Sr. Project Manager (Plans, Specifications, & Estimates)

About the Position

We are seeking an experienced and successful Sr. Project Manager who will function as a SME on key oversight committees for heavy civil infrastructure and transit projects. This role involves serving as part of a committee of SMEs tasked with reviewing and refining project deliverables, ensuring compliance with standards, and identifying potential risks that could impact project success. The ideal candidate will have the ability to pinpoint errors and omissions (E&O), detect fatal flaws, and highlight elements that require further refinement to reduce risk exposure.

The SME will play a critical role in understanding and applying industry standards, including recognizing when exceptions are warranted and ensuring proper documentation and justification. A key component of this role is risk management throughout the full project lifecycle, from initial planning through final delivery. The candidate must have a comprehensive understanding of how plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) interconnect and how gaps between these key documents can introduce risk to project stakeholders.

This position focuses on minimizing risk exposure by tightening project documentation, ensuring consistency across PS&E packages, and proactively addressing potential project challenges. Given the wide variety of roadway projects under review, the SME must possess a broad knowledge base without reliance on standardized project types. The ability to provide strategic recommendations, ensure project feasibility, and enhance the overall quality of PS&E packages is essential to this role.

This position is a part-time role (16-20 hours per week) anticipated to last one year, with potential for extension. The role requires on-site presence for attending committee meetings located in Oakland, CA.

Responsibilities

• Provide comments to client PS&E projects at various stages of the design phase; mainly the start of Phase 1, 30% stage, 60% stage, and 90% stage.
• Provide findings (e.g., major errors/omissions, fatal flaws, etc.) and will be documented and presented to the management team.
• Provide guidance to ensure that high quality projects are completed within scope, schedule, and budget.
• Committee meetings and reviews will be in-person and may follow a question-and-answer format.
• Review/Comment on projects to be developed in accordance with client project development processes and in compliance/conformance with client engineering practices and standards.

Skills and Attributes

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (e.g., tact, diplomacy, influence, etc.), with the ability to effectively collaborate and interact with clients, team members, and stakeholders.
• Exceptional organizational skills and supreme attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think critically and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Ability to adapt to changing project conditions, requirements, and priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or related field, or equivalent combination of education/experience. 
• 10+ years’ experience in heavy civil project management with a focus on roads and bridges, transportation, transit, and/or rail.
• Must have extensive experience in Caltrans technical design, PS&E, and project development processes, standards, and procedures, as well as construction experience.
• Must be able to review/analyze projects for consistent application of standards, viability of products developed by assigned staff, potential project delays, and corrective action plans.
• Proficiency in construction and project management software, scheduling tools, and cost control systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.)

Desired Qualifications

• First preference will be given to candidates who bring a strong background of project work with Caltrans.
• California PE or ability to obtain by reciprocity strongly preferred.

Compensation Details

The salary range listed for this role is $150k-$200k/yr ($72-$96/hr). Luster is committed to paying all its employees in a fair and equitable manner. The final salary offered is based on multiple factors and is thoughtfully aligned with each candidate’s level of experience, breadth of skills, total education achieved, certifications/licenses that have been obtained, etc. #IN-LNJS

Luster is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to criminal history, race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. This employer participates in E-Verify. The employer will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with information from each new employee's I-9 to confirm work authorization.

All positions may be subject to a background check and drug test once a conditional offer of employment is made for any convictions directly related to its duties and responsibilities, in accordance with all applicable local, state, and/or federal regulations.

This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

Luster does not accept unsolicited resumes. In the absence of a signed agreement, Luster will not consider or agree to payment of any kind. Any unsolicited resumes presented to Luster personnel, including those submitted to Luster hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Luster.

Please email hiring@luster.com for accommodations necessary to complete the application process.