Special Projects Program Manager

CEC is an innovative specialty services trade provider that is committed to its employees and their career growth. With the rapid expansion of our company, we need passionate and motivated individuals to join our team.

Position Summary

As a CEC Special Projects Program Manager is responsible for leading the design, coordination, and delivery of complex mission critical projects—such as data centers, advanced manufacturing facilities, and other high-availability environments. This role manages all aspects of the design process, from preconstruction through commissioning, ensuring alignment among internal teams, external partners, and clients. The Special Projects Program Manager drives technical excellence, budget and schedule control, and client satisfaction across multiple concurrent projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the MEP and telecom design process from preconstruction through project completion.
• Supervise design teams—including architects, engineers, and consultants—to ensure timely, high-quality, and coordinated deliverables.
• Lead constructability and quality reviews, ensuring all technical documentation meets design intent and compliance standards.
• Provide input during project bidding, cost estimation, and value engineering to maintain alignment between design and budget.
• Serve as the primary liaison among clients, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and construction teams.
• Facilitate coordination meetings to maintain alignment of design intent, budget, and schedule.
• Maintain proactive communication across all stakeholders, ensuring clarity on project milestones, risks, and required actions.
• Maintain up-to-date project documentation, including design changes, decision logs, and approvals.
• Identify and mitigate design-related risks related to constructability, cost, schedule, or compliance with building codes and safety regulations.
• Track design progress against milestones and budgets to ensure project delivery goals are achieved.
• Collaborate closely with the construction delivery team to ensure smooth handoff from design to build.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship during project execution.
• Participate in commissioning (Cx) and start-up activities to verify system functionality and performance.
• Develop and nurture positive relationships with existing client contacts, identifying opportunities to expand business partnerships.
• Maintain awareness of client business objectives, operational needs, and market trends to anticipate future project opportunities.
• Support business development efforts, including proposal preparation and client presentations.
• Lead and facilitate cross-functional project teams to ensure project objectives are achieved.
• Motivate and mentor team members to foster a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
• Take ownership of project challenges and drive resolution in consultation with senior leadership.
• Prepare, communicate, and monitor project work plans, budgets, and deliverables for both client and internal teams.
• Review project accounting documents and assist in processing draft project billings.
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and in alignment with client expectations.
• Performs other duties as needed to support projects, operations, and the department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or related field preferred
• 10+ years of experience managing large-scale commercial or mission critical projects.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary design and construction teams.
• Strong understanding of HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and critical cooling systems for data centers or similar facilities.
• Proficiency with design software such as AutoCAD, Revit, and Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• PMP certification or Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred.

Skills & Abilities

• Inspires confidence and accountability across diverse teams.
• Deep understanding of mechanical systems and mission critical design requirements.
• Builds long-term relationships and anticipates client needs.
• Applies critical thinking to solve design, schedule, and cost challenges.
• Effectively coordinates across disciplines and organizations to achieve project success.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

This job operates in a clerical office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.

• Requires mobility within an office environment.
• Regularly required to talk and hear. Effectively communicate with others both written and orally, including using the telephone.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• The employee may be required to walk; reach with hands and arms; and bend.
• May be required to stoop, kneel, and crouch.   Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus. 
• Possess good hearing, normal or corrected.
• The employee must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• The employee may be required to climb stairs.
• Must be able to work 8 hours a day, 40 hours per week, and overtime as required and night or weekend shifts, as needed.

CEC Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to attracting and retaining the best-qualified individuals, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.