Senior Program Manager, Operational Excellence

Suffolk Construction•Boston, MA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. We provide value across the entire project lifecycle through our core construction management services and complementary business lines in real estate investment, design, self-perform construction, and technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies). By integrating data, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology through our Seamless Platform, we connect design, construction, and operations to deliver smarter, more predictable results and redefine how America builds. Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $9 billion in annual revenue, 3,000 employees, and 17 offices, including Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Herndon, U.S. Virgin Islands, and other key markets. Suffolk manages some of the most complex and transformative projects in the country, serving clients across healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, aviation, transportation, government, mission critical, and commercial sectors. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , YouTube , and Instagram .

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, STEM, Construction Management, or a related field required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
8+ years of experience in management consulting, strategy execution, program management, or operations improvement.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through implementation.
Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills, with the ability to break down ambiguity and drive clarity.
Excellent communication skills, capable of engaging executive management, operational leaders, and field teams.
Ability to influence, build relationships, and manage multiple stakeholders.
Willingness to dive into operational details while maintaining a strategic view.
Experience working with data, analytics, or technology teams on operational enablement.
Proficiency with program management tools (Asana, Smartsheet, etc.) and dashboarding/reporting platforms preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of Suffolk’s most critical initiatives and long-term operational solutions, shaping them from early conceptualization through defined objectives, workplans, and success metrics. You will clarify problem statements, build hypotheses, structure analytical approaches, and uncover root causes using both qualitative and quantitative methods. In this work, you will identify value-creation opportunities across Suffolk’s operations and translate them into clear, actionable programs that drive meaningful performance outcomes.
Partner closely with Ops Ex leadership to define, scope, and prioritize major strategic programs within the broader portfolio. You will translate operational challenges into structured program roadmaps with measurable, scalable solutions. A critical part of this work includes ensuring alignment across interconnected Ops Ex efforts—particularly between Mission Control, Change Management, and Process Excellence—as new initiatives are shaped and resourced.
Lead day-to-day execution of complex, cross-functional programs by building project plans, managing dependencies, tracking risks, and facilitating effective decision-making. You will play a central coordination role across all Ops Ex teams—including Operations Performance Management, Operations Analytics, and Construction Technology—as well as regional operations leaders to maintain alignment and drive progress. This role requires balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution to ensure initiatives are delivered on time and at a high standard of quality.
Partner with Data and IT teams to ensure analysis meaningfully informs strategy and decision-making. You will define the key questions to be answered, scope the analytical approach, and provide the direction and business context needed to guide technical teams’ work. With a strong understanding of field operations, you will interpret insights, refine problem statements, uncover root causes, and identify the operational levers that matter most. Your leadership will ensure that data-driven insights translate into clear recommendations, targeted solutions, and measurable improvements in performance.
Drive stakeholder engagement and alignment across regional teams, functional leaders, and executive management to ensure buy-in, clarity, and adoption. You will support governance structures through organized meeting cadences, high-quality steering committee materials, and clear communication. In doing so, you will serve as a strategic thought partner to leaders at all levels, helping to shape decisions and guide operational direction across the enterprise.
Develop and execute implementation and adoption plans in partnership with the Change Management capability, including communications, enablement, and training strategies. You will engage deeply with jobsites to understand operational realities, validate assumptions, and pilot solutions to ensure initiatives are practical and field-informed. This includes defining success metrics, monitoring outcomes, and capturing lessons learned to strengthen the Operations Playbook and support enterprise-wide scaling.