Design Project Manager Team Lead

Role overview

The University of Iowa’s Design & Construction department is hiring a Design Project Manager Team Lead to oversee and support design project managers. In this position, you will provide direct administrative supervision, coaching, and leadership while partnering with the Associate Director and other senior leaders across related functional areas.

What you will do

• Lead, supervise, and mentor design project managers in their day-to-day work.
• Support the Assistant/Associate Director in building practical procedures that help design project managers deliver projects successfully through the design stage.
• Monitor how project designs are managed to make sure scope, schedule, resources, quality, risk, and budget goals are met from start to finish.
• Help resolve conflicts between institutional priorities and individual project team interests.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with project teams and administrative stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.

Work location and schedule

This role is based at the University Services Building. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.

The position can be performed on campus or in a hybrid arrangement within Iowa. A work arrangement form must be completed at the start of employment, and the arrangement will be reviewed annually. Remote work must follow the university’s remote work and employee travel policies.

Required qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent mix of education and experience.
• About 5 to 7 years of professional project management experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, along with solid problem-solving ability.
• Comfort using software such as Microsoft Office Suite and SharePoint.
• Working knowledge of construction site safety expectations.
• Understanding of total cost of ownership and other best practices that support facility stewardship decisions.
• Experience working effectively with people from varied backgrounds and perspectives.
• Background in a customer-focused, team-based environment.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience supervising staff and managing performance.
• About 5 to 7 years of project management experience across phases such as programming, schematic design, design development, or construction documents on a university campus.
• Strong experience managing complex project budgets.
• Advanced or expert-level project management knowledge.
• Familiarity with commissioning activities and state building inspection processes.
• Knowledge of healthcare operating principles, key issues, government regulations, and ethics, with the ability to apply that knowledge in healthcare-related settings.

Application requirements

To be considered for an interview, applicants must upload a resume and cover letter and mark them as a “Relevant File.”

Background and eligibility requirements

Job postings remain open for at least 14 calendar days and may be withdrawn and filled at any time after that period ends. Final candidates must disclose any conviction history and will undergo a criminal background check. Up to 5 professional references may be requested later in the hiring process. Iowa state agency employers are required to use E-Verify to confirm work eligibility, and this applies to University of Iowa employees as well, including remote and out-of-state workers.

About the university

Joining the University of Iowa means becoming part of a community that supports education, research, and student success. The university offers strong health coverage, university-paid life insurance, retirement benefits, generous leave, 24/7 support services, well-being resources, access to UI Health Care specialists, professional training, leadership development, and tuition assistance. Iowa City also offers a high quality of life, with Hancher Auditorium performances, Big Ten athletics, highly regarded public schools, and outdoor recreation.

Compensation and classification

This role is classified as E&A Senior Project Manager, under the Professional and Scientific appointment type, with pay level 5B.

Contact information

For questions about the role, contact Brooke McMurl at [email protected] or 319-467-0719. The listed organization contact is Finance & Operations (General).