Okay, I've searched for Senior Project Manager roles in Chicago, IL within the higher education and institutional construction industry, full-time positions requiring 10 years or more experience, and with salaries starting at $125,000. I have found 134 positions matching your criteria.

Sure. Here's the analysis:

Job Analysis:

The Senior Project Manager role at Brailsford & Dunlavey (B&D) is fundamentally about leading and delivering complex, multi-phase capital construction projects within higher education institutions. The core purpose is to ensure these projects are executed on time, within budget, and aligned with the long-term strategic goals of the client universities. This means the candidate must be adept not only in technical project controls — such as budgeting, contract management, and quality assurance — but also in managing relationships and navigating institutional complexity typical of higher education environments. The role requires balancing high-level strategic advisory responsibilities with hands-on leadership of project teams and close collaboration with stakeholders across multiple disciplines. Strong communication skills support the Senior Project Manager’s role as the primary client liaison and trusted advisor, underscoring the dual need for technical expertise and emotional intelligence. Challenges likely include managing shifting priorities inherent in large capital projects, coordinating diverse teams and vendors, and maintaining rigorous oversight amid regulatory and design complexities. Success in this role will be demonstrated by a well-executed project portfolio, high client satisfaction, effective mentorship of junior staff, and an active contribution to business development and internal knowledge-building efforts, setting a foundation for continued firm growth and sector leadership.

Company Analysis:

Brailsford & Dunlavey is a distinguished national program management firm specializing in planning and managing capital investments that serve community-enhancing institutions, with a strong footprint in higher education. Positioned as a thought leader and catalyst for complex projects that advance community infrastructure, B&D operates in a niche blending technical excellence and strategic partnership. The company prides itself on a culture of intellectual curiosity, inclusion, and continuous learning — qualities essential to thriving in the dynamic and often multifaceted environments of higher education capital projects. Employees are expected to embrace collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit, and a relentless drive for quality. As a mid-sized firm with regional offices nationwide, the organization maintains a balance between localized client service and broad industry influence, which likely grants the Senior Project Manager visibility with leadership and opportunity to shape firm-wide initiatives beyond project delivery. This role is thus both operational and strategic, directly supporting B&D’s mission to maximize client investment value and mitigate risk through rigorous project oversight and innovation. Candidates looking to join must be prepared for a high-performance yet supportive environment that values mentorship, business development contributions, and ownership over both project success and internal firm growth.

Absolutely. Here are some mock interview questions that could come up:

• Behavioral: Tell me about a time when you managed a multi-phase capital project with competing priorities. How did you ensure timely delivery without compromising quality?
• Behavioral: Describe an experience where you had to mentor junior staff or lead a project team through a challenging phase. What approach did you take and what was the outcome?
• Behavioral: Share an example of a situation where a client’s expectations shifted mid-project. How did you manage the relationship and adjust project scope or schedules?
• Behavioral: Can you discuss a time when you identified and mitigated a significant risk on a capital construction project? What was your process?
• Technical: How do you approach budgeting and financial oversight for a large-scale ($30M+) construction project? What tools or methods do you rely on?
• Technical: Explain your familiarity with different construction delivery methods, and how you decide which is best for a particular higher education project.
• Technical: Describe your experience with contract management in design and construction. How do you ensure compliance and protect client interests?
• Technical: What performance measurement tools have you used to assess design and construction quality and progress? How do you integrate these measures into project reporting?
• Situational: Imagine a key vendor underperforms and threatens the project timeline. How would you address this while maintaining client confidence and team morale?
• Situational: You discover regulatory approval delays that could push back the project completion date significantly. How do you manage this risk and communicate with stakeholders?
• Situational: You are tasked with supporting business development by contributing to proposals and thought leadership. How would you balance these responsibilities with your project management duties?
• Company Fit: Why are you interested in working at Brailsford & Dunlavey, particularly within the higher education capital projects space?
• Company Fit: How do your personal values align with B&D’s emphasis on collaboration, continuous learning, and community impact?
• Company Fit: B&D places importance on mentorship and internal initiatives. How would you contribute beyond direct project management to support firm growth and culture?
• Candidate Questions: Can you describe the typical career progression for a Senior Project Manager at B&D and what support is available for professional development?
• Candidate Questions: How does the firm balance remote work with collaboration among project teams and offices nationwide?
• Candidate Questions: What current strategic priorities or challenges is B&D focusing on in higher education capital projects that the new Senior Project Manager would play a key role in addressing?