Turner & Townsend Heery is seeking a Senior Project Manager for the national Cultural Projects team to serve as a senior advisor and peer partner to our existing cultural planning team. This role is oriented toward providing clients with executive-level strategy, organizational design, financial sustainability, and operational leadership for performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and community programming-focused organizations.
This role places emphasis on executive leadership and organizational team structures, governance, business and operating models, operating and capital financials, operational readiness, fundraising strategy, public‑private relationships, and municipal engagement. The position also plays a critical role in early project planning for new and existing cultural facilities, supporting clients during pre‑design and pre‑development phases including visioning, needs assessment, operational concept development, phasing strategies, and alignment between mission, program, facility, and financial capacity.
The role bridges owner representation, advisory consulting, and project leadership, serving as a strategic partner to clients as they plan, launch, expand, renovate, or transform cultural assets. Working in close coordination with complementary cultural projects Senior Project Manager(s), this position ensures that organizational readiness, governance frameworks, and long‑term sustainability are fully integrated with capital planning and design decision‑making from project inception through implementation.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Organizational Leadership Advisory
- Advise clients on executive leadership structures, governance models, staffing plans, and organizational alignment for cultural institutions
- Facilitate strategic planning processes for arts and cultural organizations, including visioning, mission alignment, and operational readiness
- Serve as a trusted advisor to CEOs, Executive Directors, Board members, and municipal leadership
Financial Strategy & Business Planning
- Lead development of operating pro formas, multi-year business plans, and long-term financial sustainability models
- Analyze earned and contributed revenue streams including ticketing, rentals, sponsorships, philanthropy, and public funding
- Support capital planning, lifecycle cost analysis, and alignment between capital investment and operational capacity
- Advise on fundraising readiness, donor strategy alignment, and integration of development goals with facility and program planning
- SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.
Event Production & Operational Readiness
- Evaluate event production, technical operations, front-of-house, and back-of-house functional requirements
- Support clients in preparing for venue openings, festivals, major events, and operational transitions
- Coordinate closely with programming leadership to ensure operational feasibility and financial alignment
Stakeholder & City Engagement
- Manage relationships with municipalities, public agencies, boards, funders, and community partners
- Lead or support public engagement processes, workshops, and governance discussions
- Represent Turner & Townsend Heery and clients in public forums, executive briefings, and stakeholder meetings
Project Management & Delivery
- Provide senior project leadership across cultural planning, operational studies, and advisory engagements
- Coordinate across internal and external teams including specialty disciplines of economic impact, cost estimation, design, and technical consultants as needed
- Manage project scope, schedules, budgets, and quality control in alignment with Turner & Townsend standards
- Ensure timely, accurate, and high-quality deliverables and client communications
Reporting & Communication
- Lead or patriciate in development of executive-level reports, decision memoranda, and board-ready presentations
- Translate complex financial and operational analysis into clear, actionable insights
- Synthesize multidisciplinary inputs into cohesive strategic recommendations
Industry Leadership & Business Development
- Stay informed on national trends in performing arts operations, governance, and cultural facility management
- Represent the firm through conference participation, speaking engagements, and professional organizations
- Support proposal development, client interviews, and strategic pursuits within the cultural sector