VP of Project Management

Meruelo Group • Vista, CA

114d

About The Position

As Vice President of Project Management, you will build and lead our enterprise Project Management Office (PMO), standardize project controls, and drive delivery excellence across a portfolio of transportation and infrastructure programs. You’ll establish governance, metrics, and rhythms that ensure projects land on scope, schedule, budget, and quality—while developing a high‑performing, customer‑obsessed team grounded in Lean principles.

Requirements

• Active PMP® (Project Management Professional) certification.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business or related field. (Master’s preferred.)
• 15+ years total project/program management experience, including 7+ years in senior leadership (director/VP) building and leading PMO and project controls functions at scale.
• Direct Caltrans project experience delivering capital transportation/highway projects, with working knowledge of Caltrans PDPM and Construction Manual requirements and processes.
• Demonstrated success establishing governance, stage‑gates, portfolio prioritization, and performance dashboards across a multi‑project portfolio.
• Expert knowledge of project management standards (predictive, agile/hybrid), Primavera P6/MS Project, risk and cost management, earned value, and executive reporting (e.g., Power BI).
• Practical application of Lean principles in construction/infrastructure, including Last Planner, A3, 5S, standard work, visual management, and continuous improvement leadership.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams, influence senior stakeholders, and represent the organization with agencies and partners.

Nice To Haves

• California PE (Professional Engineer) or CM certification (e.g., CCM).
• Experience with federal‑aid requirements, cooperative agreements, and local assistance on Caltrans projects.
• Familiarity with CEQA/NEPA coordination and environmental/permitting workflows embedded in project development.
• Portfolio delivery for utilities, municipal transportation, or design‑build/CM‑GC programs.

Responsibilities

• Stand up and mature the PMO: define operating model, stage‑gate governance, portfolio prioritization, and enterprise project lifecycle.
• Implement standardized project controls (cost, schedule, risk, change, quality), including reporting cadences, KPIs/OKRs, and dashboarding.
• Build integrated portfolio views and decision forums for executive stakeholders; ensure audit‑ready records and traceability.
• Own the enterprise framework for estimating, baseline development, performance measurement (e.g., earned value), risk/issue management, and change control.
• Introduce portfolio‑level health reviews, variance/root‑cause analysis, recovery planning, and continuous improvement loops.
• Champion data‑driven decision‑making with visual management and tiered operating reviews.
• Lead or oversee delivery of Caltrans work from initiation through closeout; ensure conformance with Caltrans PDPM (scope, schedule, cost controls, approvals), Construction Manual practices, and local/federal coordination requirements.
• Navigate cooperative agreements, permits/encroachments, and stakeholder interfaces; align with oversight guidelines and funding/compliance expectations.
• Embed Lean Construction practices (Last Planner System®, A3 problem solving, 5S, standard work, visual management) to eliminate waste and increase flow and reliability.
• Coach leaders and teams on daily/weekly tiered reviews, gemba/“go see,” and continuous improvement behaviors.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a diverse team of project managers, schedulers, and controls professionals.
• Build trusted relationships with clients, partners, and regulators; communicate clearly from field to boardroom.

Benefits

• Diverse teams drive innovation and better business outcomes.
• Fostering a culture where everyone feels respected, valued, and empowered.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree