About Berkeley
At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation - driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.
At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups.
We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.
Learn more about some of our accomplishments at Points of Pride.
Departmental Overview
Capital Projects manages the design, construction, retrofitting, and restoration of campus buildings and their surroundings. Many skilled professionals work in Capital Projects as Project Managers with backgrounds in architecture, landscape architecture, planning, engineering, construction, and administration, all of whom serve the campus community.
Position Summary
The Major Project Team Lead manages the design and construction of capital projects, including renovations, expansions, new facilities, infrastructure, and landscape projects. This position collects, develops, and analyzes technical data to determine project requirements and prepares information regarding specifications, materials, equipment, estimated costs, and completion times.
The Major Project Team Lead possesses extensive experience in managing the design, buyout, and construction of significant building projects, along with a proven track record of supervising other Project Managers. In this role, the Major Project Team Lead exercises independent judgment in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria to achieve desired results, oversees and supervises other Project Managers in project execution, and manages projects independently based on workload and staffing.
Application Review Date
The minimum posting duration for this position is 14 calendar days. The department will initiate the application review process on/after August 17, 2026. For full consideration, please apply by the first review date.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for all capital projects delivered by the subject team. Directly oversees budgets and scheduling issues for projects managed by the subject's team, ensuring on-budget and on-time performance. Heavily involved in the early stages of projects delivered by the team to ensure that the project scope meets the client's project needs and that the budget and schedule included for project approval are accurate for the project scope.
- Organize and lead regular project update meetings with the client to keep them well-informed about all their active capital projects.
- During construction, monitor project progress with the project manager to ensure that the project scope is delivered on time and under budget.
- Oversees, manages, and supervises the work of lower-level professional positions.
- Anticipates, defines, and resolves issues/problems requiring specialized knowledge and is widely recognized and consulted by organization staff for their expert knowledge in a specific area of expertise, for all aspects of building systems, technology, and building code for major renovations and new ground-up buildings, and other key building components. Includes developing solutions to disputed issues or contractor claims.
- Responsible for managing all aspects of the design and construction process for major and significant capital program building projects of the highest value, where success is critical to the campus mission.
- Establishes and maintains relationships with assigned clients, units on campus (Engineering, P&T, etc.). Develops and maintains an understanding of the client's business operations and conditions of satisfaction as related to capital projects. Develops and maintains an understanding of the condition of campus buildings that are occupied by the client.
- Performs the most difficult professional work in the development, revision, refinement and / or amplification of program implementation. Manage large complex projects during the early stages of project definition and scoping, including programming, conceptual budgeting, public outreach, and meetings. Also managing the complex approval process for large projects by approving agencies, including UCOP, the campus, and the Regents. Ensures that building projects support applicable policies and practices to achieve specific goals and objectives within the area of expertise.
- Serves as a technical expert encompassing all areas of the construction industry for complex projects of the highest value, and provides advice and guidance to all levels of management, and provides expert technical advice and consultation at all levels in all areas of building technical expertise. Communicates regularly with campus leaders regarding project approvals and project status.
- Establishes project milestones and schedules, prepares cost estimates, functional studies, construction plans, and specifications, and monitors for adherence to master plans, budgets, and schedules.
- Pursues areas of building emerging technology consistent with the large and complex capital projects in her area of expertise through programs and other educational forums, and creates an appreciation for and sensitivity to programs, projects, and systems that employ, expand, and enhance building projects utilizing new technologies.
- Develops criteria and performance specifications required to meet unique operating requirements and building safety codes for project-specific major renovations and new ground-up buildings. Performs a comprehensive review of technical documents.
Required Qualifications
- Expert written, verbal, and interpersonal skills, including expert-level political acumen and negotiation skills.
- Expert knowledge of design and construction, contract administration, and state building codes, including expert understanding of industry practices or highly specialized and critical disciplines.
- Expert project management skills to effectively manage highly complex projects or highly specialized and critical components of projects with a significant impact on the organization.
- Expert skill in building, maintaining, and nurturing strong professional relationships to achieve short and long-range program implementation goals.
- Expert knowledge in one or more complex, technical areas of construction, such as sustainability, mechanical engineering, landscape architecture, infrastructure, or other specialty fields.
- Expert skill to apply specific technological solutions in the construction planning phase and skill in ensuring appropriate implementation and function during project construction and completion.
- Within the area of expertise, expert skill in advising and consulting with all levels of management and/or capital planning, budgeting, and construction professionals.
- Expert skill in promoting, advancing, and implementing programs within the area of expertise.
- Advanced knowledge of the organization (or comparable institutional knowledge), including its infrastructure, rules, regulations, policies, and short and long-range strategic plans
- Expert analytical, organizational, project management, and problem recognition/avoidance/resolution skills.
- Exercises independent judgment in methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria.
- Incumbent possesses significant career experience and demonstrated skills in the leadership of major capital projects of significant importance in a University setting.
- Experience and knowledge to analyze, recommend, and execute procurement, contracting, and delivery strategies.
Education / Training
- Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent experience/training in architecture, engineering, urban design, city planning, or landscape architecture.
Licenses / Certifications
- License to practice in at least one of the following professions: architecture, engineering, urban design, city planning, or landscape architecture. (Preferred)
- Certificate to practice in at least one of the following professions: architecture, engineering, urban design, city planning, or landscape architecture. (Preferred)
Salary & Benefits
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $180,000-$200,000.
- This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.
- This is a full-time (40 hours/week) Career position eligible for UC benefits.
How to Apply
To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.
Other Information
- This position is eligible for up to 2 days/week of remote work within the United States. Exact arrangements are determined in partnership with your supervisor to meet role responsibilities and department needs and are subject to change.
- This is not a visa opportunity. This position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
Conviction History Background
This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.
Misconduct
As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
Abusive Conduct in the Workplace
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
