Compensation: DOE
Sierra Detention Systems – Phoenix, AZ (travel required)
Sierra Detention Systems, a long-standing leader in detention and corrections construction, is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead complex jail, prison, and secure facility projects from award through closeout.
This is a senior role for a builder who understands both the construction world and the unique demands of secure environments, including security doors and hardware, detention equipment, and integrated security electronics.
Role overview
The Senior Project Manager will own the full life cycle of multiple detention projects, typically serving as a key specialty-trade leader in coordination with general contractors, public owners, architects, engineers, detention consultants, and systems integrators.
The role requires strong command of schedule, budget, procurement, coordination, field execution, testing, turnover, and closeout in secure and highly regulated facilities.
Core responsibilities
- Lead projects from preconstruction through closeout, including scope review, buyout support, submittals, fabrication releases, installation, punch, warranty, and turnover.
- Coordinate closely with general contractors, architects, engineers, detention/security consultants, and owners' representatives in OAC and project coordination meetings.
- Manage budgets, cost forecasting, progress billings, change orders, RFIs, and overall commercial control of assigned projects.
- Direct and support field superintendents, foremen, installers, and specialty subcontractors while maintaining look-ahead planning and manpower alignment.
- Ensure compliance with project safety requirements, facility security rules, and all applicable standards for secure environments.
Detention and electronics responsibilities
Preconstruction and planning
- Review detention and security packages in the contract documents, including door and hardware schedules, security glazing, cell fronts, detention furniture, camera layouts, intercoms, card readers, PLC and I/O schedules, and network diagrams.
- Lead scope clarification with the GC and design team so detention equipment and security electronics are fully defined for inclusions, exclusions, alternates, and allowances.
- Participate in constructability reviews focused on chase space, conduit routing, device locations, equipment room layouts, and penetrations through secure and rated assemblies.
- Build budgets and cash-flow projections for detention equipment and security electronics, especially for long-lead items such as detention doors, frames, specialty locks, PLC hardware, control panels, and racks.
Procurement, submittals, and coordination
- Develop and manage a detailed submittal log covering detention doors and frames, hardware, security glazing, detention furniture, pass-throughs, accessories, cameras, intercoms, readers, door switches, locks, power supplies, panels, PLCs, and racks.
- Coordinate shop drawings and submittals from multiple vendors into a coherent, clash-checked package for approval and release.
- Work with engineering and BIM/coordination teams to integrate conduit, cable tray, box locations, and equipment room layouts into the overall project plan.
- Drive timely approvals and fabrication releases to protect critical-path dates and project turnover milestones.
Field execution – detention equipment
- Build and maintain a detention-specific schedule tying frame setting, grouting, hardware installation, security glazing, fit-out, adjustments, inspection, and punch to the larger project schedule.
- Coordinate with the GC and related trades to ensure proper timing for rough openings, embeds, blocking, backing, anchors, welds, and grout in accordance with detention specifications.
- Direct field crews and specialty subs in the installation of detention doors, frames, hinges, locks, closers, coordinators, and related security hardware while maintaining strict tolerances and secure operation.
- Manage QA/QC inspections for detention openings, including functionality, fire-rating requirements, security performance, and integration with door position switches and locking devices.
Field execution – security electronics
- Coordinate rough-in with electrical and low-voltage trades for security devices, including conduit sizes, home-runs, junction boxes, and IDF/MDF requirements.
- Oversee installation of cameras, intercoms, card readers, door position switches, electric locks, duress devices, equipment racks, patch panels, network gear, and power supplies in control rooms and telecom spaces.
- Work with integrators and programmers on sequences of operation for doors, interlocks, sallyports, zones, fire alarm interfaces, fail-safe/fail-secure behavior, PLCs, HMI/GUI screens, and alarm points.
- Plan and manage commissioning and acceptance testing, including device-by-device functional testing, scenario testing for power loss and lockdown conditions, owner training, and turnover documentation.
Security and safety compliance
- Ensure all Sierra personnel and subcontractors comply with facility rules involving badging, escorting, tool control, contraband restrictions, and work in occupied or secure conditions.
- Coordinate phasing and access so construction activities do not compromise facility operations, security, or life-safety obligations.
Required experience
- 7–10+ years of construction project management experience, including meaningful work on detention, corrections, justice, or other secure and highly regulated facilities.
- Demonstrated responsibility for projects that included both detention equipment and security electronics scopes.
- Proven success managing multi-million-dollar projects from preconstruction through closeout with direct responsibility for schedule, budget, and subcontractor coordination.
Technical qualifications
- Strong ability to read and coordinate door and hardware schedules, security device layouts, riser diagrams, network diagrams, I/O schedules, control room layouts, rack elevations, and panel schedules.
- Practical understanding of how detention hardware and security electronics interact, including locks, door position switches, interlocks, emergency release functions, and control logic.
- Working knowledge of low-voltage coordination concepts such as power versus signal, pathway separation, grounding, and field device rough-in.
- Proficiency with construction management and collaboration tools such as Procore, Bluebeam, PlanGrid, MS Project or Primavera P6, along with Microsoft 365.
Leadership and coordination
- Ability to build and manage detailed, logic-based schedules that coordinate frame setting, device rough-in, trim, testing, training, and turnover.
- Strong RFI, submittal, and change-management discipline, with the judgment to identify issues early and resolve them professionally.
- Demonstrated success coordinating with GC superintendents and PMs, architects, engineers, security consultants, integrators, and facility staff.
- Comfortable leading and holding accountable detention hardware installers, security electronics technicians, integrators, and other specialty subcontractors.
Education and preferred credentials
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
- PM credentials such as PMP or CCM, plus OSHA safety training, are beneficial.
- NICET, BICSI, manufacturer training, or other security/low-voltage credentials are considered a plus.
