Senior Project Manager – Facilities & Utilities

Position Overview

The Senior Project Manager provides high-level leadership and technical oversight for complex facility modifications, expansions, and new facility construction projects within pharmaceutical environments. As a Verista consultant, this role operates as a trusted advisor and project delivery lead across engineering, operations, construction, and validation groups. The Senior PM is accountable for scope alignment, schedule performance, cost control, vendor management, and field execution from project initiation through turnover. Experience with Primavera P6 is strongly preferred. CQV experience is preferable but not required.

Key Responsibilities

Client-Facing Leadership

• Act as the primary Verista representative supporting client engineering and capital project teams.
• Advise on project strategy, risk posture, technical decisions, and resource planning.
• Lead cross-functional alignment across engineering, operations, maintenance, quality, EHS, construction, and CQV.
• Elevate project performance expectations and establish strong communication channels across all stakeholders.

Project Execution – Facilities, Utilities & Capital Delivery

• Lead major facility modification, expansion, infrastructure upgrade, and new facility build projects.
• Develop integrated schedules using Primavera P6 (preferred) or equivalent; manage critical path and milestones such as Microsoft Projects.
• Build and oversee capex project budgets, cost models, forecasts, cash flow tracking, and variance reporting.
• Drive execution readiness including design reviews, constructability walks, permitting, and pre-mobilization planning.
• Coordinate shutdowns, tie-ins, outages, and sequencing to prevent operational impact.

Construction Oversight & Field Coordination

• Conduct site walks as needed during construction; construction teams and site EHS own all EHS responsibilities.
• Oversee general contractors and trades to ensure compliance with design intent, specifications, cGMP standards, and schedule.
• Review RFIs, submittals, redlines, shop drawings, purchase orders, and change orders.
• Hold construction partners accountable to quality, documentation, progress tracking, and installation readiness.
• Ensure turnover of construction packages, redlines, and field documentation required for startup and CQV.

Technical Expertise – Facility & Utility Systems

• Support the design and installation of building infrastructure, cleanrooms, HVAC systems, architectural builds, and process areas.
• Oversee clean utilities (WFI, clean steam, CIP/SIP, compressed air, nitrogen), black utilities, and core MEP systems.
• Ensure technical decisions prioritize long-term reliability, maintainability, and GMP compliance.
• Coordinate with engineering partners on URS/FRS alignment, equipment sizing, utility loads, and design changes.

Vendor, OEM & Trades Management

• Support vendor sourcing, bid evaluations, negotiation, and development of scopes of work.
• Coordinate FAT/SAT activities, equipment delivery, installation planning, and readiness checks.
• Manage OEMs, engineering firms, general contractors, and specialty trades to maintain alignment with project requirements.

Risk, Compliance & Documentation

• Maintain detailed risk registers and drive proactive mitigation for cost, schedule, technical, and supply-chain risks.
• Support client quality teams in assessing change control impacts and regulatory pathway alignment.
• Ensure complete engineering, construction, and CQV turnover documentation for startup and audit readiness.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of project management experience in pharmaceutical or regulated environments.
• Demonstrated leadership in capital projects: renovations, expansions, infrastructure upgrades, and new facility builds.
• Strong technical understanding of utilities, HVAC, cleanrooms, MEP systems, and facility infrastructure.
• Proven experience managing contractors, trades, engineering firms, and OEMs.
• Expertise in schedule development and analysis; Primavera P6 strongly preferred.
• Strong financial acumen including capex planning, forecasting, and cost control.
• Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• CQV experience (preferred but not required).
• Knowledge of GMP, FDA/EMA expectations, and engineering documentation practices.
• Prior consulting experience with direct client‑facing responsibilities.
• Experience supporting FAT/SAT, startup readiness, and facility turnover.

Work Expectations

• On-site presence required at client facilities to support construction, execution, and coordination.
• Travel required for FATs, vendor visits, multi‑site support, and project reviews.
• Ability to independently manage workstreams, priorities, and communication in a consulting environment.