Owner’s Project Manager (OPM)
SOCOTEC provides end-to-end Owner’s Project Management services that help clients reduce risk, control cost, and deliver successful construction and building projects across the US.
Comprehensive OPM Support for Your Construction Projects
As an owner’s project manager (OPM), SOCOTEC represents your interests—protecting your schedule, budget, and long-term vision from day one. Our teams work across residential, commercial, municipal, industrial, and large-scale infrastructure projects throughout the United States, including Massachusetts, Florida, New York, California, Arizona, Texas, and beyond.
Owners, developers, municipalities, and property managers rely on SOCOTEC when facing limited internal resources, tight timelines, complex permitting, or high-risk project conditions. With a platform that integrates construction consulting, engineering, inspection, architecture, and financial expertise, we offer a depth of support unmatched by traditional OPM firms.
Why it matters: construction and building projects demand hundreds of decisions that directly impact cost, quality, and long-term performance. An experienced owner’s project management firm such as SOCOTEC ensures nothing falls through the cracks—reducing uncertainty, improving coordination, and driving accountability across the project lifecycle.
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Owner’s Project Management Responsibilities
Pre-Construction Services
SOCOTEC’s team of Owner's Representatives know what it takes for a project to kick-off successfully. Proper preparation is essential in ensuring a project is properly designed, planned, scheduled and that our client’s best interests financially and otherwise are protected.
Key capabilities include:
- Project Planning & Phasing
- Schedule Preparation & Review
- Contract Drafting & Negotiation
- Due Diligence Investigations
- Bid Tabulation/Proposal Evaluation/RFI’s
- Logistics & Procurement
- Value Engineering
- Design Review & Optimization
- Risk Assessment
- Cost Auditing Procedures
- Quantity Takeoff & Estimation
- Financial Planning & Budget Review
- Labor & Equipment Rate Review
- Permits Facilitation
- Reasonableness of Scope
Our experts identify design gaps, cost risks, and constructability concerns early—reducing rework, improving bidding accuracy, and strengthening decision-making before construction begins.
Project Management & Execution
Change is inevitable, and our Owner’s Project Management Team is experienced in managing project timelines, managing change requests, budget monitoring, and avoiding unforeseen delays.
Our services include:
- Project Leadership & Representation
- Development of Project Records
- Staff Training & Staffing Analysis
- Construction Inspections
- Contract Administration & Audit
- Schedule Management
- Cost Control
- Payment Review & Approval
- Progress Monitoring & Reporting
- Quality Control
- Testing & Commissioning
- Payment Applications Review
- Change Order Management
- Periodic Briefings & Status Reporting
- Troubled Project Turnaround
We manage day-to-day challenges, align project participants, and address issues before they escalate. With expertise across engineering, architecture, construction, and finance, our team brings practical solutions informed by decades of hands-on experience in the field.
Project Close-Out
As a project comes to a close, our OPM team is dedicated to ensuring the project is closed out as contractually expected. A punch list is created of tasks not completed during the project to be followed up. In certain circumstances, if a dispute or contractual disagreement is present, SOCOTEC can also provide Claims Mitigation services.
Our close-out services include:
- Change Order Negotiation & Resolution
- Final Audit Reporting
- Quality Assessment & Assurance
- Final Payment Tracking & Authorization
- Lien Releases
- Insurance Premium Reconciliation
- Material & Equipment Mobilization
- Closing Permits
- Punchlist Management
- Claims Mitigation
- Work Completion Verification
- Final Correspondence & Communication
The result: a complete, compliant, and contractually sound close-out process—without surprises.
Understanding the Owner's Project Manager
What is an Owner’s Representative?
A Owner's Representative, or Owner's Project Manager (OPM), is a professional who acts as the owner’s advocate throughout the construction or renovation process. In many cases, the terms “owner’s project manager” and “owner’s representative” are used interchangeably.
What does an Owner’s Project Manager do?
An OPM oversees and manages the planning, design, and construction phases of the project on behalf of the owner. The OPM ensures that the project is completed on time, within budget, and according to the specified quality standards.
What is the difference between a Project Manager vs. Owner’s Rep?
A project manager may work for the contractor or design team, while an Owner’s Representative works solely for the owner—providing independent oversight and protecting the owner’s interests.
How to choose the best OPM company?
Choose an OPM firm with proven experience, diverse technical expertise, and strong communication skills to coordinate multiple stakeholders. A trusted consultant like SOCOTEC brings a holistic, owner-focused approach, combining engineering, architecture, inspection, and construction management to guide decisions and reduce project risk.
At what stage should an OPM be brought into a project?
The earlier, the better. Engaging an Owner's Project Manager during the planning and pre-construction phase provides the greatest value. Early involvement allows for design optimization, accurate budgeting, proper contract structuring, and risk mitigation—preventing problems rather than simply reacting to them.
What types of projects benefit most from OPM firms?
Projects with significant budgets, tight timelines, complex technical requirements, or limited internal construction expertise benefit most. This includes ground-up building projects, complex renovations or adaptive reuse, interior fit-outs and tenant improvements, infrastructure upgrades, capital improvement programs, industrial plants and facilities, and any project where the owner needs expert guidance and protection.
What is the Owner’s role in project risk management?
The owner plays a critical role in project risk management by setting clear project goals, establishing the budget and schedule parameters, and making timely decisions that keep the project moving forward. Owners are responsible for approving major design and construction choices, allocating adequate resources, and ensuring that risk mitigation strategies are implemented. With an Owner’s Project Manager, owners gain expert guidance to identify risks early, evaluate options, and make informed decisions that protect project outcomes.
Our Commitment to Your Project
At SOCOTEC, our mission is simple: optimize the integrity and sustainability of your assets by delivering trusted expertise from the ground up. Our owner’s project management services provide clarity, confidence, and control at every step—ensuring your project is built right, built smart, and built to last.
Multidisciplinary Technical Expertise
SOCOTEC's team comprises construction managers, architects, engineers, designers, and financial experts—providing a holistic understanding of every technical component of a project. This diverse expertise allows for deeper insights that traditional OPM firms cannot match.
Proactive Risk Management
We identify potential issues early, evaluate options, and implement solutions that protect project timelines, budgets, and quality. Our multi-layered approach minimizes issues across all project phases and catches problems others might miss.
Owner Advocacy with Proven Results
SOCOTEC acts exclusively as the owner's advocate with a fiduciary duty to protect client interests. The firm has delivered hundreds of high-performance projects on schedule and under budget across diverse sectors and geographies.
Tailored, End-to-End Support
From pre-construction planning through project execution and close-out, we customize services to each client’s needs, enabling smooth and successful project delivery.
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