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

This short article is one in a series of discussions with women of all ages leaders in the construction business. Click on here for the most current discussion.

As a challenge supervisor at Portland, Oregon-dependent R&H Design, 29-calendar year-outdated Sarah Jimenez has worked on several project groups and now is jogging a new $19 million ground-up addiction cure center in Southeast Portland.

Jimenez, who retains a design administration diploma from California Polytechnic Point out College, began performing as a undertaking supervisor at R&H in 2018.

Right here, Design Dive talks with Jimenez about her present role and why she chose design as a career.

Development DIVE: What do you do in your present task?

SARAH JIMENEZ: I am a venture supervisor. In this function, I am one of the job sales opportunities and perform hand in hand with our superintendent to handle and execute the job. I prioritize relationship making with subcontractors and our customer, and guarantee we have products on web site so our superintendent is able to put do the job in place. 

We are now operating on a new floor-up facility for De Paul Treatment Middle, a drug and alcohol treatment method center scheduled to be accomplished late this summer season.

What led you to decide on construction for your occupation?

I walked into a school seminar that was discussing careers in building, and at the time, didn’t know you could major in construction. I loved the plan of becoming a portion of a crew, creating a thing significant and tangible. I desired to have a element in some thing that I could position to a long time from now and say “I did that.” I’m proud to have done over 12 assignments in the very last eight several years.

What job have you most enjoyed performing on and why?

I have truly liked my latest project at the cure heart, for the reason that of the workforce I am performing with. Our task workforce is one particular that I have worked with for pretty much three several years, and we have gone by means of a ton alongside one another this 12 months both equally on a particular and expert stage. 

I know my practical experience would have been amazingly distinctive if I did not have this team. In addition, this is the very first project where by just about every guide is female, including me, the customer agent, the architect and the inside designer. Curiously as nicely, we all are named Sarah so we connect with ourselves “the 4 Sarahs.”

What advice would you give to young gals thinking of development as a job?

Just do it, and if an individual ever tells you that you are not able to do one thing, it could be time to think about doing work someplace else. If you feel you are completely ready, and are prepared, never limit yourself.