Sr. Construction Manager, Office Interiors

Stream Realty•Chicago, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Construction Manager serves as the owner’s representative for Stream’s clients in the Chicago market, leading tenant improvement and capital improvement projects across commercial office properties from budgeting and design through bidding, construction, and close-out. Projects may begin with a client concept and little or no existing documentation; the manager defines scope, cost, and schedule, drives value engineering, and keeps occupied buildings operating smoothly during construction. The role independently manages a full project load across multiple clients and serves as a senior resource to Stream’s broader project team. The position leads preconstruction and bidding, project delivery, and client and relationship management. This includes assessing existing conditions; developing scopes, budgets, schedules, and construction documents with design teams; managing bids, estimates, negotiations, contracts, and purchase orders; and overseeing project schedules, budgets, quality, contractor safety, change orders, payment applications, permitting, punch lists, and close-out. The manager is the primary client contact, provides monthly reporting, advises on project alternatives, supports business development, and mentors less experienced team members.

Requirements

Minimum 7 years of construction management or project management experience in commercial office interiors, with a general contractor or owner’s representative/commercial real estate services firm.
Proven track record delivering office tenant improvement and capital improvement projects from preconstruction through close-out, including in occupied buildings.
Experience independently managing multiple projects while leading general contractors, design teams, and client relationships simultaneously.
Ability to read construction drawings and visualize missing information.
Strong estimating, bid-leveling, and cost-control skills, with a sharp eye for risk.
Working knowledge of AIA contracts, pay applications, lien waivers, and change orders.
Proficiency in MS Office and MS Project.
Strong negotiation skills and proactive communication with clients, design teams, and contractors.
Ability to visit jobsites regularly.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field.
Chicago market experience.

Responsibilities

Perform due diligence on existing conditions and translate client concepts into complete scopes of work, conceptual budgets, and schedules.
Lead architects, engineers, and contractors in developing Construction Documents and drive value engineering to meet budget goals while maintaining the project’s vision.
Manage bidding end to end, including contractor pre-qualification, bid documents, takeoffs, bid leveling, and cost estimates covering soft costs, fees, and permits.
Lead scope reviews and negotiations, and execute contracts and purchase orders.
Run weekly progress meetings and oversee submittals, procurement, and project schedules, including phasing work in occupied buildings.
Monitor budget, schedule, quality, and contractor safety compliance, resolving issues before they affect clients or tenants.
Manage change orders, pay applications, lien waivers, permitting, punch lists, and project close-out.
Serve as the primary client contact, provide monthly reporting, and advise on materials, processes, and phasing alternatives to meet budget and business goals.
Build relationships with owners, design teams, contractors, and Stream colleagues while acting with ethics and integrity.
Support business development and mentor less experienced project team members.