Senior Program Manager, Real Estate Capital Projects, Americas

Vertiv•Westerville, OH

10d

About The Position

The Senior Program Manager, Real Estate Capital Projects, Americas is a senior owner-side project management professional responsible for leading complex, high-value, strategically important capital projects and programs. The role represents Vertiv throughout the project lifecycle and integrates business requirements, capital investment objectives, third-party project execution, risk management, decision-making, and leadership governance. The position requires independently leading projects where delivery is not fully defined and significant business, technical, financial, operational, or stakeholder complexity must be resolved. It operates with a high degree of autonomy while maintaining alignment with the applicable regional Major Projects leader and Vertiv's global Capital governance framework. Assigned capital expenditure projects generally total $50 million–$100 million and may sometimes significantly exceed $100 million. Vertiv's Capital organization acts as the owner-side project management function for real estate and facilities capital investments. Capital professionals are accountable for ensuring projects achieve business requirements, financial objectives, schedule commitments, quality expectations, and established risk profiles. Qualified third-party firms generally perform detailed project execution and technical services, while Vertiv retains ownership of project and business outcomes. The role leads projects from initial definition through completion and operational handover; develops project strategies; establishes governance and performance expectations; integrates business requirements; directs and holds third-party delivery partners accountable; oversees finances and commercial matters; manages risks and project recovery; reports project health and performance to senior leadership; and supports capability development and continuous improvement. The successful candidate is expected to embrace Vertiv’s Core Principles and Behaviors and help execute its Strategic Priorities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, architecture, business, real estate, or a related discipline.
Typically 10+ years of progressive capital project or program management experience.
Demonstrated experience managing significant and complex construction or capital investment programs.
Advanced understanding of project controls, cost management, scheduling, procurement, contracting, risk management, and change control.
Strong experience managing external project management, design, engineering, cost, and construction organizations.
Ability to operate independently with senior business leaders.
Strong analytical, written, and executive communication skills.
Ability to travel based on project requirements.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; the position does not provide sponsorship. Individuals who need sponsorship now or in the future are not eligible.

Nice To Haves

Experience delivering manufacturing, industrial, mission-critical, R&D, laboratory, warehouse, or technically complex facilities.
Owner-side project management experience within a multinational corporation.
Experience managing projects across multiple jurisdictions.
PMP, CCM, RICS, PE, RA, or comparable professional certification.
Experience with projects carrying significant operational or business-continuity risk.

Responsibilities

Lead complex capital projects and multi-project programs from initial definition through completion and operational handover.
Develop comprehensive project strategies aligned with business capacity, manufacturing, engineering, workplace, infrastructure, and real estate requirements.
Establish project governance, decision rights, escalation protocols, stage gates, and performance expectations.
Provide leadership across geographically and functionally diverse teams.
Lead complex requirements-development processes with senior business and functional stakeholders; distinguish critical business needs from discretionary scope.
Ensure requirements are sufficiently defined before major design, procurement, or construction commitments.
Maintain alignment among the approved business case, scope, capital investment, schedule, and operational objectives.
Lead resolution of complex business decisions affecting project outcomes.
Act as Vertiv's senior owner representative for assigned programs.
Direct and hold third-party project/construction management, architecture, engineering, cost management, scheduling, and construction partners accountable for performance.
Review and challenge execution strategies, master schedules, cost plans, procurement strategies, and recovery plans.
Ensure owner decisions are identified, analyzed, and resolved early enough to protect project outcomes.
Oversee budgets, forecasts, contingencies, cash flow, committed costs, and potential exposures.
Challenge cost growth and validate proposed scope and change requests; partner with Finance and Procurement on capital controls.
Participate in sourcing strategy, consultant and contractor selection, contract development, and commercial negotiations.
Evaluate the financial and schedule implications of project alternatives and recommend appropriate actions.
Establish disciplined risk-management processes and identify systemic and emerging risks before they affect business commitments.
Develop mitigation and recovery strategies for cost, schedule, quality, permitting, utilities, procurement, construction, and operational risks.
Lead intervention and recovery activities when projects materially deviate from approved plans.
Escalate critical matters through the regional Major Projects leader with clear options and recommendations.
Deliver concise senior-leadership reporting on project status, financial performance, milestones, risks, decisions, and required actions.
Provide objective assessments of project health and ensure reporting accurately reflects underlying conditions.
Facilitate project governance and investment reviews.
Provide technical guidance and coaching to Program Managers and other project team members.
Promote consistent owner-side project management practices, share lessons learned, and support continuous improvement.
Support deployment of global Capital standards and processes.
Lead or support Major Projects when assigned, within the governance established by the applicable regional Major Projects leader.
Travel based on project requirements.