What are the responsibilities and job description for the Construction Manager position at Barnes & Thornburg LLP?
Summary
The Construction Manager is responsible for managing firmwide construction planning, standards, and project execution support across the office portfolio. This role focuses on construction processes, vendor coordination, implementation of design standards, budget and schedule oversight, and consistent project delivery across offices. The Construction Manager serves as the firm’s primary internal resource for construction-related planning.
Responsibilities
Barnes & Thornburg is committed to equal employment opportunity in both principle and as a matter of policy. We will recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate and provide benefits to all applicants and employees without regard to ancestry, sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, religion, religious creed, mental and/or physical disability, medical condition, military and/or veteran’s status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all recruiting, hiring, promotions, upgrades, layoffs, compensation, benefits, terminations and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The firm complies fully with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws.
The Construction Manager is responsible for managing firmwide construction planning, standards, and project execution support across the office portfolio. This role focuses on construction processes, vendor coordination, implementation of design standards, budget and schedule oversight, and consistent project delivery across offices. The Construction Manager serves as the firm’s primary internal resource for construction-related planning.
Responsibilities
- Manage construction-related planning and execution for firm projects across the office portfolio, excluding responsibilities assigned to the independent Indianapolis role.
- Serve as the firmwide resource for construction methods, standards, project controls, and delivery practices.
- Develop and maintain construction procedures, templates, and implementation protocols to support consistent project execution.
- Coordinate with architects, contractors, engineers, access control providers, and other outside consultants.
- Support implementation of firmwide design standards and ensure construction execution aligns with approved workplace and office standards.
- Review project scope, budgets, schedules, and change activity to support disciplined project delivery.
- Identify project risks and escalate issues affecting cost, timing, operational continuity, or quality.
- Support capital planning through construction budgeting input, scheduling analysis, and implementation planning.
- Partner with the Director of Real Estate on vendor strategy in construction, architecture, furniture, and related categories.
- Assist in evaluating preventive maintenance-related capital work where construction expertise is needed.
- Support office openings, expansions, renovations, decommissions, reconfigurations, and occupancy readiness efforts.
- Contribute to project reporting, leadership updates, and KPI development as needed.
- Ensure construction compliance with local building codes, ADA requirements, fire safety regulations, and firm security standards.
- Coordinate furniture and technology infrastructure installation (cabling, AV, network) with IT during construction projects.
- Support repair and maintenance issues for the leased sites.
- Other tasks as assigned.
- Standardize construction delivery approaches across projects and offices.
- Help manage consultant and contractor performance.
- Support project closeout, punch-list completion, turnover documentation, and occupancy transition.
- Coordinate with Office Administrators, local leadership, and project stakeholders to minimize disruption during construction activity.
- Provide subject matter guidance to the Project Manager on construction-related issues.
- Degree in Construction Management or 5 years’ experience in construction management, project delivery, facilities capital projects, commercial interiors, or related work.
- Experience managing office buildouts, renovations, and occupied-space projects.
- Strong understanding of budgeting, scheduling, consultant coordination, construction documentation, and change management.
- Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple active projects and stakeholders across locations.
- Experience in a multi-office or national organization.
- Experience in professional services or other office-intensive business environments.
- Familiarity with workplace standards, vendor management, and facilities coordination.
- Projects supported effectively and consistently across the portfolio.
- Better standardization of construction practices and project controls.
- Improved vendor coordination and execution quality.
- Better cost, schedule, and risk visibility for firm leadership.
Barnes & Thornburg is committed to equal employment opportunity in both principle and as a matter of policy. We will recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate and provide benefits to all applicants and employees without regard to ancestry, sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, religion, religious creed, mental and/or physical disability, medical condition, military and/or veteran’s status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all recruiting, hiring, promotions, upgrades, layoffs, compensation, benefits, terminations and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The firm complies fully with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws.