Senior Program Manager, Planning

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Boston, MA

21h

About The Position

This position is within the Office of Planning, which is responsible for developing the annual Five-Year Capital Plan and leading planning activities for user agencies. Core functions include managing strategic and master planning efforts, feasibility studies, utilization assessments, capital project initiation, planning and early design, design review, and post-occupancy evaluation. The Office of Planning collaborates closely with:
The Office of Design and Construction to support implementation of capital projects.
The Offices of Leasing and Real Estate to collaborate in the development alternative approaches to capital investment to meet agency facility needs and provides support for interior planning and projects.
The Office of Facilities Management and Decarbonization to coordinate with user agencies on planning to address deferred maintenance, energy, decarbonization and climate resiliency.
Detailed Statement of Responsibilities:
The Senior Program Manager plays a central role in implementing the Commonwealth’s capital investment strategy and serves as the primary strategic liaison for user agencies within specific Secretariat(s) leading capital planning initiatives, ensuring alignment between user agency needs and Commonwealth priorities, and managing specific projects. This role partners with Deputy Directors and the Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Planning to establish consistent planning approaches, ensure ongoing communication, and deliver high-quality planning services.

Requirements

• Applicants must have at least (A) six (6) years of full-time or, equivalent part-time, professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in a particular specialty (i.e. scientific, professional, or technical) and must possess current license and/or registration requirements established for the performance of the position, of which (B) at least two (2) years must have been in a project management, supervisory or managerial capacity or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and substitutions below.

Nice To Haves

• 10+ years of increasing and broad responsibility in planning, project management and portfolio management, including exposure to public construction, preferably within the Commonwealth.
• Degree in architecture, planning or related field preferred.
• Strong track record as a team leader of people, projects and processes, with experience managing in a union environment a plus.
• Superb communication, interpersonal and project management skills essential.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments, including agency leadership, institutional executives, and public-sector governance structures.
• Strong understanding of capital budgeting, cost estimation, and public funding structures, including lifecycle cost analysis and investment prioritization.
• Demonstrated experience in managing multiple, complex projects involving feasibility, budgeting, programming, report preparation and project monitoring.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of independent initiative in overseeing assigned projects, supervising consultants, motivating others and solving daily conflicts and problems that occur.
• Thorough knowledge of and experience in programming, planning, design and construction of buildings, staff management and client coordination.
• Experience integrating sustainability, decarbonization, and climate resilience strategies into capital planning and campus development.
• Ability to solve problems, motivate others and keep projects moving.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clear and concise writing, good graphic, and oral presentation skills are essential.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage external consultants, and mentor junior staff.
• Ability to understand and articulate policies and strategic solutions to a broad audience, adapt to changing priorities and constraints or opportunities.
• Specific experience in programming, planning and design for higher education.
• Knowledge and competency in software programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and ability to learn new programs as required.

Responsibilities

• Analyzing and synthesizing data within the specific Secretariat(s) to inform capital investment programs.
• Developing expertise and providing guidance and policy direction for projects within the capital investment program.
• Advising senior leaders in state government to guide capital investment decisions to support mission and improve service delivery in the Commonwealth.
• Leading development of capital planning frameworks and program-level strategies.
• Supporting preparation of the annual Capital Investment Plan.
• Developing and managing a multi-year capital investment pipeline.
• Establishing frameworks for project prioritization, sequencing and readiness.
• Supporting efforts such as deferred maintenance planning and surplus land planning with units within DCAMM or initiatives being led by outside agencies.
• Gathering and synthesizing data and developing strategic recommendations for agency leadership.
• Leading system -wide planning efforts for user agencies within the specific Secretariat(s).
• Providing subject matter expertise and institutional knowledge to support Project Managers.
• Coordinating across internal teams to ensure alignment of planning priorities and project delivery.
• System-wide and agency-specific feasibility studies
• Strategic master plans
• Building studies for new construction, renovation and repairs
• Utilization analyses and facility condition assessments
• Innovative project delivery and long-term capital planning and program implementation.
• This role lead teams of planning and design consultants, DCAMM colleagues and user agency representatives, as well as other stakeholders, to develop innovative and strategic solutions to capital facility needs.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits
• When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees