Reports to: Chief Operating Officer Direct Reports: Three Project Managers Pay Range: $175,000/yr - $220,000/yr OBJECTIVE The Director of Construction is responsible for leading and managing Tower’s renovation, capital improvement, and new construction projects across its portfolio. The Tower Team develops and manages high-performing properties while incorporating sustainable and innovative practices. This role oversees internal project management staff and third-party general contractors to ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, and to established quality standards, supporting Tower’s goal of being a leader in the Washington D.C. real estate industry. JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Leadership & Team Management - Directly supervise and develop a team of three project managers responsible for concurrent multifamily development, retail tenant build-outs, and office build-out projects.
- Set clear performance expectations, provide mentorship, and conduct regular project reviews to ensure PM accountability and professional growth.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for project-level issues, owner-contractor disputes, and cross-portfolio resource conflicts.
- Coordinate with Chief Operating Officer, Development, Engineering, Accounting, and Finance to align construction activity with organizational priorities and investment goals.
General Contractor & Project Delivery - Manage owner-side relationship with third-party GCs on major ground-up and conversion projects, including a $150M wood-frame wrap multifamily and a $100M office-to-residential conversion.
- Manage the execution of base building projects across the portfolio, including building envelope upgrades, structural repairs, and major amenity renovations.
- Lead GC procurement and bid processes: draft and issue RFPs, evaluate bids, conduct scope leveling, and make award recommendations to senior leadership.
- Negotiate and administer GMP and lump-sum construction contracts; manage change order review, approval, and budget reconciliation.
- Chair regular OAC meetings; maintain rigorous tracking of schedule milestones, RFI logs, submittal logs, and open issues.
- Review and approve GC pay applications in coordination with ownership's lender requirements and draw schedules.
Tenant Build-Outs & Interior Construction - Oversee delivery of retail and office tenant improvement projects, from lease execution through landlord work completion and tenant handoff.
- Review and negotiate landlord work scopes, TI allowances, and construction timelines during lease negotiations in coordination with the leasing team.
- Manage design and permitting processes for tenant build-outs; coordinate with municipal building departments across DC and Maryland.
Budget, Schedule & Risk Management - Maintain consolidated construction budget tracking across all active projects; report portfolio-level cost and schedule status to senior leadership on a regular cadence.
- Identify and proactively manage construction risks, including site conditions, supply chain exposure, permitting delays, and subcontractor performance issues.
- Ensure robust owner-controlled insurance (OCIP/CCIP) and contractor bonding requirements are in place for major capital projects.
- Review and interpret geotechnical reports, structural drawings, MEP coordination, and civil documents to identify constructability issues early.
Design & Entitlement Coordination - Coordinate with the development team during design and entitlement to provide constructability input, value engineering recommendations, and schedule feedback.
- Manage design consultant team (architects, MEP engineers, civil, landscape) through construction documents and ensure deliverables align with permit readiness milestones.
- Liaise with municipal building and fire departments in D.C. and Montgomery County on permitting and inspections.
- Support the development team on office-to-residential conversion projects requiring coordination between structural assessments, MEP retrofits, and code compliance reviews.
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