Commercial Plumbing Project Manager

Company: Breakthrough MEP
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Location: Denver, Colorado or Cape Coral, FL
Work Environment: Office and Active Construction Sites

Commercial Plumbing Project Manager

Breakthrough MEP is seeking a proven Project Manager to lead commercial plumbing projects with disciplined execution, strong commercial judgment, and visible ownership. This is a senior operating role for someone who can read the work, buy it out, plan it, communicate it, protect the company contractually, and keep the project team aligned.

The right candidate understands how plumbing scope moves from plans, specifications, approved submittals, and vendor quotations into commitments, releases, field installation, change management, billing, and closeout. You will lead Assistant Project Managers, coordinate closely with Superintendents and field leaders, and represent BTRM with general contractors, vendors, subcontractors, and owners.

What You Will Own

Project Leadership and Startup

• Lead the project from estimating turnover through final closeout, with clear ownership of scope, budget, schedule, risk, and communication.
• Review the prime contract, estimate, clarifications, exclusions, bid assumptions, alternates, allowances, approved plans, specifications, and schedule before work begins.
• Convert the handoff into an executable project plan covering cost codes, responsibilities, submittals, buyout, long-lead materials, manpower, milestones, billing, changes, inspections, and closeout.
• Set expectations for the APM, Superintendent, foremen, PO clerk, vendors, and second-tier subcontractors; maintain a reliable operating cadence and close assigned actions.

Buyout Procurement and Material Control

• Own project buyout, including scope packages, bid solicitation, comparable quote leveling, exclusions, alternates, approved-equal review, negotiations, award recommendations, and documented commitments.
• Validate major quantities and procurement assumptions against the contract documents, approved submittals, basis of design, field conditions, existing stock, transfer opportunities, and open orders before approving a purchase.
• Secure price locks, lead times, release dates, freight terms, storage arrangements, warranties, rebates, and return rights that protect the project and the company.
• Maintain a procurement and long-lead plan tied to the construction schedule. Manage releases, backorders, substitutions, deliveries, receiving, storage, damage, returns, excess material, and project-to-project transfers.
• Reduce avoidable emergency purchases, duplicate orders, overordering, stranded inventory, and unmanaged price escalation through early planning and disciplined approval controls.

Technical and Document Control

• Read and interpret plumbing drawings, specifications, schedules, details, risers, equipment requirements, and applicable contract documents; identify gaps, conflicts, and constructability risks early.
• Direct the RFI and submittal process. Confirm that procurement and field installation follow the approved submittal, contract requirements, and current drawing set.
• Understand commercial plumbing systems, materials, equipment, supports, sleeves, penetrations, fixture packages, valves, pumps, water heating, sanitary, vent, storm, domestic water, and testing requirements well enough to make sound project decisions.
• Coordinate BIM and shop drawings with the field, GC, design team, vendors, and other trades; resolve clashes and document decisions before they affect installation.

Schedule and General Contractor Management

• Interpret the GC baseline schedule, updates, logic, milestones, constraints, and sequencing; translate them into practical three-week lookaheads, procurement actions, manpower needs, and field commitments.
• Participate actively in OAC, subcontractor, schedule, coordination, change, and closeout meetings. Communicate clearly, follow up in writing, and maintain credible commitments.
• Identify acceleration, resequencing, stacking, access, predecessor, design, and material constraints. Provide timely notices and recovery options while preserving BTRM's commercial position.
• Build a professional working relationship with the GC while remaining firm on scope, schedule impacts, approvals, documentation, and payment.

Financial and Commercial Management

• Own the project budget, commitments, cost-to-complete forecast, projected margin, cash position, billing, and collection follow-up. Explain variances and act before they become losses.
• Ensure commitments are authorized, complete, and aligned with scope. No vendor or subcontractor work proceeds without an executed commitment or documented authorization.
• Manage Change Events, notices, pricing, backup, change orders, T&M documentation, potential exposures, and disputed work from identification through resolution and billing.
• Review subcontractor and vendor invoices, owner billing support, stored-material documentation, and closeout requirements for accuracy and timing.
• Reconcile the operating plan with Procore and the accounting record through the required weekly, biweekly, and monthly review cadence.

