Project Manager – Large System HVAC

The Scion Group•Chicago, IL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Scion Group strives to create an extraordinary living and learning environment through our passion for customer experience and strong partnerships in our communities. Our Capital and Facilities teams play a vital role in ensuring the long-term performance of our physical assets while maintaining a safe, reliable, and comfortable environment for our residents. The Asset Manager - HVAC will lead Scion’s national strategy for managing, maintaining, and modernizing over $150 million in HVAC systems across our real estate portfolio. This role is responsible for creating and executing a comprehensive approach to HVAC lifecycle planning—optimizing system performance, extending equipment life, reducing operational risk, and supporting cost-effective capital planning. This position will act as the primary technical liaison between Capital, Facilities, vendors, and property-level teams, while also analyzing HVAC system data, spend trends, and maintenance protocols to drive smart, scalable mechanical asset management. This position is based out of our corporate headquarters in Chicago, IL, and will require frequent travel to properties across the U.S.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in construction project management, with a strong focus on capital projects involving large mechanical systems.
Demonstrated experience managing complex HVAC and central plant projects (e.g., boilers, chillers, hydronic systems) in multifamily, commercial, or institutional buildings.
Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, including budgeting, scheduling, and vendor coordination.
Strong understanding of construction processes, contract management, and project delivery methods.
Experience working with engineers, general contractors, and specialty mechanical contractors.
Ability to evaluate technical project scopes and translate them into actionable construction plans.
Strong financial acumen, including experience managing capital budgets and analyzing project costs.
Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate across corporate and field teams.
Travel expectations are (approximately 40–50%) to support project execution and site oversight.
Proficiency in project management tools and Microsoft Excel.

Nice To Haves

Relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, CCM) preferred; mechanical or HVAC-related certifications are a plus.
Corporate Office experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end execution of capital construction projects.
Provide expert knowledge on all large-scale HVAC and central plant (boiler/chiller) system replacements and upgrades portfolio wide.
Manage project scope, schedule, and budget across multiple concurrent projects, ensuring alignment with organizational capital plans and timelines.
Collaborate with Capital Planning to translate long-term asset strategies into executable construction projects.
Oversee project planning, design review, bidding, and construction phases, ensuring technical accuracy and cost efficiency.
Evaluate and validate scopes of work for major mechanical system projects, including boilers, chillers, cooling towers, and building distribution systems.
Manage third-party engineers, contractors, and vendors, ensuring performance, accountability, and adherence to contract requirements.
Partner with Facilities and Operations teams to identify project needs, define priorities, and ensure smooth project handoffs.
Lead project risk identification and mitigation, particularly for complex mechanical systems in occupied buildings.
Drive consistency in project delivery standards, procurement strategies, and cost controls across the portfolio.
Review and approve project budgets, change orders, and pay applications, ensuring financial discipline and transparency.
Conduct site visits to monitor progress, resolve field issues, and support critical project milestones.
Analyze project performance, costs, and outcomes to inform future capital planning and continuous improvement.
Support development of standards, specifications, and best practices for large-scale mechanical system replacements.