Sr. Program Director

Job Description

Job Description

Are you seeking purpose, challenge, and talented colleagues? With a diverse portfolio of residential, energy, commercial, light industrial and public programs, CESO has the opportunity for you to develop your career. We develop leaders and empower our associates to use their skills and talents to positively impact the world through service – to our coworkers, clients, and communities. We subscribe to the mission of “empowering our people to impact communities by bringing clients’ visions to life,” so if this speaks to you, let’s connect!

At CESO, a Senior (Sr) Program Director is responsible for client management of large portfolios —which may include client programs, a collection of related projects, or regional operational areas. The Sr Program Director is responsible for the growth of client accounts. They will develop and execute strategies to grow client accounts by fulfilling other client needs and bringing in other services not yet performed for the client. They will coordinate client activities, monitor & forecast overall portfolio performance, and ensure the delivery of client projects. They will train and develop team members and identify those who can grow into more advanced roles. Responsible for mentoring personnel, including Program Directors and project management team members.

Primary Responsibilities

• Be accountable for the team’s quality of work, productivity, and actions.
• Assist team members by providing technical direction.
• Provides senior-level leadership for highly complex, high-impact portfolios across multiple clients, markets, or regions.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to senior client executives; builds and sustains long-term executive-level relationships.
• Leads high-stakes pursuit strategies, portfolio negotiations, and major contract execution for enterprise-level programs.
• Oversees multiple Program Directors and senior project teams, ensuring consistent and high-quality project delivery.
• Partners with firm leadership to drive innovation, best practices, and continuous improvement in client and portfolio management.
• Mentors and develops high-potential leaders; contributes to succession planning and organizational leadership capability.
• Represents the firm at industry events, contributes to thought leadership efforts, and enhances firm visibility and reputation.
• Supervising direct reports is a key responsibility of this job.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Engineering, Surveying or related field, with a minimum of 20 years of experience directly managing projects in a design and construction related field is preferred;
• Or 25 years related experience and/or training is required.
• Proven track record in leading a team and working with multiple projects.
• Professional Licensure (RA, PE, PS, RLA) is preferred.
• PMP certification is preferred.
• Computer skills necessary to enter daily timesheet data and use Microsoft Outlook for email correspondence.
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Suite products, Deltek, and Newforma.
• Ability to travel

Benefits and Perks

• Flexible and Hybrid Work Schedule
• Paid Time Off – Credited to You 100% Upfront
• 401K with a Company Match
• Rewards and Recognition Program
• Training and Development to Foster Professional Growth
• Paid Holidays
• Medical / Dental / Vision Coverage
• Welcome Box
• Casual Dress Code
• Reimbursement for Professional Licenses
• Paid Time Off for Community Team Service Events
• Voluntary or Supplemental Short-Term / Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Company Paid Bonding and Recovery
• Employee Events such as Lunches and Outings to Foster a Positive Work Environment

- Minimum: $120,188

- Maximum: $266,214

- Description:

- CESO Compensation Transparency:

The pay band shown reflects the minimum and maximum base salary for this position at CESO. Actual pay is

determined by several factors, including location, experience, education, skills, and internal equity. Our pay

structures are benchmarked against industry and market data to stay competitive. Each offer is based on a full review

of a candidate’s background, qualifications, and fit for the role.

Below are the typical new hire pay ranges for this position based on location:

• Akron, OH: $120,188 - $163,386

• Cincinnati, OH: $126,865 - $172,463

• Cleveland, OH: $126,865 - $172,463

• Columbus, OH: $126,865 - $172,463

• Dayton, OH: $126,865 - $172,463

• Pittsburg, PA: $133,542 - $181,540

CESO is a principle-centered organization that aligns with strong service values, integrity, and authenticity. We develop and inspire through training and coaching on the job. At CESO, we believe that work should be more rewarding than just a paycheck. In addition to a comprehensive benefit and compensation program, we create memories and friendships through our employee and service events.

CESO, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. This organization participates in E-Verify and is a drug-free workplace. Criminal background checks and drug/alcohol checks are required.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.