A heavy road construction project manager oversees planning, budgeting, scheduling, subcontracting, and field execution to deliver highway/road projects safely, on time, and within budget, while ensuring quality and regulatory compliance. The role blends office and site leadership across cost control, risk, traffic/safety management, and stakeholder coordination.
Core responsibilities
Overall project planning and scope control: develop work plans, milestones, and resource allocations, coordinating closely with engineers and architects for constructability and phasing.
Budgeting and cost control: estimating, forecasting, pay applications, change orders, and cost/yield tracking to meet financial targets.
Scheduling and production: build and maintain CPM schedules and look-aheads; sequence crews, equipment, and materials to meet critical path dates.
Contracting and procurement: bid package development, subcontract negotiation/management, and materials procurement aligned with spec and schedule needs.
Quality, code, and compliance: enforce specs, testing/QA/QC, permits, and code compliance throughout delivery.
Safety and traffic control: JHAs, site safety leadership, work zone traffic control, incident investigations, and regulatory compliance.
Stakeholder communication: regular reporting and coordination with owners, designers, inspectors, utilities, and the public.
Field supervision partnership: direct daily coordination with superintendents to supervise jobsite work and remove blockers.
Essential skills
Project controls: cost, schedule, risk, and change management using tools like MS Project/Primavera and cost tracking software.
Technical knowledge: roadway/highway means and methods, traffic control, materials, and construction standards/specs.
Leadership and communication: lead multidisciplinary teams, manage subcontractors, and maintain client relations under time pressure.
Safety leadership: systemic safety/risk assessment and work zone practices to minimize incidents and delays.
Typical background
Education: combinations of experience and education; many roles value civil engineering or construction management degrees, with advanced degrees for senior highway PM roles.
Certifications: PMP, CAPM, or construction-focused credentials and proficiency with platforms like Procore.
Experience: progressive responsibility delivering civil/highway projects with proven budget, schedule, and team results.
Day-to-day examples
Build bid strategies and assist preconstruction on design-bid-build/design-build pursuits to align scope, schedule, and means/methods.
Run weekly look-aheads with supers; coordinate lane closures, utilities, paving trains, and material deliveries to hit milestones.
Track cost and productivity vs. plan; process change orders and update forecasts and client reports.
• Professional Attitude & conduct
• Multi-task, interpersonal communication, problem solving, and time management skills are needed.
• High degree of safety awareness and safety discipline
• Display a professional and courteous attitude to co-workers, supervisors and the general public at all times.
• Willing to travel and work away from home when and if required.
• Be willing to work nights and weekends when necessary.
• Strictly adhere to safety requirements and the policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Have the willingness to work in a team environment and assist co-workers or supervisors with other duties as required.
• Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in designated operations and production areas as stated by Pittman Construction Safety and OSHA.
• Be at least age 18 years of age due to nature of working environment.
• You will be expected to be flexible to the needs of our business, as we continually strive to meet and exceed the needs of our customers.
• Random and Suspicion Drug tests are performed
• Please be aware that you must successfully complete a drug screen and background check in order to be hired into the Pittman Construction.
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
