Project Director (K/12)

About Vanir

Vanir is a proud minority- and woman-owned company, recognized as a national leader in program, project and construction management (PMCM) and real estate development. Since 1964, we have consistently exceeded client expectations. Ranked as a top PMCM firm by Engineering News-Record (ENR) for more than three decades, our award-winning team provides a full range of services to public and private sector clients in the aviation; healthcare; education (K-12 and higher); justice and essential services; science and technology; state and local government; transportation; water and wastewater; energy; and commercial, residential and nonprofit markets.

Job Description

Position Overview

Vanir is seeking an experienced and dynamic Project Director – K-12 Education & Capital Programs to join our growing Pacific Northwest team, supporting projects and programs throughout King and Pierce Counties.

We are looking for a proven leader with strong communication skills, exceptional client relationship management capabilities, and demonstrated experience delivering complex K-12 educational facilities and capital improvement programs.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong foundation in K-12 capital program management, including bond planning, capital funding strategies, and public agency coordination. Experience across multiple market sectors—including healthcare, justice and essential services, transportation, utilities, municipal facilities, and other public infrastructure—is highly desirable.

This is an opportunity for a strategic, collaborative professional who enjoys leading multidisciplinary teams, solving complex challenges, and building lasting relationships with clients and industry partners.

The Project Director will provide leadership and oversight for assigned projects and programs, with responsibility for client satisfaction, project performance, team development, financial management, and successful project delivery.

This position will also contribute to Vanir's continued growth throughout the Pacific Northwest by supporting client engagement, business development, and strategic market expansion.

The position reports to the Area Manager and collaborates with senior leadership, project teams, estimators, schedulers, and other construction professionals across Vanir.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The Project Director provides strategic leadership, planning, coordination, and oversight throughout all phases of assigned capital projects and programs, ensuring alignment with client objectives, budgets, schedules, quality standards, and contractual requirements.

Project & Program Leadership

• Lead and oversee complex K-12 educational facility projects, capital improvement programs, and other public-sector infrastructure projects.
• Advise clients on capital planning, program development, project prioritization, funding strategies, and implementation.
• Develop comprehensive project management plans, program budgets, master schedules, and delivery strategies.
• Provide leadership in design management, construction management, estimating, procurement, contract negotiations, scheduling, cost management, forecasting, and change management.
• Manage project controls, staffing, financial performance, resource utilization, and timely completion of deliverables.
• Identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, and provide solutions to complex design, construction, and operational challenges.
• Coordinate and manage architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, and other project stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate project documentation and provide clear, timely reporting to clients and senior leadership.
• Ensure compliance with applicable regulations, contractual requirements, safety standards, and organizational procedures.

K-12 Capital Planning & Funding

• Support school districts with long-range facility planning, capital improvement programs, and bond-funded construction initiatives.
• Provide guidance in capital bond planning, project prioritization, cost estimating, and development of capital program budgets.
• Assist clients in aligning capital projects with available funding sources, district priorities, and community expectations.
• Coordinate with school district leadership, facilities departments, finance teams, and community stakeholders.
• Support capital program implementation, including bond-funded project delivery, financial tracking, and reporting.
• Experience with Washington State's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP), state funding processes, and grant funding programs is preferred.
• Support compliance with applicable state funding requirements, grant agreements, and associated documentation and reporting obligations.

Client Relations & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with school districts, public agencies, industry partners, and prospective clients.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to client leadership, providing strategic guidance and practical solutions.
• Represent Vanir at client meetings, public presentations, community forums, and professional industry events.
• Support business development initiatives, including identifying opportunities, developing client relationships, capture planning, proposal development, and interviews.
• Contribute to expanding Vanir's presence across K-12 education and complementary public-sector markets throughout the Pacific Northwest.
• Collaborate with regional leadership to identify opportunities for multidisciplinary project delivery and market diversification.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary project management and construction management professionals.
• Establish clear performance expectations and promote accountability, collaboration, and professional development.
• Support resource planning, staff utilization, and effective team assignments.
• Foster a positive, solutions-oriented team culture focused on client service, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.

Key Knowledge & Skills

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Comprehensive understanding of K-12 educational facility planning, design, construction, and capital program management.
• Knowledge of public-sector capital planning, bond programs, budgeting, procurement, and project delivery.
• Experience with traditional and alternative project delivery methods, including Design-Bid-Build, GC/CM, Design-Build, and Progressive Design-Build.
• Strong understanding of project controls, cost estimating, scheduling, forecasting, contracts, and construction administration.
• Ability to navigate complex public agency environments and communicate effectively with executive leadership, elected boards, clients, and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage multiple projects or programs simultaneously.
• Strategic thinking, sound judgment, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Ability to develop trusted client relationships and contribute to business development and organizational growth.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business Administration, or a related field, OR equivalent relevant professional experience in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in project management, construction management, capital program management, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing K-12 educational facility projects or public-sector capital improvement programs.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary project teams and overseeing complex projects through planning, design, procurement, construction, and closeout.
• Strong working knowledge of project budgets, scheduling, contracts, construction administration, project controls, and risk management.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with clients, senior leadership, consultants, contractors, and public stakeholders.
• Experience managing client relationships and delivering high-quality professional services.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• K-12 bond planning experience, including capital bond development, long-range facility planning, project prioritization, and bond-funded capital program implementation.
• Experience working with Washington State's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), including SCAP funding requirements, applications, and compliance processes.
• Experience identifying, securing, administering, or supporting state, federal, or other grant funding for capital projects.
• Demonstrated experience across multiple market sectors, including healthcare, justice and essential services, transportation, utilities, municipal facilities, higher education, and public infrastructure.
• Experience managing large, complex capital improvement programs for school districts or other public agencies.
• Experience with alternative project delivery methods, including GC/CM, Design-Build, and Progressive Design-Build.
• Established professional relationships within the King County and Pierce County public-sector markets.
• Experience supporting business development, client engagement, proposal development, and strategic market expansion.
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM), DBIA certification, Professional Engineer (PE), Registered Architect (RA), or Project Management Professional (PMP).

What We're Looking For

We are seeking more than an experienced project manager. We are looking for a well-rounded leader who brings diverse project experience, sound judgment, strong relationships, and the ability to see the bigger picture.

The ideal candidate understands the unique challenges of K-12 capital programs while bringing transferable knowledge and experience from other public-sector markets.

This individual is comfortable advising executive leadership, leading complex programs, mentoring project teams, developing client relationships, and contributing to strategic growth.

 

Benefits

Vanir offers a comprehensive, competitive benefits package that includes 401(k) Savings with employer matching contributions, medical, dental, vision, health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions, life, AD&D and disability benefits, flexible spending account (FSA), voluntary benefits, Teladoc, pet insurance, paid time off, national employee assistance program (EAP) and employee referral program.

How to Apply

If you're interested in working for Vanir please visit our website to learn more and to apply online at www.vanir.com.

   

VEVRAA Federal Contractor

Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals

EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled

 

Contact Email: [email protected]

 

Persons with medical limitations may, with reasonable accommodations, be capable of performing the duties of this position. Such a determination must be made on an individual basis considering the person's limitations, the requirements of the position, and the company's ability to make reasonable accommodations to the person's limitations.

 

We Participate in E-Verify

 

Pursuant to the Ban The Box Act/Fair Chance Initiative, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 

 

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Posted Salary Range

USD $165,000.00 - USD $200,000.00 /Yr.