Director, Project Management - HVAC

Position Summary

The Director of Project Management leads capital reinvestment work tied to building infrastructure and related projects. This person ensures that company standards, internal policies, and all applicable regulations are followed, while also coaching and developing team members.

The project management group works closely with partners across the business to guide projects from early concept through completion. That includes defining the vision and scope, preparing budgets and underwriting materials, securing approvals, managing schedules, and overseeing the finished outcome.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and support a team of one to four direct reports.
• Work with internal partners to define project priorities and requirements, then lead preparation of project documentation and coordinate outside design teams from schematic design through construction documents.
• Create detailed scopes of work, project schedules, and design/specification packages.
• Develop project budgets and capital requests, revise them as needed, and maintain ownership of the budget while partnering with finance for regular reporting.
• Coordinate with consultants and internal team members to build presentation materials for leadership, and deliver updates to senior executives.
• Handle bid package completion, assist with bidder evaluation, answer RFIs, review submitted bids, and help select bidders and pricing.
• Partner with Construction Management to support execution, including review of General Contractor bids and development of value engineering options when needed.
• Coordinate closely with Recurring CapEx, Facilities, Design, and Maintenance teams to reduce disruption to residents and Community Management, while also supporting software updates and financial reporting.
• Ensure project delivery, operating approach, strategy, and spending remain aligned with company objectives and long-term direction.

Additional Skills

The role requires the ability to interpret plans, specifications, reports, building codes, and construction systems/assemblies. Strong precision, the capacity to juggle several projects at once, and a solid grasp of conceptual estimating and budgeting are important. Familiarity with current construction pricing in Northern and Southern California is considered an advantage.

Preferred Education

A bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering is preferred. A master’s degree in Engineering or Architecture is an added advantage.

Preferred Experience

Candidates should bring 10+ years of mechanical engineering design and/or project management experience, along with 5 years of leadership experience.

Additional Requirements

An active Project Engineer license in California is required. ASHRAE HVAC Designer certification is a plus.

A valid California driver’s license is required, along with continuous vehicle liability insurance as mandated by state law. This position involves regular and frequent vehicle use as an essential part of the job, in line with the company’s MVR policy.

Travel to apartment communities in San Diego and Northern California is required.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $147,200 to $204,300 annually. Placement within the range may depend on relevant experience, time in role, internal salary comparisons, prior performance, business segment, and location.

Full-time employees are eligible for competitive benefits, including paid time off, 401(k) matching, and health coverage.

About the Company

Irvine Company Apartment Communities, part of Irvine Company, manages more than 125 resort-style apartment communities across desirable coastal California locations including San Diego, Orange County, West Los Angeles, and Silicon Valley.

The organization emphasizes strong amenities, attractive surroundings, and a customer-service-focused living experience. It also values a collaborative workplace with experienced professionals and opportunities for growth.

The company is committed to equal employment opportunity in hiring, promotion, compensation, training, transfer, and all other employment practices, without regard to protected characteristics under federal, state, and local law. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.