Senior Director of Projects-Design and Construction

JLL•Chicago, IL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

JLL empowers you to shape a brighter way. Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology for our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people and empowering them to thrive, grow meaningful careers and to find a place where they belong. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades or technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, join our team as we help shape a brighter way forward. What this job involves: As a Team Lead / Senior Director of Projects at JLL, you will be a hands-on leader who delivers your own Corporate Interiors projects while overseeing a regional team of project managers and coordinators delivering a broader portfolio for a financial services client by setting delivery standards, providing executive oversight, championing team growth, and building trusted client relationships. You'll deliver best-in-class Corporate Interiors project management that elevates workplace experience, aligns with brand standards, and minimizes operational disruption while owning full lifecycle delivery for interiors programs including planning, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, construction, commissioning, move-in, and closeout with disciplined controls and transparent reporting. This senior leadership role requires leading clients and project teams through interiors design implementation—programming, test fits, concept and schematic design, design development, construction documents, permit submissions, and sign-off—ensuring alignment to workplace guidelines, risk, and budget. What your day-to-day will look like: Deliver best-in-class Corporate Interiors project management that elevates workplace experience, aligns with brand standards, and minimizes operational disruption Own full lifecycle delivery for interiors programs including planning, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, construction, commissioning, move-in, and closeout with disciplined controls and transparent reporting Lead clients and project teams through interiors design implementation including programming, test fits, concept and schematic design, design development, construction documents, permit submissions, and sign-off Build integrated master schedules covering permitting, long-lead procurement (systems furniture/AV/MEP equipment), phased construction, inspections, commissioning, and move/activation while actively managing milestones and critical path across concurrent sites Develop detailed interiors budgets grounded in market pricing for TI/fit-out, MEP upgrades, IT/AV, security, signage/branding, finishes, and FF&E with clear assumptions, alternates, and value engineering options Orchestrate cross-functional delivery including Design, General Contractor, MEP engineers, IT/Network, AV, Security, Workplace Strategy, Change Management, Move Services, and Facilities to ensure seamless, operationally ready Day 1 Ensure on-time, on-budget completion via rigorous QA/QC on drawings, submittals, mockups, finish installations, MEP coordination, punch lists, and life-safety sign-offs while tracking performance via CPI/SPI, change order rates, safety, and client satisfaction Provide decisive leadership, coaching, and oversight to PMs and coordinators while standardizing interiors playbooks, procurement strategies, and field protocols to drive consistent outcomes across portfolios

Requirements

10+ years of progressive project management experience with focus on Corporate Interiors; financial services or highly regulated environments preferred
2+ years leading teams of project managers delivering multi-site/multi-project portfolios
Personally accountable for executing 3-5 concurrent projects with portfolio oversight of 15-25 active projects with budgets ranging in size from $1M to $100M+
Strong financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, fee/pricing models, and profitability management
Proficiency with industry-standard tools (MS Project/Primavera, Smartsheet, Procore, Bluebeam, Power BI/Tableau)
Excellent communication, negotiation, and client-facing presentation skills
Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or related field (Master's a plus)
Relevant certifications: PE, AIA, PMP, CCM, LEED, WELL, or equivalent preferred

Nice To Haves

Experience cultivating trusted client partnerships by translating business goals (density, hybrid work, resilience, ESG) into actionable interiors programs
Understanding of space optimization, wellness, acoustics, technology enablement, and post-occupancy performance
Experience with cross-functional coordination across multiple stakeholder groups
Advanced knowledge of Corporate Interiors construction processes and industry best practices
Leadership experience in team development, mentoring, and performance management
Understanding of workplace strategy and change management principles
Experience with multi-site portfolio management and concurrent project delivery

Responsibilities

Deliver best-in-class Corporate Interiors project management that elevates workplace experience, aligns with brand standards, and minimizes operational disruption
Own full lifecycle delivery for interiors programs including planning, budgeting, scheduling, procurement, construction, commissioning, move-in, and closeout with disciplined controls and transparent reporting
Lead clients and project teams through interiors design implementation including programming, test fits, concept and schematic design, design development, construction documents, permit submissions, and sign-off
Build integrated master schedules covering permitting, long-lead procurement (systems furniture/AV/MEP equipment), phased construction, inspections, commissioning, and move/activation while actively managing milestones and critical path across concurrent sites
Develop detailed interiors budgets grounded in market pricing for TI/fit-out, MEP upgrades, IT/AV, security, signage/branding, finishes, and FF&E with clear assumptions, alternates, and value engineering options
Orchestrate cross-functional delivery including Design, General Contractor, MEP engineers, IT/Network, AV, Security, Workplace Strategy, Change Management, Move Services, and Facilities to ensure seamless, operationally ready Day 1
Ensure on-time, on-budget completion via rigorous QA/QC on drawings, submittals, mockups, finish installations, MEP coordination, punch lists, and life-safety sign-offs while tracking performance via CPI/SPI, change order rates, safety, and client satisfaction
Provide decisive leadership, coaching, and oversight to PMs and coordinators while standardizing interiors playbooks, procurement strategies, and field protocols to drive consistent outcomes across portfolios