Capital Projects Manager

Community Food Works exists to make local food accessible for everyone. We're building a place where as many people as possible eat, enjoy, and ask for more of the food that's good for them and good for our community. We produce and distribute delicious, affordable local food that reaches community members in schools and food pantries - places typically left out of the local food picture. We're funded by the NoVo Foundation and rooted in Kingston, NY.

Reporting to the Capital Projects Portfolio Manager, the Capital Project Manager leads owner-side project development, design review, preconstruction, and execution for food-processing, manufacturing, warehousing, and related facilities. The role works closely with Operations, architects, engineers, process-equipment vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders.

The ideal candidate has a background in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field, with experience in food and beverage, industrial manufacturing, cold chain distribution, or similarly complex environments. Experience integrating building design and construction with process equipment, utilities, production requirements, and startup is particularly valuable. The successful candidate will be comfortable reviewing designs and proposals, managing construction in the field, and communicating project risks and recommendations clearly.

Project Development & Preconstruction

• Develop project scopes, technical requirements, budgets, schedules, risks, and decision milestones with internal stakeholders
• Lead feasibility studies, existing-conditions assessments, site investigations, and early project planning
• Coordinate permitting strategy, regulatory reviews, utilities, long-lead equipment, and construction sequencing
• Evaluate delivery strategies and develop construction-ready scopes, procurement packages, and project execution plans

Design Management

• Manage architects, engineers, process designers, and consultants from programming through construction documents
• Lead multidisciplinary design reviews for completeness, coordination, constructability, cost, operability, maintainability, and food safety
• Review drawings for coordination between building systems and utilities with manufacturing processes, equipment layouts, sanitation, and operating requirements
• Document review comments, design decisions, open issues, and approvals; drive timely resolution across stakeholders

Estimating, Procurement, & Project Controls

• Prepare RFQs/RFPs, manage bidder questions and evaluations, compare proposals, and recommend selections
• Review estimates, bids, assumptions, exclusions, allowances, and scope gaps; lead value engineering without compromising project needs
• Maintain preconstruction budgets, forecasts, milestone schedules, contingency plans, and concise risk/status reporting

Construction Management, Commissioning, Startup, and Handover

• Monitor construction progress, schedule, quality, cost, safety, and compliance with project requirements, including conducting regular site visits
• Review RFIs, submittals, change orders, payment applications, schedules, and other construction documentation, within Delegation of Authority limits
• Manage project changes and reporting across scope, budget, schedule, and other relevant KPIs
• Coordinate construction with ongoing operations as well as owner-furnished equipment, utility connections, and activities outside the contractor's scope
• Manage commissioning, punch list, turnover, startup, closeout, and handover

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field and 5+ years of relevant experience
• Experience managing multiple parallel projects across multiple phases, ideally including project development, design, preconstruction, construction, commissioning, and startup
• Strong understanding of architectural and engineering drawings, specifications, estimates, schedules, and contracting structures
• Experience leading design teams, preconstruction coordination, consultant procurement, and project cost/schedule reviews
• Clear communication, sound judgment, and ability to manage multiple projects and cross-functional stakeholders
• Experience with tools such as Procore, Bluebeam, Smartsheet, Microsoft Project, AutoCAD, Revit, or similar platforms
• Alignment with the mission, values, and guiding principles of Community Food Works and NoVo
• Experience in food and beverage, CPG, industrial manufacturing, regulated facilities, or warehousing preferred; familiarity with hygienic design, GMP, and process utilities is valued but not required
• Professional licensure or certification such as RA, PE, CCM, or PMP is valued but not required

This hybrid role will allow for remote work, balanced with regular field presence throughout planning, design, construction, commissioning, and startup in Kingston, NY.

The compensation available for the role considers a variety of factors including individual skill set, previous and applicable experience, professional qualifications, and organizational needs. Estimated annual salary range: $110k-$130k, commensurate with relative experience, with competitive benefits.

Please send your resume, cover letter, and favorite vegetable to the Capital Projects Portfolio Manager, Christina Salchow: csalchow@communityfoodworks.org with “Application for Capital Project Manager” as the subject line.

Community Food Works is committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.