Construction Operations Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Carlton Edwards is looking for someone to help make sure our work actually gets built right. We need an experienced Construction Operations Manager who can lead and coach the construction team, keep an eye on quality, and help projects stay on schedule and on budget, job after job.

You'll work closely with project managers, supervisors, architects, subcontractors, and company leadership, someone the team can turn to when things need sorting out. A big part of the job is helping keep how we run projects consistent, so the standards and accountability don't shift from site to site.

Ideal candidate would be for a hands-on leader with a good working knowledge of construction and architectural processes. Someone who'd rather develop people than just direct them, fix systems instead of working around them, and handle multiple priorities with a level head.

Why Carlton Edwards

• Architecture, interior design, and construction all under one roof. You'll be building work our own studio designed, with the architect just down the hall rather than an email chain away.
• The work is worth doing — custom homes and buildings meant to be lived in and enjoyed for years to come.
• We're in the middle of rebuilding how this company runs, and we'd love someone who wants to be part of shaping that, not just settling into it as it is.
• We're a small company, so what you do here actually matters and gets noticed.
• Why Asheville, NC? Asheville's a good place to put down roots. You've got the mountains and the Blue Ridge Parkway right outside your door, the food and music scene is honestly better than you'd expect for a city this size, and life here moves at a slower, more livable pace than what you'd get in a bigger city!

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and mentor project managers, supervisors, and team members, building accountability and helping people grow into stronger performers.
• Set priorities and allocate team resources based on what each project actually needs and where the company is headed.
• Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented culture across both office and field teams.
• Support leadership in shaping company goals, policies, and best practices.

Design-Build Coordination

• Run constructability reviews before drawings go out for construction: means and methods, sequence, material availability, cost; early enough that feedback can still change something.
• Keep one documented path for every change, no matter where it starts: owner, field, or one of our own designers. An informal instruction from an in-house architect is still a change and is tracked as such.
• Get the architect's supplemental instructions, revised drawings, and spec changes to the field and affected subcontractors quickly, and confirm they were received and priced.
• Track RFIs on a measured clock and close them out.
• Keep the construction documents current in both the office and the field, with one obvious place everyone knows the live set lives.

Project Operations & Oversight

• Establish and maintain consistent project management processes and standards across the organization.
• Keep a clear eye on subcontractor performance and overall project health.
• Build reporting systems that give leadership real visibility into project status, staffing, schedules, costs, and risk.
• Spot operational challenges early and put practical fixes in place to improve efficiency, communication, and outcomes.

Scheduling & Construction

• Monitor project schedules and make sure weekly updates flag delays, risks, and the corrective action needed.
• Set delivery dates for equipment, materials, and labor that line up with the schedule.
• Verify material lead times and coordinate deliveries to keep construction on track.
• Visit jobsites regularly, with an eye on quality, schedule, safety, communication, and client satisfaction.
• Stay in close, open communication with supervisors and project managers.

Estimating

• Oversee estimating through every phase of design — preliminary pricing, design-development pricing, and contract pricing.
• Make sure take-offs and estimates are thorough and accurate.
• Develop and maintain control estimates through preconstruction.
• Oversee the solicitation of quotes and distribution of bid documents to subs and suppliers.
• Review cost change directives and change orders before they go to the owner for approval.

Documentation & Project Controls

• Coordinate project documentation — quotations, contracts, submittals, ASIs, meeting minutes, change orders, and correspondence.
• Maintain solid document-control practices for both office and field use.

Client & Stakeholder Relations

• Promote a high standard of client service and make sure the team consistently meets or beats expectations.
• Keep communication open and effective with clients, architects, subcontractors, suppliers, project managers, supervisors, and leadership.

Company Benefits

• Paid Holidays
• Paid Vacation
• Health Insurance 
• Vision/Dental Insurance
• Health Savings Account/FSA
• 401(k) retirement plan

Requirements:

Education & Experience

• 15+ years of experience in construction, project management, operations, or a related field. A combination of education, training, and relevant work experience will be considered.
• Undergraduate degree in construction management, architecture, engineering, business, or a related discipline preferred.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including the ability to lead, coach, mentor, and hold team members accountable.
• Strong understanding of construction processes, project management, estimating, scheduling, architectural documentation, budgets, contracts, change management, and subcontractor performance.

Competencies

• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with clients, architects, subcontractors, suppliers, project managers, supervisors, and company leadership.
• Advanced software skills, including Google Suite and construction management systems, with the ability to learn and adapt to multiple software technologies.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret architectural drawings, construction documents, and project specifications.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple, competing priorities.
• Ability to identify issues early, develop effective solutions, and drive projects and people toward successful outcomes.