Senior Project Manager

Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE) is a professional services organization supporting non-profits founded by Alice Walton, including the Alice L. Walton Foundation, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, Art Bridges Foundation, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary, and Heartland Whole Health Institute.

Job Description:

Job Title: Senior Project Manager
Reports to: Vice President of Construction
FLSA Classification: Exempt

Location: Bentonville, Arkansas (On-site)

Art and Wellness Enterprises (AWE) supports operating non-profits founded by Alice Walton, including the Alice L. Walton Foundation, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine, Art Bridges, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the Momentary, and Heartland Whole Health Institute.

About The Position

The Senior Project Manager is a key role responsible for driving the successful planning, organization, execution, and delivery of large-scale, high-impact capital construction projects in a fast-paced environment, ensuring they are on time, on budget, and within scope. This position directs and coordinates resources throughout the full project lifecycle, from conceptual planning to construction closeout, ensuring projects achieve predetermined objects of scope, cost, time, and quality, while delivering exceptional client service. This position requires significant expertise in managing complex capital projects and construction administration, within institutional settings such as healthcare, higher education, museums, or related environments, and the ability to manage portfolios exceeding $200 million in scale and complexity. The Senior Project Manager involves clear and effective communication with construction managers and design teams to develop project plans, establish timelines, and determine costs. It requires extensive coordination, monitoring, and liaison among the clients programming committees, interdepartmental service divisions, and the respective project architects, engineers, and contractors.

The Senior Project Manager also guides the development of a high-performing team by supervising and mentoring internal Construction Managers to foster growth and learning. The position works closely with the Project Coordinator to oversee budgets, invoices, and contracts, ensuring financial and administrative accuracy throughout each projects duration. Success in the role requires excellent interpersonal skills, strong self-motivation, and exceptional organizational abilities. A proven track record of successfully managing multiple projects in a fast-paced, multi-project environment while consistently delivering outstanding client service is essential.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Delivery:

• Lead all aspects of assigned major construction projects, from conceptual planning to construction closeout, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and long-term goals.
• Translate client goals into clear, actionable project strategies and advocate for effective plans from concept through completion.
• Direct pre-development efforts including programming, feasibility, site planning, and budgeting to establish a solid foundation for success.
• Oversee preparation and delivery of comprehensive project status reports to executive leadership and clients, highlighting progress, risks, and issues.
• Lead project closeout activities, ensuring full completion of commissioning, documentation, training, and operational readiness.
• Create, own, and manage project budgets, execution plans, and timelines, ensuring delivery within scope, on schedule, and on budget.
• Partner closely with the Project Coordinator to track budgets, review invoices, approve payments, and ensure financial and regulatory reporting accuracy.
• Create and manage the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, including drafting, evaluating, interviewing, and selecting vendors, consultants, and construction partners.
• Execute and manage appropriate complex contracts in close collaboration with legal and finance to mitigate risk and align with institutional goals.
• Review and approve contract change orders, ensuring decisions are informed by cross-functional collaboration, cost implications, and project constraints.
• Ensure appropriate legal protections, including non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements, are in place to protect the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive project information.
• Maintain full oversight of general contractor performance, including project schedule adherence, change order management, allowance tracking, and contingency usage to ensure accountability and contract compliance.
• In close coordination with construction managers, oversee legal and regulatory requirements related to construction, including permitting, easements, land use adjustments, and other jurisdictional approvals required for construction and successful project delivery.
• Provide daily project consultation and guidance to construction managers, driving on-the-ground execution and resolving issues proactively.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams, client stakeholders, and external project partners to support alignment, collaboration, and effective communication throughout all phases of project delivery.

Team Leadership & Operational Excellence:

• Provide clear leadership and coordination across all internal and external project teams to ensure seamless daily execution and accountability to milestones and KPIs.
• Lead, coach, and develop a dynamic, high-performing team fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and growth.
• Promote continuous improvement, professional development, and collaboration across all team members.
• Support the recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members to ensure alignment with AWE standards and practices.
• Monitor performance and team morale, addressing issues proactively and professionally while encouraging engagement and recognition.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements

• Bachelors degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field required; Masters degree preferred. Equivalent experience may be considered for exceptional candidates.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in managing complex capital construction projects, including direct oversight of project teams, consultants, and project portfolios exceeding $200 million in value, with demonstrated success delivering projects on time and within budget.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent preferred.
• Prior experience in healthcare, higher education, museum, cultural facilities, or similarly complex institutional environments is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and develop team members while fostering a collaborative, performance-driven culture.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and lead cross-functional teams.
• Excellent decision-making and critical thinking skills in a fast-paced, innovative environment where change is constant.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities in high-pressure environments, orchestrate multiple activities, and coordinate diverse groups for optimal efficiency.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills, with sound judgment and the ability to navigate sensitive situations effectively.
• Excellent analytical, mathematical, and quantitative skills with the ability to interpret complex data to inform strategic decision-making.
• Strong knowledge of project delivery methods, budgeting, scheduling, risk mitigation, procurement, and construction administration.
• Advanced proficiency in project management software tools including MS Project, Excel, and Bluebeam.
• High level of professional integrity and the ability to handle sensitive issues and situations with discretion.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those required by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Physical Demands : In the work environment described, this role requires sustained use of a computer and telephone for prolonged periods of time. The position requires effective verbal and written communication with others, good eye/hand coordination, and the ability to lift and transport up to 25 pounds. Vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, the ability to adjust focus, and visual acuity necessary to review blueprints, construction documents, and technical plans. The position regularly involves standing, walking, using hands and fingers to handle or operate tools, controls, and equipment, reaching with hands and arms, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and communicating clearly with others. Duties include performing routine site inspections, which may involve navigating tight or elevated spaces, and exposure to varying temperatures and conditions.

Work Environment : Work is performed in both indoor office settings and outdoor construction environments, including exposure to varying weather conditions, mechanical rooms, rooftops, and other construction areas. Noise levels range from low to high depending on site activity. The role also requires regular interaction with both internal team members and external partners in a professional and courteous manner. Exposure to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock. The employee is required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with safety protocols. This position may involve working in confined spaces or environments with temperature fluctuations depending on the season or building system conditions. Local travel is required, along with a flexible schedule that may include evenings or weekends based on project needs.

Art and Wellness Enterprises, LLC is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and maintaining a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment of any kind. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.

All offers of employment are contingent on your successful completion (where permitted by state law) of a confidentiality agreement and a background check. In addition, you will need to provide proper identification verifying your eligibility to work in the United States.