WHO WE ARE
Whether in your home, office or out in your community, the walls that surround you must be
safe, structurally sound, and sustainable. It’s our job to make that happen.
We were created by act of Congress in 1974 to be the nation’s authoritative source of findings
and recommendations that impact and improve the built environment for the American
people. At the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), we connect research, policy, and
practical application to advance innovation in the built environment. Our mission is to create a
safer, more resilient, and technologically advanced infrastructure that serves American
communities and strengthens our nation’s future.
Building American Innovation isn’t just our tagline – it’s our commitment. We foster
collaboration between government, industry, and academia to drive forward-thinking
strategies for resilient communities. Because at NIBS, we don’t just build structures, we build
solutions.
SUMMARY
The Project Manager is responsible for leading and delivering projects that span multiple
clients, disciplines, and technical domains across the Federal built environment. This role
manages initiatives and projects with the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans
Affairs, ensuring deliverables are completed on time, within scope, and to the highest quality
standards. Responsibilities include full ownership of project scope, schedule, and budget;
coordination across diverse stakeholders; and leadership of both internal teams and external
partners.
A key component of this role is leading technology implementation projects, engineering
criteria development, and modernization of standards and guidance, including efforts tied to
the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG). The Project Manager will oversee delivery of
innovative solutions that advance building science, ensure alignment with federal priorities, and
promote consistent, high-quality practices across the built environment. The role also includes
serving as a primary client interface, implementing effective risk management and control
mechanisms, and driving successful project outcomes that strengthen mission effectiveness and
operational resilience.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
- Lead full project lifecycle activities, including initiation, planning, execution, monitoring,
and closeout. - Own the development of deliverables and oversee quality assurance processes to
ensure technical excellence. - Manage project scope, schedule, and budget, proactively identifying risks and
implementing mitigation strategies. - Serve as primary communication lead for projects, coordinating across clients,
subcontractors, internal staff, and external stakeholders. - Support standards and criteria development efforts, ensuring technical guidance is
actionable and meets mission needs. - Support, drive, and coordinate activities supporting the WBDG modernization and
expansion, including technology integration, content development, and stakeholder
engagement. - Establish and maintain project documentation, including project plans, schedules,
budgets, reports, and client communications. - Provide oversight and guidance to Senior Associates and junior staff, delegating
responsibilities and ensuring effective workload distribution. - Lead discrete workstreams, work product development, and deliverable efforts across
multiple concurrent projects. - Ensure compliance with federal and organizational standards, policies, and reporting
requirements. - Facilitate stakeholder engagement activities such as workshops, webinars, technical
meetings, and client briefings. - Drive process improvements and contribute to the development of project
management frameworks, tools, and best practices. - Represent NIBS in external forums, advancing collaboration and partnerships that
strengthen NIBS’ mission.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position may have supervisory and direct report responsibilities. This position will also
have responsibility for oversight of contracted staff.
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty
satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or
ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions. Specific skills include:
- Familiarity with federal projects and project reporting requirements.
- Experience in the building sciences, project delivery tools and techniques, building
technologies, construction, facility management processes, or related technical disciplines. - In-depth understanding of prevailing project management methods.
- Understanding of performance metrics and evaluation methods for project success.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on cross-functional teams.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to handle multiple
priorities. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong proficiency in project management tools and the Microsoft Office Suite.
- Detail-oriented, proactive, and able to adapt quickly in a dynamic environment.
- Contribute innovative ideas to improve processes, tools, and solutions in support of resilient
and sustainable infrastructure. - Estimated amount of travel, not including periodic trips to the office, is less than 10 percent.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in project management, construction management, engineering,
architecture, or a related field. Master’s degree is preferred. - 5+ years of experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry,
with demonstrated success delivering projects for federal government and multistakeholder clients. - Strong background in building technology, technical research, technical criteria, or technical
standards development is preferred.
SECURITY CLEARANCE
Project Manager should be eligible to be granted or to obtain at a minimum, an interim Secret
security clearance, and obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance throughout the period
of employment.
BENEFITS
- Opportunity to work at the intersection of industry, government, and academia.
- Exposure to diverse, high-impact projects across the building sciences sector.
- Collaborate daily with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines—including engineers,
architects, policy experts, researchers, and industry leaders. - Work alongside some of the most respected experts in the building sciences and technology
fields, gaining insight into best practices across industry and government. - Professional development and training opportunities.
- NIBS offers a competitive salary and benefits package including fully paid health care
premiums for medical, dental, and vision.
HOW TO APPLY
If you feel you are a great fit for this role, please send your resume, cover letter, and salary
requirement to jobs@nibs.org today!
