About this role
At Cresa, we believe our clients deserve better. A better space to work, create, build, grow. A better outcome for their people and organization. A better partner who puts their needs first, helping them navigate the landscape, tilting the playing field in their favor and giving them an insider’s edge.
Our mission is to find and foster the best environment for every business. Our purpose is to think beyond space - strengthening those we serve and enhancing quality of life for our clients and employees. We are built to champion our clients’ aspirations through real estate. When considering partnership, we strive to connect with those who share our values: Work Together, Create Value, Be Tenacious, Enhance Community, and Embrace Diversity .
We believe in being the change. We work together to find new ways of doing things that create value for our clients — and for each other. Because there is not much that feels better than collaborating to make a positive difference each day.
At Cresa, we offer an opportunity to be part of something bigger. To learn, advance, mentor and be recognized. Your voice will be heard, and you will be valued for both your individual and team contributions.
Summary
The Senior Program Manager , will lead the planning and execution of a large-scale laboratory and office relocation projects. The initial project supports a 125,000-square-foot laboratory and office facility and includes construction, tenant improvements, laboratory move, add, and change (MAC) activities, and operational readiness for highly technical environments. The Senior Program Manager will serve as the primary point of contact for laboratory relocation activities and will coordinate laboratory users, facilities teams, project delivery, design and construction partners, specialized consultants, and other internal and external stakeholders. This role requires a strong customer service mindset, deep understanding of laboratory operations, disciplined program governance, and the ability to maintain operational continuity in a fast-paced environment with complex stakeholders.
Essential duties and responsibilities
- Relationship Management Serve as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders, laboratory users, facilities teams, and external partners.
- Develop and maintain a list of impacted stakeholders; capture needs and expectations; build support; and channel or mitigate opposing viewpoints.
- Provide clear, timely communication across project phases and maintain a strong customer service focus.
- Identify benefits, conflicts, dependencies, and risks within the relocation program and propose options to leadership.
- Program Framework and Reporting Establish and review key performance indicators for scope, schedule, budget, change orders, risk, project milestones, move readiness, and operational continuity.
- Prepare and support executive communications, status reporting, decision support, and escalation management.
- Maintain comprehensive project documentation, including move plans, equipment inventories, communication records, project tools, templates, dashboards, and lessons learned.
- Program Management Governance Lead and oversee all phases of tenant improvement construction for laboratory, research, and office environments, including planning, design coordination, construction, commissioning, occupancy readiness, turnover, and closeout.
- Plan, coordinate, and manage laboratory relocation activities, including moves, additions, and changes (MAC).
- Oversee inventory management, cataloging, documentation, and relocation readiness for laboratory equipment and other critical assets.
- Coordinate multi-disciplinary teams across facilities management, project delivery, design, construction, laboratory operations, and specialized consultants.
- Manage project issues, risks, changes, and resolutions; provide direction to update program plans and follow up on outstanding actions.
- Coordinate complex laboratory infrastructure systems, including MEP systems, fume hoods, biosafety cabinets, specialty gases, clean utilities, and process piping.
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulatory, environmental, safety, quality, and client requirements.
- Lead, develop, and support team members by organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments that advance project delivery and professional growth.
Qualifications
- High level of leadership, judgment, accountability, and ownership in a complex, fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication, coordination, customer service, and stakeholder management skills across technical and executive audiences.
- Strong process, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage ambiguity and anticipate risks and issues.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects and workstreams simultaneously across the full project lifecycle.
- Strong knowledge of laboratory operations, laboratory infrastructure systems, construction delivery, and regulatory requirements.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with laboratory users, facilities teams, project delivery, design, construction, and specialized consultants.
Education/Experience
- Bachelor's degree in construction management, project management, facilities management, architecture, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Minimum of 8 years of progressive project management experience, including leadership of laboratory or research facility design and construction projects.
- Experience in biotech, medtech, pharmaceutical, or laboratory construction environments strongly preferred.
- Proficiency with MS Office Suite, MS Project, MS Visio.
Physical Requirements:
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Must be able to move within and between client buildings.
- Travel to other sites across the United States.
- Must be able to safely access construction sites.
- The person in this role needs to be able to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
- Must be available for occasional weekend or evening work as required.
NOTE: The job description is an overview of the functions and requirements for this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of this position; supervisors may assign other duties as deemed necessary.
Cresa is committed to developing and maintaining a diverse workforce. Cresa strongly believes in equal opportunity extended to all individuals in all aspects of the employment relationship without regard to race, color, religion, belief, creed, age, sex, pregnancy or maternity (including childbirth and related conditions), family responsibility (e.g. child care, elder care), nationality, ethnic or national origin or ancestry, citizenship, marital status, civil partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, transgender status, veteran’s status, genetic information, political view or status as a qualified individual with a disability, protected leave status or any other protected characteristic in accordance with applicable law.