Procore and Project Controls

• Use Procore as the project system of record for RFIs, submittals, drawings, commitments, Change Events, change orders, budgets, meeting actions, inspections, and related documentation.
• Review APM-entered information for accuracy, completeness, ownership, due dates, and commercial impact. The PM remains accountable for the project even when administrative tasks are delegated.
• Maintain current logs, action lists, decision records, procurement status, schedule constraints, and change exposure so leadership can see project health without reconstructing the story.

Field Execution Quality and Closeout

• Partner with the Superintendent on work planning, manpower, material readiness, quality, inspections, safety coordination, commissioning, punch, and turnover.
• Support quality control without displacing field accountability: foremen own daily installation quality, the Superintendent owns project execution and inspection readiness, and independent QA/QC verifies required hold points and recurring compliance.
• Drive closeout continuously, including as-builts, O&M manuals, attic stock, training, testing, warranties, punch completion, final billing, releases, and archived project records.

Required Qualifications

• Seven or more years of progressively responsible commercial construction project-management experience.
• At least three years of direct project-management experience in commercial plumbing, mechanical, or MEP construction; strong working knowledge of plumbing terminology and installation practices is required.
• Demonstrated ownership of at least one project through turnover, buyout, submittals, procurement, field execution, change management, billing, and closeout.
• Advanced ability to read plans and specifications, evaluate scope, identify conflicts, and translate contract documents into buyout and execution decisions.
• Hands-on experience leading submittals, RFIs, procurement, commitments, vendor and subcontractor negotiations, schedule management, project financials, and GC communications.
• Hands-on Procore proficiency, including RFIs, submittals, drawings, commitments, Change Events, change orders, budget or financial tools, meetings, and documents.
• Strong Bluebeam and Excel skills; ability to learn and use scheduling, takeoff, collaboration, and document-control tools.
• Clear written and verbal communication, sound judgment under pressure, consistent follow-through, and the ability to hold others accountable without creating unnecessary friction.
• Ability to visit active construction sites, travel within the assigned market, and maintain a valid driver's license and insurable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with multifamily, hospitality, light-commercial, or comparable fast-paced plumbing projects.
• Formal education in construction management, engineering, business, or a related discipline, or equivalent field and project experience.
• Experience with BIM or shop-drawing coordination, Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project, and cost-to-complete forecasting.
• A documented record of improving margin, procurement performance, schedule reliability, or change-order recovery.

How Success Will Be Measured

The successful Project Manager creates predictable execution. Within the first 90 days, assigned projects should show the following controls in place and actively managed:

• A documented turnover, risk, and responsibility plan for every assigned project.
• A scope-leveled buyout plan with award status, approvals, long-lead dates, releases, and schedule dependencies.
• A current cost-to-complete forecast with explained variances, accurate commitments, and visible change exposure.
• A GC schedule translated into near-term field plans, procurement dates, constraints, recovery actions, and accountable owners.
• Current Procore records, weekly change review, recurring budget and commitment reconciliation, and a closed-loop action log.
• Measurable reduction in avoidable emergency purchases, duplicate or excess material, missed releases, and undocumented work.
• Clear alignment among the PM, APM, Superintendent, foremen, PO clerk, vendors, and subcontractors.

What BTRM Offers

• Competitive compensation based on experience and assigned market.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Professional development and advancement opportunities in a growing construction organization.

Work Location

This position may be based out of either our Cape Coral, Florida, or Denver, Colorado office, depending on the candidate’s location.

This role works in both office and active construction-site environments. It requires regular computer use, participation in meetings, site walks, and the ability to navigate typical jobsite conditions.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Breakthrough MEP is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.