Project Manager Project Manager Jobs in Ames, IA

The Project Manager is responsible for leading all aspects of project execution from inception through closeout, ensuring safe, high-quality, and efficient delivery of EPC projects. This role provides daily oversight of field operations, proactively manages project controls and reporting to maintain schedule, cost, and margin performance, and serves as the central coordinator among designers, subcontractors, vendors, and field teams. The Project Manager acts as the primary client interface, maintaining clear communication, transparency, and responsiveness to ensure client satisfaction. In addition, this role contributes to the company?s growth by building strong client relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and representing the organization with professionalism and integrity to promote repeat and expanded work.

PROTECT PEOPLE

• Safety comes first in everything I do

• I protect our seat at the table by doing my best work

• I develop myself and others

• I put the needs of the Company and others above my own

• I represent myself and the Company professionally at all times

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

• I respect people

• I have a positive attitude

• I collaborate and build healthy external relationships

• I collaborate and build healthy internal relationships

• I engage in healthy conflict

• I act with honesty, integrity, and ethics

• I avoid dramatic and toxic behavior

FOCUS ON END GOALS

• I focus my efforts on providing value-added work to the customer; ?work in the business?

• I start with the end in mind

• I honor our process

• I act with the greater good of the company and the team in mind

• I embrace the EOS process and take the appropriate amount of time to "work on the business"

• I respect Company resources

DRIVE INNOVATION

• I offer 2 Second Lean improvements

• I act with a continuous improvement mindset, low tech or high tech

• I think differently to create value and solve problems

Top 5 role responsibilites:

Day-to-day project operations

• Overall accountability for safe and productive field execution.

• Lead weekly project coordination meetings with the team to ensure safety, quality, and productivity goals are met.

• Review, forecast, and schedule manpower needs and communicate to the appropriate individuals timely.

• Resolve field-level issues quickly to maintain progress and minimize downtime.

• Ensure material procurement, information, and constraints are being managed by the team.

• Maintain compliance with all company and client safety and quality requirements.

• Accountable for the project team following the company?s Core Processes.

Project controls and reporting

• Develop and maintain project schedules, including milestones for engineering, procurement, and construction.

• Ensure timely billing to maximize earned value and cashflow on projects.

• Monitor self-performed labor budget versus actual to ensure project success.

• Identify and document changes in scope or conditions and initiate change requests as appropriate.

• Forecast Estimated Cost at Completion and expected margins and communicate variances early.

• Conduct monthly project status reporting reviews with senior management.

• Monitor and report on KPI?s and measurable as assigned.

Coordinate designers, subcontractors, vendors, and field teams

• Act as the central communication point between engineering, procurement, and construction functions.

• Review design deliverables to ensure design intent aligns with constructability and budget.

• Ensure subcontracts and purchase orders are executed timely to meet the schedule.

• Ensure information flow between the design team and the field is timely and complete.

Client Relations

• Serve as the primary client point of contact for all day-to-day project matters.

• Lead regular client progress meetings and provide clear, accurate updates on status, issues, and next steps.

• Proactively communicate risks or changes and propose solutions before they escalate.

• Ensure project delivery aligns with client goals for schedule, quality, and cost.

• Maintain professionalism, responsiveness, and integrity in all client interactions.

• Gather client feedback throughout the project and adjust execution approach when needed.

• Support client satisfaction through transparency and problem-solving.

Business Development

• Build and maintain long-term client relationships based on performance and trust.

• Identify potential future projects, scope expansions, or service opportunities with existing clients.

• Support proposal development, estimating, and bid reviews for new work.

• Provide lessons learned and project insights to improve pursuit strategies.

• Represent the company professionally at client meetings, site visits, and industry events.

• Contribute to maintaining a positive reputation that leads to repeat business.

EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor?s degree in Construction Engineering, Construction Management, or related Engineering degree equivalent preferred.

• 5+ years of progressive experience in EPC projects.

• Proven experience managing all EPC phases?engineering, procurement, and construction?with strong financial, schedule, and quality outcomes.

• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain client relationships, lead cross-functional teams, and manage contractual and commercial responsibilities.

• Knowledge of project controls, scheduling, and cost management tools and familiarity with safety and regulatory compliance standards (e.g., OSHA 30-hour).

• Travel 30% or as needed, by air and ground.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sedentary strength demands include exerting up to 20 pounds occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, sitting most of the time.

• Continuously requires vision, fine dexterity, hearing, and twisting.

• Frequently requires standing, talking, sitting, and handling.

• Occasionally requires walking, lifting, carrying, reaching, kneeling, pushing/pulling, bending, and crouching.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.

Keen Project Solutions is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment (minorities, females, veterans, individuals with disabilities, sexual orientation, or other protected categories in accordance with state and federal laws). Keen is a drug and alcohol-free workplace and background checks are required if applicable.

Benefits and additional Company Information is located on the career section of our website.https://thinkdifferentthinkkeen.com/careers