"Construction Service Manager"

Job Details

Special Instructions to Applicants : Applicants should attach a resume in PDF format to the Supporting Documents section of the application.

About Rice

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in how we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — which stands for Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary

The Construction Services Manager is the in-house Subject Matter Expert (SME), primarily for electrical distribution and MEP systems, ensuring project success from design through commissioning. This role provides expert technical oversight, quality control (QC), and essential collaboration with Project Management, Planning, and Operations. The role is responsible for enforcing campus standards, mitigating operational risk (e.g., utility coordination), and managing all closeout documentation to deliver compliant and operationally sound capital projects.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in construction and/or project management (or a related field) and will maintain strong hands-on skills in design and plan review, particularly related to MEP systems, with a minimum of five years of onsite construction services or commissioning management experience.

Workplace Requirements

This is an essential position requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out all vital functions. All duties must be performed in person. The role requires frequent site inspections at multiple locations, both on and off campus. This position is designated as essential personnel during a campus emergency, and the incumbent must report to campus, provide designated essential services, and work under the overall direction of the Crisis Management Team for the duration of the emergency. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible position, and the salary will be determined based on the successful candidate's depth of experience and relevant technical expertise. *Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.*

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis, may be substituted
• 3+ years of related experience in construction or maintenance, focusing on electrical systems

Skills:

• Written and oral communication skills, especially when translating technical concepts for diverse audiences
• Ability to engage and influence cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects, work independently, analyze construction projects for accurate cost and schedule, evaluate quality of installations, clearly communicate, manage risk, and assist in the procurement of components
• Resilience, diplomacy, influence, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills in a variety of situations
• Depth of knowledge in the technical discipline/domain needed to deliver projects, especially electrical systems
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications
• Ability to use Microsoft Office or equivalent software

Preferences

• Five or more years of related experience in construction or maintenance, focusing on electrical systems
• Bachelor’s degree in construction, project management, electrical engineering, or another closely related field
• Construction MEP quality control/quality assurance experience
• Commercial construction commissioning experience
• Engineering or construction certification
• Vocational training certification in electrical systems
• Electrical licensed/certified technician
• Commercial construction expertise
• Experience in higher education or campus-based utility systems
• Valid Texas Driver’s License (or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment) preferred, with no more than three moving violations within the past 36 months and no convictions or deferred dispositions for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or Driving Under the Influence (DUI) within the past five years

Essential Functions

• Act as the in-house subject matter expert in medium-voltage electrical systems and campus electrical distribution
• Serve as the primary liaison between Project Management, Planning, and Facilities Operations, supporting Project Managers
• Oversee and manage quality control (QC) and evaluation of all work across campus projects
• Lead campus projects requiring functional integration, including defining the action plan and estimating resources (labor, materials, and time)
• Act as a key collaborator on the design and development of new projects, specifically providing input on MEP and fire protection design for all renovation and new construction
• Review construction documents (plans and specifications) and submittals to ensure adherence to standards, considering lifecycle costs and operational impacts
• Research and recommend new methods of construction or building materials, and provide input on cost-saving alternatives (value engineering)
• Advise staff engineers and external consultants on system and equipment selection, and manage the in-house submittal process and distribution of all plans, specifications, and peer reviews
• Inspect construction sites during all phases, provide field reports, attend construction meetings, and oversee sites for safety, security, parking, and cleanliness
• Communicate directly with contractors and subcontractors regarding installation deficiencies and adherence to design intent; investigate installation failures and recommend corrections
• Manage the commissioning process by observing testing and compiling and reviewing test reports for conformity to specifications
• Manage and secure all project closeout documentation, including as-built/record drawings, O&M manuals, warranty information, and equipment database changes
• Coordinate utility outages, working closely with Operations and Maintenance
• Assist Operations and Maintenance personnel with troubleshooting issues and during emergencies
• Participate in developing and updating project management procedures and standards
• Complete special projects and perform all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Review construction documents for design input
• Conduct construction site inspections