Jobs › HNTB

Design Build - Senior Project Operations Manager

HNTB · Chicago, IL · $173,075–$276,471 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 13, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you identified a project risk early and kept it from becoming a loss.

What they are checking: Whether they manage risk proactively on large projects.

Tell me about a dispute you resolved without it escalating to formal claims.

What they are checking: Whether they protect relationships and money through negotiation.

What would you do

The contractor says a change is design-driven and we say it is a field condition. How do you resolve it?

What they are checking: Whether they can work through change disputes with facts and contract language.

How do you run formal change order meetings so design managers actually engage?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead busy technical leaders through a disciplined process.

The design team keeps doing extra work before a change is approved. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can stop unpaid work while keeping the team productive.

About the work

Walk me through how you would build a Change Management Plan on a new design-build project.

What they are checking: Whether they can set up a change process that protects the project's revenue from day one.

How do you price a contract change order quickly while keeping it defensible?

What they are checking: Whether they can produce scope and pricing that holds up under client review.

What insurance coverages matter most on a design-build project, and how do you manage them?

What they are checking: Whether they understand insurance management as part of project risk.

You manage gross revenue between 25 and 50 million dollars. What controls do you watch weekly?

What they are checking: Whether they track the project controls that keep a large project profitable.

How do you keep the workplan and project controls aligned as scope changes?

What they are checking: Whether they keep the plan accurate as the project shifts.

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The full job description

As published by HNTB.

What We're Looking For At HNTB, you can create a career that is meaningful to you while building communities that matter to all of us. For more than a century, we have been delivering solutions for some of the largest, most complex infrastructure projects across the country. With our historic growth, it is an exciting time to join our team of employee-owners. This opportunity entails being responsible for the project’s contract and change management, workplan, project controls and profitable operations of charge order work on medium size Mega projects. Responsibilities include the implementation of the Design-Build Contract Change Management Policy on the project, encompassing contractual changes and dispute resolution processes. This position is also responsible for risk management and insurance management on the project. Responsible for gross revenue greater than $25M and less than $50M. What You'll Do: • Change Management: Responsible for the development of the Change Management Plan and the development, monitoring and execution of all contract change orders. Interacts frequently with project team members and schedules frequent formal change order meetings with the Project Manager, Design Manager and Discipline Design Managers. Directs and facilitates the preparation of the scope, pricing and the proposal package of contract change orders and transmits to clients upon approval by the Project Manager. Leads the preparation of and also facilitates the negotiation and effective resolution of change orders with the client in conjunction with the Project Manager. • Workplan Management: Ensures the project schedule depicts a critical path and is updated throughout the project lifecycle with input from the Discipline Design Managers. Develops and maintains the project deliverables matrix and staffing plan. Ensures budgets are established properly in AX and oversees and approves all budget adjustments before changes are made. • Project Controls Management: Directs the actions of the project controls group including Project Analysts, Schedulers and document control personnel. Ensures timely and accurate entry of Earned Value, Estimates to Complete and Estimates at Completion. Analyzes EVM reports and KPI metrics to determine project health and discusses frequently with Project Manager, Design Manager and Discipline Design Managers. Provides forecast data to OBM and DB Business. Ensures earnings are in alignment with corporate revenue recognition policy and communicating variances to project and division leadership • Risk Management: Develops and maintains the Project Risk Management Plan and Risk Register. Facilitates a weekly risk meeting with the Project Manager and Design Manager to assess the project’s current risk and review and update the project risk register. • Insurance Management: Ensures project meets contract insurance compliance according to requirements outlined in owner requirements and internal company policy. Ensures the proper documentation and tracking of project insurance documents. • Contract Management: Manages all commercial aspects of the project. Ensures IOA’s are executed and updated. Ensures subconsultant contracts are executed. Ensures monthly submittal of invoices and timely payment of outstanding invoices. Ensures contract compliance pertaining to progress reporting. • Performs other duties as assigned. What You'll Need: • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business and 8 years of engineering design background with contract management or project management on large project, or • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business and 10 years of project controls background with contract management or project management on large projects What You'll Bring: • Understands the technical aspects of the project and be able to independently evaluate owner or contractor guidance for deviations from the contracted scope. • Must control ALL aspects of the essential project controls functions and be able to delegate and add/remove resources as necessary • Must have good organization and communication skills to establish the foundation for managing change and associated budget. • Must be a good collaborator and leader who can work with multiple internal and external groups and personalities. What We Prefer: • Master’s degree in Engineering or Business • Professional Engineer (PE) license • Project Management Professional (PMP) certification Additional Information Click here for benefits information: HNTB Total Rewards Click here to learn more about Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. #RN . Locations: Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Denver, CO, Indianapolis, IN, Kansas City, MO, Los Angeles, CA (Figueroa Street), Los Angeles, CA (LA International Airport), New York, NY, Salt Lake City, UT, Seattle, WA (Downtown) . The approximate pay range for Los Angeles Metro Area and Orange County, CA is $173,075.17 - $276,470.74. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . . . The approximate pay range for Washington is $180,600.19 - $288,491.20. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . The approximate pay range for Colorado is $165,550.16 - $264,450.28. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . The anticipated last day to apply is 11/29/2026. Please note that the job may be unposted prior to this date if the job is filled or no longer a need. . The approximate pay range for New York is $188,125.20 - $300,511.68. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . . . . . The approximate pay range for Illinois is $165,550.16 - $264,450.28. Please note that the pay range provided is a good faith estimate for the position based on all selected locations within the state at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be dependent on factors, including but not limited to, the individual’s qualifications, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as well as physical work location within the state. . . . . . . . . . NOTICE TO THIRD-PARTY AGENCIES: HNTB does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or agencies. Any staffing/employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume to this site does so with the understanding that the applicant's resume will become the property of HNTB. HNTB will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion and without any fee owed to the submitting staffing/employment agency, person or entity. Staffing/employment agencies who have fee agreements with HNTB must submit applicants to the designated HNTB recruiter to be eligible for placement fees.

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