Senior Project Manager

Senior Project Manager – Heavy Civil Construction

Location: Various Project Sites
Job Type: Full-Time
Compensation: $175,000–$195,000+ (DOE) + Excellent Benefits & Bonus Program

About Waters Construction

Waters Construction is seeking a Senior Project Manager to provide executive-level leadership across complex heavy civil infrastructure projects. This role is ideal for a strategic, operationally experienced professional who excels in financial management, client relations, project controls, and leadership development while partnering with executive leadership to drive operational excellence and long-term growth.

Position Summary

The Senior Project Manager oversees the successful delivery of large, complex, and strategically significant projects. This position requires advanced operational judgment, commercial management capability, and executive presence, providing leadership across project execution, financial management, client relationships, and workforce development.

Typical Project Size

• Multiple complex projects ranging from $25 million to $100 million+
• Large transportation, bridge, utility, rail, transit, marine, and infrastructure projects
• Multi-phase, accelerated, politically sensitive, or design-build projects

Key Responsibilities

Executive-Level Project Leadership

• Lead multiple complex infrastructure projects
• Maintain financial, contractual, and operational control of assigned projects
• Develop execution strategies for complex projects and pursuits
• Coordinate operations, estimating, project controls, and executive leadership
• Oversee project staffing, manpower planning, and resource allocation
• Support operational decision-making during critical project events
• Assist operations teams during superintendent transitions or disruptions
• Lead major project startup, recovery planning, and controls implementation
• Support strategic planning and operational growth initiatives

Financial & Commercial Leadership

• Oversee large project financial performance and forecasting
• Lead subcontractor buyout and procurement strategy
• Ensure DBE/SBE compliance and participation
• Lead major change order negotiations and claims strategy
• Resolve contractual disputes independently
• Understand complex contract structures and risk allocation
• Support pursuit strategy and constructability reviews
• Lead cost recovery and risk mitigation efforts
• Assist executive leadership in major client negotiations
• Support backlog planning and operational forecasting

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Maintain executive-level owner and stakeholder relationships
• Lead major owner meetings and negotiations
• Manage politically sensitive and high-profile client relationships
• Coordinate with agencies, consultants, utilities, and public stakeholders
• Represent Waters professionally in industry and client settings
• Maintain strong relationships with subcontractors and suppliers

Operations & Technical Leadership

• Oversee advanced heavy civil means and methods
• Manage scheduling strategy and recovery planning
• Support constructability reviews and value engineering
• Oversee project controls and production analytics
• Manage quality control and safety implementation
• Lead complex utility, MOT, rail, or shutdown coordination efforts
• Understand design-build delivery and alternative procurement methods
• Support project staffing and leadership development

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Mentor project managers, engineers, and operational leaders
• Develop future leaders within the organization
• Establish accountability and performance standards
• Promote collaboration between office and field operations
• Support recruiting, retention, and leadership development initiatives
• Reinforce company culture and values
• Lead conflict resolution and organizational problem-solving
• Promote continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Demonstrate executive-level professionalism

Technology & Modern Construction Systems

• Utilize advanced project management and project controls systems
• Understand digital construction workflows and operational technology
• Support digital project controls, GPS/machine control integration, reality capture, production analytics, and field management systems
• Promote operational standardization and efficiency
• Use data-driven decision-making to improve project outcomes

Qualifications

Experience

• 10+ years of heavy civil construction experience
• 8+ years of project management leadership experience
• Proven success managing large infrastructure projects
• Experience with complex DOT, bridge, utility, rail, or transit projects

Technical Skills

• Advanced project controls knowledge
• Advanced scheduling and sequencing
• Financial forecasting and cost management
• Contract administration and claims management
• Change order strategy and negotiation
• Operational planning and resource management
• Leadership and organizational management
• Advanced risk management awareness

Preferred Qualifications

• Major DOT infrastructure experience
• Rail/transit construction experience
• Design-build project experience
• Primavera and HCSS proficiency
• Utility coordination expertise
• OSHA 30 or advanced safety certification
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field

Leadership Expectations

• Executive-level communication skills
• Strong mentorship capability
• Strategic mindset
• High emotional intelligence
• Owner-facing professionalism
• Ability to lead complex teams and projects
• Accountability and operational discipline
• Commitment to company culture and workforce development

Compensation

Our investment is in you. At Waters we provide one of the most comprehensive and competitive packages in the industry.

• Salary Range: $175,000–$195,000+ (DOE)
• Insurance: Premium Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage (100% paid for the individual, 50% for family members)
• Bonus Program: Based on individual, company, and division performance
• 401k and Profit Sharing Plan: Safe harbor 401K profit sharing contribution. One-year vesting period for the profit sharing contribution.