As the project team leader, the PM alone is authorized as the university representative to provide direction and communicate decisions to external team members. The project manager must balance the needs of competing priorities such as program, sustainability, aesthetics, risk, and operations and maintenance with budget and schedule constraints. In addition to typical project management responsibilities, the University of Chicago PM leads the design and construction process, from concept through turnover, and is responsible to:
- Develop and facilitate effective communication processes
- Assemble relevant university personnel, make project goals clear, disseminate information, and communicate decisions
- Resolve competing priorities and provide project team with singular, clear direction
- Facilitate and enforce process controls as outlined in the Guide
- Negotiate and manage all consultant, contractor and vendor contracts
- Educate project team about university processes, guidelines and expectations
- Partner with various university groups to ensure effective turnover and verification of high performance‐buildings
- Provide formal onboarding training to new team members as well as new university hires