Lead Project Manager

About

The Lead Project Manager serves as an experienced, autonomous leader responsible for delivering large, complex, and multi-disciplinary commercial construction projects. You will anchor the project team, act as the primary client contact, and ensure that all projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and to a high standard of quality. In this role, you will mentor other project managers and technical staff while overseeing initiatives that span civil, architectural, structural, MEP, environmental, marine construction, power distribution, commissioning, and site safety. This is a multi-year, full-time, onsite position based in Philadelphia, offering the opportunity to work on world-class projects, demonstrate your expertise, collaborate with seasoned professional services teams, and grow your career with a robust benefits package and attractive compensation. Relocation will be considered for highly qualified applicants, and Construction Manager subject matter experts are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Lead the project team in executing all phases of the project lifecycle, from initiation and planning through design, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Independently develop and manage project scope, schedule, and budget to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery.
• Develop and implement comprehensive Project Management Plans that define processes, controls, communication protocols, and performance metrics.
• Oversee and coordinate large, complex, multi-disciplinary projects across specialties such as civil, architectural, structural, MEP, environmental, marine construction, power distribution, commissioning, and site safety.
• Provide strong leadership to project teams, ensuring clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability across all disciplines and stakeholders.
• Manage all financial aspects of assigned projects, including forecasting, cost control, and financial reporting.
• Review and approve subconsultant and vendor invoices, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and alignment with contract terms.
• Proactively identify and manage budget variances, implement corrective actions as needed, and communicate financial performance and risks to senior management.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the client, maintaining strong relationships and ensuring expectations are clearly understood and met.
• Lead contract negotiations with clients, subconsultants, and vendors to establish clear, fair, and enforceable agreements.
• Represent the organization and the client at public hearings, regulatory meetings, and other external forums, effectively communicating project objectives and outcomes.
• Lead and direct multi-disciplinary project teams, fostering collaboration and coordination among internal staff, consultants, and contractors.
• Mentor Project Managers and Associate Project Managers, providing guidance, feedback, and support to develop their technical and leadership capabilities.
• Identify new business opportunities within existing accounts and the broader market, and actively participate in proposal development and presentations.
• Ensure that all project work complies with applicable codes, standards, and regulatory requirements, particularly for marine, industrial, and mega project environments.
• Champion a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement across all project activities, with particular attention to union labor environments and complex infrastructure settings.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction, Architecture, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related field.
• 10+ years of relevant commercial construction experience managing complex projects.
• Proven experience leading large, complex, and multi-disciplinary construction projects from planning through completion.
• Demonstrated ability to independently develop and manage project scope, schedule, and budget.
• Strong project planning and execution skills across all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Experience managing projects delivered with union labor.
• Local Philadelphia and/or East Coast construction experience.
• Proficiency in construction management and project management methodologies, tools, and best practices.
• Experience with marine infrastructure, industrial, manufacturing, and/or mega projects.
• Experience working on shipyards, ports, piers, wharves, and jetties.
• Ability to manage all financial aspects of projects, including cost control, forecasting, and variance analysis.
• Experience reviewing and approving subconsultant and vendor invoices.
• Strong client-facing skills with experience serving as the primary client contact.
• Experience leading contract negotiations with clients and vendors.
• Ability to represent projects at public hearings and regulatory meetings.
• Proven leadership skills in directing multi-disciplinary teams and mentoring project managers and associate project managers.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Background in construction trades, construction management, and site development.
• Experience in land surveying or coordination with survey teams and understanding of survey data.
• Ability to coordinate and interpret design documents across multiple disciplines.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Construction, Architecture, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a related discipline is desirable.
• Familiarity with marine construction practices and challenges in shipyards, ports, piers, wharves, and jetties environments.
• Experience with industrial and manufacturing facilities and associated infrastructure.
• Exposure to mega project environments with complex stakeholder and regulatory requirements.
• Experience in preconstruction planning, including estimating, scheduling, and constructability reviews.
• Knowledge of power distribution systems and coordination with MEP and commissioning teams.
• Experience in environmental aspects of construction projects, including permitting and compliance.
• Background or strong collaboration experience with site safety teams and safety management programs.
• Experience in land survey coordination, including survey, land survey, and land surveying processes.
• Ability to identify and pursue business development opportunities and contribute to proposal preparation.
• Willingness to relocate to the Philadelphia area for highly qualified candidates.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, multi-year, onsite position based at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. You will work in a dynamic, large-scale industrial and marine infrastructure environment that includes shipyards, ports, piers, wharves, and related facilities. The role involves close collaboration with multi-disciplinary professional services teams, construction trades, and union labor on active construction sites. Work is primarily conducted on-site, with regular interaction in field conditions typical of major commercial and marine construction projects, including exposure to outdoor weather, heavy equipment, and active work zones. The environment emphasizes safety, teamwork, and high-quality project delivery, and offers opportunities to contribute to world-class projects while benefiting from an attractive compensation package and robust benefits.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Philadelphia, PA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $150000.00 - $225000.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Philadelphia,PA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on May 8, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.