Job Title: Application Portfolio Manager

About Us

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations. With $5.8 billion in revenue for 2023, Clayco specializes in the "art and science of building," providing fast track, efficient solutions for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential related building projects.

The Role We Want You For

The Application Portfolio Manager is responsible for overseeing the lifecycle management of software applications used within the organization, ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and alignment with the company’s strategic goals and business processes.

This role requires technical expertise, strong leadership skills, and a deep understanding of construction industry-specific software and business processes. Reporting to the Director of Enterprise Applications, the Application Portfolio Manager collaborates closely with business and technical teams to deliver robust solutions tailored to the unique demands of the construction industry.

The Specifics of the Role

1. Application Strategy and Management

• Adhere to the application management strategy as described in the strategic plan and align with the company's goals.
• Oversee Life Cycle Management of the applications by Application Portfolio Owners
• Evaluate scoring of Applications - business values vs technical fit - drive change where needed
• Maintain an up-to-date roadmap for application enhancements and upgrades.

2. Team Leadership

• Manage a team of Application Portfolio Owners, Application Support Engineers and Software Engineers
• Oversee the identification of inefficiencies, redundancies and efforts to minimize technical debt and optimize digital footprint
• Oversee the adherence to predefined (IT internal) processes that enable solutioning
• Foster a collaborative and innovative environment that encourages skill development.
• Provide training and mentorship to team members on application best practices.
• Make strategic goals part of direct report's performance goals and review on a regular cadence (quarterly).

3. Performance and Maintenance

• Monitor application performance and reliability, ensuring minimal downtime and optimal user experience.
• Manage application maintenance, updates, and patching in collaboration with vendors.
• Establish and oversee SLAs for application support and troubleshooting.

4. Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including operations, finance, and project management teams.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to understand business needs and ensure alignment with application solutions.
• Serve as the primary liaison between technical teams and business units, ensuring effective communication and prioritization of requirements.

5. Security and Compliance

• Ensure applications meet security standards and comply with regulatory requirements.
• Develop and enforce application governance policies and procedures.
• Work closely with the cybersecurity team to address vulnerabilities.

6. Budgeting and Reporting

• Prepare and manage the application management budget, ensuring cost efficiency.
• Provide regular reports on application performance, usage, and ROI.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings through optimization and automation.

7. Continuous Improvement

• Lead initiatives to identify and implement process improvements and emerging technologies.
• Stay informed on industry trends, especially those impacting construction and project management software.
• Stay current with company initiatives and ever-changing demands/opportunities
  

Requirements

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree or relevant certifications (e.g., ITIL, PMP, or Agile) is a plus.

Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in application management, IT leadership, or a similar role.
• Experience in the construction or engineering industry is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of managing enterprise-level applications like ERP, CRM, and construction project management software.

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency in managing applications like PMWeb / Project Management, P6 / Scheduling, JDE / Financials, MS Dynamics / CRM
• Familiarity with cloud platforms, APIs, and system integration.
• Knowledge of data analytics tools and methodologies.

Soft Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Leadership and team-building capabilities.
  

Some Things You Should Know

• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
• The pace is fast!

Why Clayco?

• 2024 Best Places to Work – Crain’s Chicago Business, St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
• 2024 ENR Midwest – Midwest Contractor (#1).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
• 2024 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 5).

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.