Project Executive | Healthcare

Description

Job Summary

Responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight for successful project delivery, client relationships, business development efforts, and overall project performance across Columbia's Healthcare division. The Project Executive works closely with project teams, healthcare clients, facility and clinical stakeholders, and internal partners to help ensure projects are aligned with organizational standards, client expectations, financial objectives, patient and staff safety, and regulatory requirements. Healthcare projects frequently take place in occupied, operating facilities such as hospitals, medical office buildings, ambulatory care centers, and research and laboratory spaces, where protecting patients, maintaining clinical operations, and meeting code and accreditation requirements are central to success. This role provides leadership through strategic project oversight, client partnership, business development, team leadership, and informed involvement when needed to support successful outcomes.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervises, supports, and develops team members, including Project Managers, Project Engineers, and other healthcare project team members.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Strategic Project Leadership and Oversight: Provide strategic leadership and oversight for successful healthcare project outcomes, financial performance, operational alignment, and overall project execution. Maintain visibility into project progress, team effectiveness, client concerns, financial performance, operational challenges, and project risks while supporting issue resolution, escalation management, and informed decision-making as needed. Provide strategic involvement in project planning, preconstruction alignment, scheduling, procurement coordination, contract obligations, risk management, safety oversight, project controls, and broader project execution efforts to help ensure project teams are positioned for success. Maintain regular engagement with project teams and job sites to understand project conditions, support alignment, and provide support and guidance when needed to help drive successful delivery and project outcomes.

Healthcare Environment and Regulatory Compliance: Oversee the planning and execution of work in occupied and operating healthcare facilities so that patient care, clinical operations, and life safety systems are protected throughout construction. Ensure project teams develop and follow Infection Control Risk Assessments (ICRA), Interim Life Safety Measures (ILSM), pre-construction risk assessments, and utility shutdown and phasing plans in coordination with facility, infection prevention, and clinical staff. Support compliance with applicable codes, standards, and authorities having jurisdiction, including NFPA 101, FGI Guidelines, state health department and Joint Commission requirements, and CMS conditions of participation. Provide oversight of specialty healthcare systems and spaces, such as medical gas, pressurization and air exchange requirements, imaging and radiation shielding, and sterile or procedural environments, and support commissioning, inspections, licensing, and turnover so spaces open on schedule and ready for patient care.

Client Relationships and Business Development: Build and maintain strong relationships with healthcare clients, health system facilities and planning leaders, trade partners, design teams, and industry peers to support trust, collaboration, and long-term partnership success. Build trusted client relationships by aligning project execution with client priorities, expectations, clinical needs, and success measures while supporting effective communication and resolution of challenges. Facilitate alignment meetings, feedback discussions, and other structured client engagement efforts that strengthen relationships and project outcomes. Represent the organization in healthcare and industry settings, support networking and relationship-building efforts, identify opportunities, and contribute to business development activities, including pursuits, proposals, and interviews, that support future work.

Team Leadership and Development: Lead development of project team members through coaching, mentoring, feedback, performance support, and leadership guidance. Reinforce accountability, role clarity, effective communication, and alignment across project teams while supporting strong team performance and leadership capability. Support performance management processes, address development needs or performance concerns, and help create an environment where team members feel supported in learning, problem-solving, and growth. Help develop future healthcare project leaders by reinforcing sound decision-making, effective project leadership practices, healthcare-specific knowledge and certifications, and organizational expectations.

Requirements

Required Skills/Abilities

Strong understanding of construction processes, project execution workflows, financial management principles, project controls, risk management, and project lifecycle coordination.

Working knowledge of healthcare construction requirements, including infection control (ICRA), interim life safety (ILSM), phasing and shutdowns in occupied facilities, and applicable codes and standards such as NFPA 101 and FGI Guidelines.

Ability to provide strategic leadership and project oversight while maintaining alignment with client expectations, financial objectives, operational standards, clinical needs, and project goals.

Ability to identify project risks, performance concerns, and operational challenges while supporting effective issue resolution and sound decision-making.

Strong leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop, and support project teams and future leaders.

Strong client relationship management, business development, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage effectively with facility, clinical, and executive health system stakeholders.

Ability to contribute to business development efforts through networking, relationship-building, and opportunity development.

Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across projects or complex project environments.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, project technology, or similar software.

Education and Experience

Relevant education in construction management, engineering, business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Significant experience leading construction project execution or similar project-based work with responsibility for strategic project leadership, financial performance, client relationships, and team development.

Demonstrated experience delivering healthcare construction projects, preferably including work in occupied hospitals or other active clinical environments.

Experience supervising and developing project teams.

Experience in the AEC industry.

Healthcare construction credentials such as ASHE Certified Healthcare Constructor (CHC) or ICRA training are preferred.

Work Environment

Office setting: Prolonged periods of working at a desk and on a computer.

Construction Site: Navigating active construction sites, including walking on uneven surfaces, climbing ladders, and being around machinery with moving parts and heavy equipment.

Healthcare Facilities: Working within occupied hospitals and clinical settings, which may require following facility infection control, badging, vaccination or health screening, and conduct requirements, and moving through patient care areas with sensitivity to patients, visitors, and staff.

Protective gear: Wearing personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses, clothing, and a hard hat while on construction sites, and additional protective equipment such as masks, gowns, or shoe covers when required by healthcare faci