---
title: 'Senior Project Manager, Construction Administration at Massachusetts School Building Authority'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-project-manager-construction-administration-massachusetts-school-0d4gmsngfmmb'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-09'
---

# Senior Project Manager, Construction Administration at Massachusetts School Building Authority

- **Company:** Massachusetts School Building Authority
- **Location:** Boston, MA
- **Compensation:** $104k–$117k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** hybrid
- **Posted:** 2026-06-22
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-09
- **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/massschoolbuildings/1b892a01-ec58-44fc-98e6-3a63d7fb3085

## Job description

Job Title: Senior Project Manager Department: Capital Planning Reports To: Director of Construction Administration FLSA: Exempt Grade: 13 The MSBA’s Construction Administration Team manages MSBA capital pipeline projects through design development of approved projects, bidding, contract award, construction, commissioning, and project close-out. The Senior Project Manager manages the funding aspect of multiple building projects involving complex and varying technical problems through the stages of design development, construction, commissioning, and project close-out. The Senior Project Manager has a thorough knowledge of the construction industry, including project supervision, construction regulations, document review, cost estimating, contract compliance monitoring, commissioning, and claims processing. The Senior Project Manager is responsible for the hiring, training, and supervision of personnel.

Essential Functions

- Leadership of construction project administration, compliance monitoring, and claims processing.

- Recommend MSBA policies by analyzing pertinent technical issues and information regarding the impact of proposed policies on current and future MSBA programs.

- Manage project managers in monitoring project schedules, budgets and scope, and in ensuring compliance with MSBA guidelines and funding agreements.

- Ensure all project activities are coordinated with MSBA departments and Massachusetts school districts, as appropriate.

- Review project/construction budgets and schedule projections and report on variances throughout the construction for assigned projects; manage project managers to do the same.

- Review change order documentation for reimbursement on assigned projects and review other required submittals for funded projects for quality of work and guideline conformance; manage project managers to do the same.

- Oversee and conduct site visits of MSBA projects during construction as an integral aspect of monitoring project schedules, budgets and scope.

- Manage cost estimates, project scope, and budget development.

- Ensure contract compliance during construction with MSBA procedures and policies, regulatory requirements and engineering standards.

- Manage Owner’s Project Managers (“OPMs”) to monitor projects effectively. Based upon OPM reports, identify variances and deficiencies in contract execution and outcomes, and address with the OPM. Identify actions and resolve as needed in response to the OPM report.

- Oversee and directly lead project meetings in regard to project status, funding agreements, amendments, project deliverables, change orders, and final audits.

- Prepare reports for the MSBA CEO, Executive Director/Deputy CEO and MSBA Board of Directors.

- Oversee the review and approval of reimbursement applications through final audit, and the review and approval of final payment and construction close-out documents by project managers, while doing the same on projects assigned to Senior Project Manager.

- Review Commissioning Consultant reports to identify issues and prepare necessary status summaries. Assist in the preparation of Commissioning Consultant work orders.

- Periodically attend commissioning kick-off and commissioning progress meetings and assist in the resolution of any commissioning consultant matters.

- Determine eligibility of project costs for reimbursement and manage determination by project managers of eligibility of such costs.

- Manage and supervise project managers and assistant project managers.

- Lead specific initiatives to improve MSBA processes. May lead procurements.

- Review design documents; author and issue design review comments. Review budget and schedule; author and issue associated comments. Participate in internal Capital Planning peer review.

- Provide technical resources for consultant procurement, contract provisions, project schedule and District compliance with funding agreements. May participate in managing the selection and approval process for Owner's Project Managers and Designers.

- Create and deliver MSBA training and public outreach presentations and/or publications.

Supervisory Responsibilities

- Recruit, select, orient, and train employees to maintain assigned staff level.

- Lead employees to accomplish departmental and individual performance results. Communicate job expectations and establish, monitor, and appraise employee performance results.

- Manage, coach, and counsel employees. Ensure employee compliance with MSBA policies, procedures, and productivity standards.

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

- Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

- Ten (10) years of construction experience, with at least two (2) years in a supervisory project management capacity preferred. Experience with public construction preferred.

- Previous experience and proven success in managing employees.

- Proficiency in Microsoft Office software applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint Outlook, and Teams. Experience with Microsoft Project or other estimating and scheduling software preferred.

- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects.

- Thorough knowledge of construction industry, including project administration and supervision, construction regulations, document review, cost estimating, contract compliance monitoring, commissioning and claims processing, as well as technical skills and knowledge of construction methods. Construction regulations, document review, and cost estimating preferred.

- Knowledge of Massachusetts laws, including MGL Chapter 30, Chapter 149 and 149A, and Chapter 7.

- Experience working with federal, state, county, or local government preferred.

- Ability to analyze and present complex technical information in a clear, concise, and understandable manner using strong budget and data analysis skills.

- Strong verbal and written communication skills.

- Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

- Ability and willingness to occasionally travel to project sites.

This job description is intended to be general and will evolve over time. The description is subject to periodic updating. At management’s discretion, the employee may be assigned different or additional duties from time to time.

