Facilities and Construction
The University of Texas at Austin
Recruiting for a Senior Project Manager
UT Austin was recruiting a Senior Project Manager during a time of organizational realignment, shifting responsibility for major project delivery from utilities and energy management into Planning, Design and Construction (PDC). This created an opportunity to bring in a new leader who could support the department’s evolving structure while reinforcing the culture the team had worked hard to build: one that is communicative, embracing, and celebratory of successes.
The Challenge
This role required an experienced professional capable of managing highly technical, mission critical capital projects, including power and thermal plant work and large-scale utility infrastructure upgrades. The ideal candidate needed to demonstrate strong communication skills, provide leadership across multidisciplinary teams, and thrive in a department known for meaningful impact and collaboration.
At the same time, UT Austin wanted to ensure a fair, transparent, and competitive process, drawing talent beyond traditional energy or industrial sectors into higher education. With more than 60 project managers on one floor and an entire support system in place, the role offered both the complexity of high-impact capital work and the advantage of joining a mature, well-supported project delivery environment.
UT Austin needed strong results within Another Source’s 30-day recruitment model.
The Solution
Another Source partnered closely with UT Austin to craft and conduct a tailored sourcing strategy that reached leaders in construction, energy, utilities, and large capital project environments. Our approach included:
- Positioning the opportunity to work for a university recognized internationally for academic excellence and research leadership.
- Highlighting the cultural strengths of the PDC team, including its commitment to communication, collaboration, and celebrating wins.
- Showcasing flagship capital projects, including a $70 million boiler plant replacement, to attract senior-level candidates experienced with large technical scope.
- Emphasizing the scale and resources of PDC, including its more than $5 billion major project portfolio and its robust infrastructure to support project managers
To ensure UT Austin had a strong and diverse pool, we identified:
- 103 prospects through our sourcing efforts
- 7 candidates presented to the hiring committee
This pool represented candidates with backgrounds in infrastructure, utilities, energy systems, higher education facilities, and major capital program delivery.
The Result
Within the 30-day engagement, Another Source delivered a competitive and highly qualified slate of candidates. The pool included professionals with:
- Experience managing academic, research, and healthcare facilities.
- Technical knowledge related to power plants, thermal utilities, and large-scale distribution systems.
- Demonstrated ability to manage capital projects with a total project cost exceeding $10 million.
- Strong communication and leadership skills aligned with the culture PDC has intentionally built.
The university gained a set of candidates who were equipped to thrive in a high-performing, supportive environment where project managers collaborate, communicate openly, and see the impact of their work on a world-renowned campus.
This successful engagement reaffirmed UT Austin’s commitment to transparent, equitable recruitment and highlighted Another Source’s ability to identify and attract leaders for mission critical technical roles within top-tier research institutions.