Project manager’s advice to young women in construction: ‘Just do it’

This post is one particular in a sequence of discussions with ladies leaders in the development field. Click on below for the most new dialogue.

As a project supervisor at Portland, Oregon-primarily based R&H Design, 29-year-previous Sarah Jimenez has labored on multiple task teams and now is running a new $19 million ground-up habit remedy heart in Southeast Portland.

Jimenez, who holds a development administration degree from California Polytechnic State University, began functioning as a project manager at R&H in 2018.

Below, Construction Dive talks with Jimenez about her current position and why she selected design as a vocation.

Development DIVE: What do you do in your existing career?

SARAH JIMENEZ: I’m a challenge manager. In this function, I am a person of the job leads and perform hand in hand with our superintendent to take care of and execute the undertaking. I prioritize romantic relationship building with subcontractors and our shopper, and make sure we have product or service on site so our superintendent is equipped to put get the job done in location. 

We’re presently functioning on a new floor-up facility for De Paul Therapy Heart, a drug and alcohol remedy middle scheduled to be done late this summer season.

What led you to opt for building for your career?

I walked into a college or university seminar that was speaking about occupations in construction, and at the time, did not know you could key in construction. I loved the notion of getting a aspect of a group, making a thing large and tangible. I preferred to have a aspect in a thing that I could point to many years from now and say “I did that.” I’m happy to have accomplished above 12 tasks in the previous 8 yrs.

What undertaking have you most enjoyed doing the job on and why?

I’ve seriously loved my recent undertaking at the procedure heart, since of the team I am doing the job with. Our task crew is one that I have worked with for practically 3 decades, and we have long gone via a great deal with each other this 12 months the two on a individual and specialist level. 

I know my encounter would have been unbelievably distinct if I failed to have this group. Also, this is the 1st challenge where every single direct is female, such as me, the customer consultant, the architect and the inside designer. Curiously as effectively, we all are named Sarah so we phone ourselves “the 4 Sarahs.”

What assistance would you give to young girls looking at design as a career?

Just do it, and if an individual ever tells you that you are unable to do a thing, it could be time to look at working someplace else. If you truly feel you are all set, and are ready, really don’t restrict you.