The Director of Operations provides strategic leadership and oversight for all construction operations, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence, portfolio profitability, forecasting accuracy, client satisfaction, workforce development, and continuous improvement across all projects.
This role partners closely with executive leadership, preconstruction, project management, field operations, safety, and accounting teams to ensure the successful execution of the company's strategic and financial objectives. The position serves as a key member of the leadership team and is accountable for operational performance, resource planning, and the development of future construction leaders.
Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesStrategic & Operational Leadership- Lead and oversee all operational activities including project management, field operations, scheduling, resource planning, and project controls.
- Develop and implement operational strategies that support the company's growth, profitability, and long-term business objectives.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive accountability and operational excellence.
- Foster a culture of safety, quality, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Identify operational risks and implement corrective actions to improve project outcomes and organizational performance.
Financial Performance & Portfolio Management- Accountable for overall portfolio gross margin performance and achievement of annual profitability targets.
- Conduct regular portfolio and project reviews to evaluate budget performance, financial health, risk exposure, and forecast accuracy.
- Lead monthly Work-in-Progress (WIP) reviews and ensure project forecasts accurately reflect anticipated financial outcomes.
- Partner with Project Managers and Accounting to improve forecasting reliability and financial predictability.
- Ensure effective management of project costs, contingency planning, cash flow, and change order recovery.
Project Execution & Delivery- Provide executive oversight of all active construction projects.
- Ensure projects are staffed appropriately and resources are effectively allocated across the portfolio.
- Monitor project schedules and hold teams accountable for achieving critical milestones and contractual commitments.
- Assist project teams in resolving complex operational challenges, client concerns, and project risks.
- Promote consistent project management processes, reporting standards, and execution practices throughout the organization.
Change Management & Risk Mitigation- Establish processes to ensure timely identification, pricing, approval, and submission of change orders.
- Monitor change management performance and support project teams in maximizing cost recovery opportunities.
- Identify project risks early and develop mitigation strategies to minimize schedule impacts and financial exposure.
- Ensure contract administration practices effectively protect company interests.
Safety Leadership- Champion the company's safety culture and commitment to incident prevention.
- Work closely with Safety leadership to monitor and improve leading safety indicators, including inspections, observations, corrective actions, and training participation.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA standards, company policies, and all applicable regulations.
- Hold operational teams accountable for maintaining safe and productive jobsites.
Quality Management- Establish and maintain quality assurance and quality control standards across all projects.
- Drive initiatives to reduce rework, warranty claims, punch-list items, and quality-related costs.
- Monitor project quality metrics and implement corrective actions when performance standards are not met.
- Promote best practices that ensure consistent delivery of high-quality construction services.
Client Relations & Business Development- Develop and maintain strong relationships with owners, architects, engineers, subcontractors, and industry partners.
- Support business development efforts through client engagement, networking, proposal reviews, and project interviews.
- Ensure client concerns are addressed promptly and effectively to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.
- Partner with executive leadership to identify growth opportunities and strengthen market presence.
Leadership, Talent Development & Retention- Recruit, mentor, and develop Project Managers, Superintendents, Project Engineers, and other operational team members.
- Conduct performance evaluations and establish development plans for operational staff.
- Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, professional growth, and succession planning.
- Promote employee engagement, retention, and leadership development initiatives.
- Identify future leaders within the organization and support career advancement opportunities.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities- Strong knowledge of commercial construction means, methods, scheduling, estimating, budgeting, and project controls.
- Advanced financial acumen with the ability to analyze project performance and profitability.
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to lead and influence teams across multiple projects and locations.
- Experience with construction management software, project scheduling systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and ERP systems.
- Strong understanding of contract administration, risk management, and change order management.
QualificationsEducation- Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field required.
- Master's Degree or advanced professional certification preferred.
Type of Experience- Minimum 10 years of progressive commercial construction experience.
- Minimum 5 years in a senior operations, project executive, or construction leadership role.
- Proven experience overseeing multiple commercial construction projects simultaneously.
- Demonstrated success managing operational performance, project profitability, forecasting, and client relationships.
