Senior Project Manager

Position:  Senior Project Manager

Location: Charlottesville, VA 

Reports To: Project Management Team Lead

Department: Project Management

About Us
Gropen, Inc. is a full-service custom fabrication, architectural signage, and graphics firm in Charlottesville, VA.  For over 40 years, we’ve built a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship, innovative solutions, and beautiful results. Our clients—locally and nationally—include architects, landscape architects, real estate developers, park administrators, hospitals, and universities. We work on a wide range of projects, from high-profile architectural signage to one-of-a-kind custom exhibits. This position offers opportunities for leading diverse project types and professional advancement in a team-oriented, dynamic culture. 

About the Role 

Our Senior Project Manager (Sr. PM) is responsible for leading the most complex and high-value projects in our portfolio. This role balances hands-on project execution with active direction of project teams ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest quality standards. The Sr. PM serves as a technical resource for Project Managers and Project Coordinators, providing day-to-day direction on assigned projects, and acting as an escalation point for complex issues. In partnership with the Project Management Team Lead, the Sr. PM helps establish best practices, reinforce standards, and model excellent leadership. 

If you are excited about leading complex work, building strong client relationships, and continually raising a high bar for project excellence, we’d love to have you on our team. 

The Perks! 

• Competitive pay based on experience
• Paid holidays and paid time off
• Affordable medical, dental, vision insurance
• 401(k) plan eligibility after one year or 1,000 hours
• Full-time role, Monday–Friday

Key Responsibilities 

Project Leadership & Execution 

• Lead cross-functional teams (design, fabrication, installation, estimating) to ensure seamless execution of large, complex projects from contract award to final closeout.
• Proactively lead as the primary point of contact for clients and key stakeholders, including general contractors, architects, and designers.
• Develop master project schedules in collaboration with other teams that integrate design, permitting, fabrication, and installation phases.
• Identify and proactively mitigate any potential risks.
• Own and manage budgets, forecasts, and job cost reports; proactively address cost variances and change orders.
• Oversee permitting and compliance requirements.
• Clearly communicate responsibilities, expectations, priorities and timelines and ensure accountability in execution.
• Ensure quality control through shop drawing reviews, fabrication, site inspections, and punch list completion.

Client & Stakeholder Communication 

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, ensuring a positive project experience.
• Provide clear, consistent, and actionable project updates to internal and external stakeholders, defining decisions, deliverables, owners, and next steps to keep projects aligned and moving forward.
• Support business development efforts by contributing to proposals and high-level project presentations.

Team Development & Mentorship 

• Support the Project Management Team Lead in fostering a high-performing, collaborative team.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and coaching to Project Managers, Associate PMs, and Coordinators assigned to your projects.
• Share best practices in scheduling, communication, and resource allocation.
• Strategically assign tasks to junior team members to balance workloads and promote growth.
• Contribute to a culture of accountability, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications 

• 7 years of project management experience with at least 3 years in a senior or lead role.
• Experience in Construction, Manufacturing, or other related field a plus.
• Strong knowledge of project management software, scheduling tools, and financial tracking.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Experience and enthusiasm for mentoring and developing team members.
• Bachelor’s degree.

Who Will Thrive in This Role 

• A proactive relationship-builder.
• A collaborative, team-first leader who thrives in bringing different skills and priorities together.
• A strategic thinker who loves the challenge of balancing complex budgets, schedules, and client needs.
• A problem-solver who addresses challenges and removes roadblocks.
• A mentor who takes pride in building up junior staff and improving overall team performance.