Project Manager - Life Sciences

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $7.6 billion in revenue for 2024, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

Clayco Design and Engineering (CDE) was created to diversify and grow Clayco’s industrial business unit’s capabilities with a focus on efficiently delivering robust design-build architectural and engineering solutions. The Clayco Design and Engineering team brings a tremendous amount of engineering expertise to the Clayco enterprise from a wide array of industrial segments such as food & beverage, consumer products, manufacturing, life science products, and healthcare.

The Role We Want You For

As a Project Manager – Life Sciences, you will lead multi-disciplinary design teams in delivering state-of-the-art facilities for clients in the Life Sciences market, including the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors. You’ll oversee the complete engineering lifecycle – from concept through construction – ensuring design meet rigorous GMP, FDA, and other regulatory standards.

This is a highly visible role that combines technical expertise and leadership, operating within Clayco’s collaborative design-build model to create efficient, compliant, and innovative environments that advance scientific and manufacturing excellence.

The Specifics of the Role

Leadership and Project Management

• Lead and manage engineering and architectural design teams across multiple disciplines to successfully execute complex life science projects.
• Oversee project scope, budget, and schedule to ensure successful delivery and client satisfaction.
• Coordinate closely with in-house Construction teams to achieve seamless design-build integration.
• Lead multidisciplinary coordination reviews to ensure integrated and cohesive design deliverables, while ensuring that each discipline performs its own internal quality checks and verifications.

Technical Oversight

• Direct the development of designs from conceptual through final design stages.
• Review submittals, RFIs, and design modifications, and conduct field visits to verify that work is proceeding according to design intent.
• Provide general technical guidance on process systems, utilities, and building integration for regulated environments, engaging Subject Matter Experts for deeper technical discussions.

Client & Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the primary design contact for assigned projects, ensuring clear communication and alignment with client objectives.
• Lead design concept and technical solutions presentations to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Build trusted relationships through transparency, accountability, and technical excellence.

Team & Process Development

• Mentor engineers and designers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration.
• Contribute to the development of Clayco’s design standards, tools, and best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Architectural, Engineering, or related field
• 10+ years of engineering design experience in GMP, FDA, or other regulated manufacturing environments.
• 2+ years of experience managing or leading multidisciplinary design teams.
• Proven background in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other life science facility design.
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, process engineering, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to lead meetings and present to clients effectively.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint); experience with AutoCAD, Revit, or similar software a plus.
• Ability to travel to project sites and client facilities as required.
• Resilient, adaptable, and driven to succeed through complex challenges.

Some Things You Should Know

• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco?

• 2024 Best Places to Work – Crain’s Chicago Business, St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2024 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 5).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.