Job Title: Sterile Construction Project ManagerJob Description
The Sterile Construction Project Manager acts as the owner representative responsible for ensuring the general contractor (GC) adheres to its schedule, cost, and bid commitments. This role focuses on verifying that the GC delivers on its promises while adhering to agreed-upon processes. The Project Manager manages four critical control processes: weekly schedule verification, cost and change control, the Request for Information (RFI) process with the engineering team, and field verification of completed work. The position involves a one-year engagement on a sterile fit-out project for a pharmaceutical manufacturing client. Due to the lean nature of the team, candidates must be able to start immediately without a ramp-up period.
Responsibilities
Hold the GC accountable to its contract, bid, and scope of work, flagging any discrepancies between the bid and actual work or billing.
Lead weekly progress meetings with the owner and GC, tracking action items to closure.
Escalate quality, cost, schedule, safety, and turnover risks before they affect commissioning or qualification.
Verify weekly updates to the construction schedule, including progress, forecast dates, and logic changes.
Field verify that activities reported complete are indeed finished.
Challenge GC forecast and completion dates unsupported by manpower, materials, or progress.
Require recovery plans for delayed activities and track them to completion.
Ensure the schedule reflects equipment deliveries, utility tie-ins, commissioning, CQV turnover, and operational readiness milestones.
Enforce a formal change control process where no changes in scope, cost, or schedule proceed without documented review and owner approval.
Evaluate change order requests for entitlement, pricing, and schedule impact before recommending approval.
Maintain a change log and track committed costs against the bid and approved budget.
Validate pay applications against work actually installed, not merely the schedule of values.
Manage the RFI process between the GC and the engineering team for design questions on installed work.
Ensure each RFI is complete, routed to the appropriate engineer, and answered within the agreed response time.
Maintain an RFI log, follow up on overdue responses, and identify RFIs that may lead to cost or schedule changes.
Manage shop drawings, submittals, and procurement tracking alongside RFIs.
Review in-progress work and progress photos against specifications, drawings, and approved shop drawings.
Ensure field documentation supports System Turnover Packages, preventing documentation gaps from delaying qualification.
Coordinate with various stakeholders including the GC, trade contractors, design team, equipment vendors, CQV, Quality, Operations, EHS, IT, automation, and facility personnel.
Essential Skills
Experience in construction management and project management, specifically in GMP regulated construction.
Experience in sterile fill and pharmaceutical manufacturing facility construction.
Knowledge of pharmaceutical process equipment installation.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Familiarity with process and mechanical systems, such as ASME B31.3 and weld documentation.
Understanding of clean utilities and containment, including WFI, clean steam, process gases, CIP, and SIP.
Experience with controls and equipment, such as BMS, EMS, process controls, room pressure monitoring, and commissioning readiness.
Knowledge of regulatory and documentation practices, including cGMP per 21 CFR 210 and 211.
Experience with cleanroom and occupied facility work, including gowning, airlocks, and contamination control.
Familiarity with ISPE Baseline Guides and Good Practice Guides for sterile facility design and operation.
Work Environment
This position is on-site at a large pharmaceutical company, working under the owner's representative for the project. The role offers long-term project stability through 2028, providing an opportunity to work on one of the region's most significant life sciences construction projects. The environment is characterized by a large campus with substantial ongoing capital investment, offering a high visibility role that involves direct interaction with owner leadership and project decision-makers. The location is commutable from Philadelphia, South Jersey, Wilmington, Delaware, and Baltimore markets.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of King of Prussia, PA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $65.00 - $95.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of King of Prussia, PA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 23, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in King of Prussia,PA.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