## About Massachusetts School Building Authority

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: The MSBA is a quasi‑independent government authority that partners with Massachusetts communities to fund and oversee the design, construction, and renovation of sustainable, educationally appropriate public school facilities.
- **Entity Type**: Quasi‑public government agency (non‑profit, not publicly traded or venture‑backed)
- **Headquarters**: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- **Founded**: 2004 (created by the Massachusetts Legislature to replace the former school building assistance program)
- **Founders**: Established by an act of the Massachusetts General Court; not attributable to individual founders

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Government – Public School Capital Funding and Construction Management
- **Target customers**: B2G – Cities, towns, and regional school districts across Massachusetts
- **Mission statement**: “To partner with Massachusetts communities to support the design and construction of educationally appropriate, flexible, sustainable, and cost‑effective public school facilities.”

## Products & Services
- **Core Program**: Supports large‑scale new construction, additions, and major renovations. The MSBA invites school districts into a competitive, multi‑phase due diligence process and reimburses eligible costs based on a formula that accounts for community income, property wealth, and low‑income student proportion.
- **Accelerated Repair Program (ARP)**: For limited‑scope projects such as roof, window, and door replacements, plus heat‑pump conversion of heating systems. Over 550 projects are active or completed across 166 districts.
- **Green Repair Program (historical)**: One‑time $300 million program launched in 2010 that funded 189 green‑oriented repair projects (now evolved into the ARP).
- **School Survey / Building Condition Assessment**: The MSBA periodically surveys all public school facilities (1,818 schools in 2025) to assess building condition, using the data to prioritize funding and evaluate program needs.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not applicable (government authority with no equity value)
- **Key Revenue/Funding**:
  - Dedicated revenue source: 1% of the state’s 6.25% sales tax (approx. $1.4 billion in FY2025)
  - Total reimbursements since inception: over $18.9 billion
  - FY2025 grant payments to municipalities: ~$755 million
  - Total expenses for FY2025: ~$971 million (including $384 million in debt service)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**:
  - Board of Directors chaired by the State Treasurer (currently Deborah B. Goldberg, with CEO Jim A. MacDonald)
  - Seven‑member board including the Secretary of Administration & Finance, the Commissioner of Education, and four appointees (architect, former school committee member, university capital projects executive, former town administrator)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - In 2025, the MSBA invited 93 of 99 Statements of Interest into the ARP and 15 of 27 into the Core Program – the highest invitation rates in years
  - The Core Program project cap was increased to $1.2 billion in FY2024, with annual escalations up to 6.5%
  - $100 million in COVID‑inflation supplemental awards distributed to 30 districts by January 2025
  - Launched heat‑pump conversion projects within the ARP to support Massachusetts’ net‑zero carbon goal by 2050
  - 10 schools completed in 2025, bringing total completed Core Program schools to 245

## Competitive Advantages
- **Dedicated revenue stream**: The MSBA is funded by a fixed portion of the state sales tax, providing predictable, stable funding that is not subject to annual legislative appropriations.
- **Specialized expertise**: The agency has 20 years of experience managing large‑scale public school capital projects, from initial assessment through construction completion and final audit.
- **Efficient reimbursement model**: Districts receive payments as costs are incurred (typically within 15 days via an online portal), rather than waiting years for reimbursement – a significant improvement over the previous system.
- **Scale and track record**: Over 1,200 projects invited into the pipeline, $18.9 billion disbursed, and 1,748 projects with completed final audits.

## Strategic Focus
- **Net‑zero carbon alignment**: Partnering with the Commonwealth’s goal to achieve net‑zero emissions by 2050 by funding heat‑pump conversions and high‑efficiency building systems.
- **Equitable funding**: Using a needs‑based formula (base rate + incentive points for regionalization, renovation, energy efficiency) to allocate resources fairly across communities.
- **Facility condition improvement**: Continuing the 2025 School Survey (1,818 schools) and using data to direct funds to the most critical needs – while 89% of schools rate at condition 1 or 2, the agency targets the 10.7% that need moderate or major attention.
- **Program expansion**: Increasing the Core Program cap and invitation numbers to meet the high demand from districts for new and renovated schools.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission‑driven culture**: Employees contribute directly to improving public education infrastructure across Massachusetts, working with communities to create safe, sustainable learning environments.
- **Work location & flexibility**: Based in Boston; roles are hybrid (e.g., the External Affairs Coordinator and Deputy Director of Capital Planning positions listed as “Hybrid – Full‑Time Hybrid Boston, Massachusetts”).
- **Public‑sector stability**: A quasi‑public entity with a dedicated revenue stream, offering predictable funding and long‑term career security.
- **Meaningful impact**: Staff see tangible results – schools completed, grants distributed, and communities supported – with projects bidding over $1 billion annually through 2027.
- **Professional growth**: Opportunities in capital planning, project management, external affairs, and finance within a recognized state agency.

## Sources
1. [massschoolbuildings.org](https://massschoolbuildings.org/about)
2. [MSBA 2025 Annual Report (PDF)](https://massschoolbuildings.org/sites/default/files/edit-contentfiles/News_Events/Publications/MSBA_Annual_Report_CY25.pdf)
3. [mass.gov – Audit Overview](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/audit-of-the-massachusetts-school-building-authority-overview-of-audited-entity-0)
4. [jobs.lever.co/massschoolbuildings](https://jobs.lever.co/massschoolbuildings)
5. [massschoolbuildings.org – Senior Staff](https://www.massschoolbuildings.org/about/senior_staff)

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