Senior Project Manager - Cold Storage Commercial Construction

Job Title: Senior Project Manager | Commercial Construction
Location: Chicago, IL
Industry: Commercial Construction / Cold Storage / Food Processing

Job Overview

A well-established commercial general contractor is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to join their Chicago team and lead complex commercial construction projects.

This role is ideal for a seasoned construction professional with strong preconstruction-to-closeout experience and a background in technically complex projects such as cold storage, food processing, manufacturing, industrial, distribution, or other MEP-intensive environments.

Candidates with direct cold storage experience are highly preferred, but strong design-build Project Managers with transferable industrial, food & beverage, manufacturing, or technically complex construction experience are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from early preconstruction through final closeout
• Oversee project budgets, schedules, contracts, and financial performance
• Lead conceptual estimating, budgeting, constructability, and preconstruction efforts
• Develop and maintain strong owner/client relationships
• Lead subcontractor buyout, scope development, negotiations, and contract execution
• Coordinate complex MEP, refrigeration, and technical systems
• Manage project teams, consultants, subcontractors, and vendors
• Oversee change management, cost control, scheduling, and risk management
• Resolve complex project issues and maintain project momentum
• Lead communication with owners, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders
• Manage projects within active manufacturing or processing facilities when applicable
• Mentor and provide leadership to Project Managers and project staff
• Ensure successful project completion, turnover, and closeout

Qualifications

• 8+ years of commercial construction project management experience
• Proven experience leading complex commercial or industrial projects
• Experience with some combination of:
  • Cold storage / freezer / cooler facilities
  • Food processing / food & beverage
  • Industrial / manufacturing
  • Distribution / warehouse
  • Design-build construction
  • Refrigeration / heavy MEP
  • Temperature-controlled environments
• Strong preconstruction and conceptual estimating experience
• Experience with buyout and subcontract negotiations
• Strong financial and project management skills
• Excellent owner/client relationship skills
• Strong leadership and communication abilities
• Construction-related degree preferred or equivalent experience

Travel

Willingness to travel to project sites approximately 2–3 times per month for 1–2 days at a time.

Why Join?

• Established and highly respected Chicago commercial contractor
• Complex, technically challenging projects
• Strong design-build and preconstruction involvement
• Opportunity to work across industrial, cold storage, food processing, and commercial markets
• Long-term career growth and development opportunities
• Strong company culture and employee-focused environment

For additional information on this opportunity, please contact Kandace Betzold directly at 651-727-8401 Resumes may be confidentially sent to Kandace.betzold@gogpac.com

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.

GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.