures effective staffing, workload balance, and resource forecasting. The Practice Area Leader also plays a critical role in enhancing client experience, risk management, and continuous improvement efforts across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, or related field is required.
Minimum of 20 years of progressive leadership experience is required.
Minimum of 10-15 years in a leadership role (Director level or above) is required.
Client program management experience in the A&E industry is required.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
Proven ability to influence at all levels and drive strategic initiatives.
Ability to travel.

Nice To Haves

Experience working directly with executive leadership and Board-level reporting is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee the Project Management practice across all Business Units, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy and the One CESO client experience.
Develop, implement, and maintain company‑wide Project Management standards and processes, including active project management, financial management, billing, AR practices, and training.
Establish and enforce financial and operational expectations for project delivery, budgeting, fee development, proposals, and contract negotiation.
Guide, mentor, and develop Project Management staff at all levels, supporting career paths, training programs, onboarding, and Individual Development Plans (IDPs).
Promote financial stewardship by supporting revenue, multipliers, earned value, realization, and accounts receivable goals.
Partner with leadership to evaluate and mitigate project risk, including contract review processes and project risk assessments.
Improve consistency and reliability in project and financial tools to reduce operational variance and enhance reporting.
Champion and standardize the client experience, ensuring Project Managers deliver consistent communication, transparency, and service quality across markets.
Collaborate with Business Unit, Market, and Discipline Leaders on staffing strategies, workload balancing, and forecasting resource needs.
Drive organizational knowledge‑sharing and collaboration, reinforcing One CESO culture and continuous improvement in project and program delivery.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Flexible and Hybrid Work Schedule
Paid Time Off – Credited to You 100% Upfront
401K with a Company Match
Rewards and Recognition Program
Training and Development to Foster Professional Growth
Paid Holidays
Medical / Dental / Vision Coverage
Welcome Box
Casual Dress Code
Reimbursement for Professional Licenses
Paid Time Off for Community Team Service Events
Voluntary or Supplemental Short-Term / Long-Term Disability
Employee Assistance Program
Company Paid Bonding and Recovery
Employee Events such as Lunches and Outings to Foster a Positive Work Environment