What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Project Manager position at City of Rochester?
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The Senior Project Manager leads the planning and delivery of large, complex capital improvement projects and enterprise-wide transformational initiatives that advance the City of Rochester’s strategic goals. This position manages projects through the full lifecycle—from concept and scope development through design, construction, implementation, and closeout—ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and in alignment with City Council direction, organizational priorities, and community needs.
The Senior Project Manager provides advanced project management expertise, oversees consultants and contractors, coordinates work across departments, manages budgets and risk, and communicates complex technical information to diverse audiences. The position also mentors project managers and other junior project team members and contributes to continuous improvement of the City’s project and change management practices.
Work Schedule: The regular work schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.Pay: The 2026 hiring range for this position is $99,419 to $116,964 with advancement to $146,205
Benefits: This position is eligible for benefits offered by the City of Rochester. Please check out the benefits tab at the top of the page for more details.
To have your application considered in the first round of reviews, please apply before October 18, 2026, at 11:59pm CST. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
The work below is representative of the scope of work performed within this job classification.
*Lead the delivery of large, complex capital improvement projects from planning through closeout, ensuring high-quality outcomes that create meaningful and lasting community impact.
- Manage assigned projects throughout their full life cycle including the planning phase, scope establishment, consultant procurement and contract negotiations, along with leading steps of the various phases of design, right-of-way procurement, permitting, construction bidding, construction administration, project close-out and turnover.
- Develop and manage comprehensive project plans, budgets, schedules and stakeholder communications; ensuring technical requirements and contractual/legal obligations are met.
- Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary project teams to deliver projects that meet scope, schedule, budget, quality, and performance expectations.
- Provide technical research and analysis to evaluate, implement, and manage complex project plans and specifications concurrently to meet defined outcomes.
- Collaborate with City staff to write and submit grant applications for projects that the City of Rochester pursues.
- Coordinate project plans, schedules, and resources to optimize project execution and minimize disruptions to residents, businesses, and City operations.
- Monitor projects and produce periodic reports to communicate project status in clear and simple terms to stakeholders.
- Manage project expenses to ensure they remain within budget parameters and in compliance with internal procedures and controls.
- Anticipate and identify potential issues and risks that may impact project implementation; provide quality reviews, risk analysis, and implement risk mitigation strategies.
- Coordinate with internal and external partners to address and problem-solve construction-related issues or concerns.
- Establish safety goals and plans for each project.
- Manage construction work quality and ensure it conforms to current city policies, technical standards, and ordinances.
- Serve as an owner's representative during the design and construction phases and manage consultants and contractors retained for project delivery, managing project finances, and the overall project delivery process.
- Train and mentor other Project Managers.
*Budget and Contract Management
- Develop and manage comprehensive project budgets and funding strategies.
- Manage project expenditures to ensure compliance with approved budgets, internal controls, and funding requirements.
- Prepare contracts for construction of capital projects and negotiate revisions, changes and additions to construction contracts as needed to support successful project delivery.
- Advocate and lead negotiations for the City during disputes, disagreements, modifications or change orders related to construction contracts or project changes.
*Serve as a City representative for high visibility projects, including multimodal transportation projects, infrastructure projects, and transformational initiatives.
- Oversee and serve as the primary contact for work with contractors, developers, consultants, City staff, and their representatives on projects.
- Maintain positive working relationships with all stakeholders and foster project buy-in by clearly communicating project goals, benefits, and outcomes.
- Implement communication and engagement strategies to ensure community involvement across all sectors of the community, while embracing a Business Forward Strategy that delivers capital projects while focusing on mitigating impacts to local businesses to the maximum extent feasible.
- Represent the City at meetings and public forums, presenting complex information to residents, businesses, civic organizations, disadvantaged communities, regulatory agencies, industry groups, private partners, and other stakeholders.
- Provide public notifications, updates, and responses to inquiries, complaints, and requests for information related to assigned projects.
- Monitor project performance and prepare clear, concise status reports for internal and external stakeholders.
- Prepare City Council documentation and present complex technical and financial information to City Council and other governing bodies.
*Special Initiatives:
- Collaborate with consultants to prepare bid packages that meet City standards and Women/Minority-owned Business Enterprise program goals based on contract values.
- Actively work to engage, leverage, and support the City’s Women and Minority Owned Business Program.
- Utilize unique and innovative strategies and practices to measure project success through the establishment of data metrics that analyze short- and long-term impacts.
- Participate in the department's annual capital and operating budget preparation and monitoring throughout the year which includes personnel, equipment, technology, vehicles, and software costs.
- Ensure all assigned projects meet the requirements of the Destination Medical Center District Design Guidelines and other applicable City standards.
- Manage consulting contracts for special projects.
Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.
*ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Education and ExperienceA Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning/Design, Construction Management, Project Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or closely related field from an accredited four-year college or university AND a minimum of six (6) years of full-time experience being a key part of a project team that delivers complex civil infrastructure, parks, or urban design type projects
OR
An equivalent combination of education, certification and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the position may be considered.
Licenses and/or Certifications
Valid driver's license
Desirable Qualifications
A Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning/Design, Construction Management, Project Management, Urban/Planning, Business Administration, Public Administration, or closely related field from an accredited college or university.
10-years of full-time project management experience involving capital project delivery
Experience managing large multi-discipline projects, construction services, or as an on-site Project Manager.
Project management certification
Professional licensure as a civil engineer, architect, or landscape architect
If this work interests you but you are unsure if you meet all the job requirements listed above, please apply anyway! Your experience is likely more applicable to the role than you think, and the City is interested in candidates who can bring not only technical expertise but a variety of lived experience to the team.In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.
Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:
Frequent demands: sitting, walking, reaching, handling, fine dexterity
Occasional demands: standing, lifting, carrying, pushing/pulling, kneeling
Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include sight, hearing, touch and smell
Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include:
Occasionally working in extreme weather (rain, wind, heat, snow, cold)
Noise (need to shout in order to be heard)
Vibration (exposure to oscillating movements of the extremities or whole body)
Exposure to dust/gas/fumes/steam/chemicals
Work outdoors (no effective protection from weather)
Walk on uneven ground (gravel, rocks, mounds, construction sites)
Work at heights (such as on scaffolding or ladders)
Working around moving machinery (fork-lifts, tractors, mowers)
Protective equipment required (respirator, mask, earplugs, gloves, eyewear, etc.)
Salary : $99,419 - $146,205