Division Manager - Public Works

About the role

A well-established heavy civil engineering and construction firm serving the Northern California market is seeking a Division Manager-Public Works to build and lead a public works division from the ground up. The role combines estimating and project management, requires established relationships with Bay Area public agencies and municipalities, and offers significant autonomy and a path toward executive-level leadership and potential equity or partnership.

Key responsibilities

• Build and lead the public works division from strategy and pursuit through estimating and project delivery
• Develop relationships with Bay Area public agencies and municipalities and win opportunities of about $100K to $3M
• Lead estimating, bidding and bid strategy while managing awarded projects
• Navigate public contracting requirements such as LBE/DBE programs, prevailing wage, bonding and compliance
• Partner with ownership on business strategy and market development
• Oversee day-to-day project execution and client relationships independently
• Provide leadership for field operations including shoring, tie-backs, micropiles, helical piles, drilling, sheet piling, earthwork and demolition
• Set up processes, documentation, reporting and operational discipline for public-agency clients
• Recruit, develop and lead the team as the division grows

Required profile

• 10+ years of progressive construction experience with significant project management and/or operations responsibility
• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management or a related field preferred
• Demonstrated experience combining estimating/bidding and project management
• Established relationships with Bay Area public agencies, municipalities or other public-sector clients
• Experience with heavy civil and/or specialty construction (shoring, foundations, excavation, demolition)
• Strong commercial and financial understanding of construction projects
• Ability to work autonomously in an entrepreneurial, smaller-company environment

Required skills

• Understanding of public contracting processes; experience with LBE/DBE, prevailing wage, bonding and public procurement strongly preferred
• Leadership, communication, client-development and relationship-management skills
• Entrepreneurial mindset

What we offer

• Base salary of $250,000-$285,000
• Potential equity and/or partnership depending on the candidate and division's development
• High degree of autonomy and direct access to company ownership
• Opportunity to build and lead a new business division and advance to executive-level leadership
• Benefits package to be discussed with qualified candidates