Construction Director

Job Description

Job Description

Join Us Today!

Join Great Rivers Greenway, a collaborative and mission-driven organization where passionate people work together to create, care for, and connect the region through an exceptional network of greenways. This is an exciting opportunity to work alongside dedicated professionals while contributing to a mission that makes a lasting impact on our community.

What We Offer:

Great Rivers Greenway offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees’ health, well-being, and financial security, including:

• Generous Paid Time Off: Vacation starts at 120 hours annually, monthly sick time accrual of eight (8) hours, and 12 paid holidays.
• Employer-Paid Health Coverage for Employees: Options include Medical (PPO or HDHP), dental, vision, life insurance (1x salary), and short and long-term disability.
• Health & Tax-Advantaged Accounts: Employer contributions to HRA or HSA, plus FS, and dependent care account options.
• Retirement Savings: 457(b) plan with up to 5% employer match (vesting applies).
• Relocation Assistance: May be available for the selected candidate, based on experience, qualifications, and geographic location.
• Additional Perks: $75 monthly cell phone stipend, mileage reimbursement, free parking, employer-paid professional development and memberships, with a great location at the Foundry in Midtown St. Louis.

Position Summary:

Great Rivers Greenway is seeking a dynamic and experienced Construction Director to lead the successful delivery of greenway capital projects across the region. This full-time, on-site, salaried position with benefits plays a critical leadership role in overseeing construction management practices, personnel, and partner firms to bring our regional vision to life.

The Construction Director provides strategic and operational leadership for both internal Construction Managers and external construction management firms, contractors, and design consultant teams. This role is responsible for guiding projects through pre-construction and construction phases, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with Great Rivers Greenway’s mission, vision, and regional plan.

You will oversee multiple capital and capital repair projects while simultaneously managing scopes, risks, budgets, schedules, and deliverables through our web-based project controls system. In addition to driving project execution, this role analyzes data and project outcomes to continuously improve construction practices and long-term results across the organization.

Reporting to the Chief of Planning & Projects, this is a people-leader position managing a team of internal Construction Managers while directing external consultants, contractors, and construction partners.

This role works closely with Project Managers and Civic Engagement Managers to ensure community members are informed, engaged, and heard throughout the construction process. Building strong relationships with elected officials, neighborhood leaders, technical stakeholders, and regional partners is essential to success.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strong leadership and supervisory experience
• Deep knowledge of construction management and project delivery
• Expertise in risk management, budget oversight, and schedule control
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
• Clear, confident communication skills across technical and public audiences
• Commitment to teamwork, public service, and Great Rivers Greenway’s mission

If you’re passionate about delivering impactful public infrastructure projects that connect people to parks and greenway and want to lead teams that shape the region’s future we’d love to meet you!

Essential Job Functions:

• Lead and manage the internal Construction Management team to successfully deliver greenway construction projects aligned with organizational goals.
• Oversee capital construction budgets of up to $50 million annually while ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to quality standards.
• Establish clear expectations, workflows, and goals for Construction Managers while providing mentorship, coaching, and performance oversight.
• Plan and assign project workloads while supporting team development, safety, and a productive work environment.
• Collaborate with internal teams, contractors, consultants, partners, and community stakeholders to ensure successful project outcomes and an excellent user experience.
• Review construction plans, specifications, schedules, and cost estimates and provide recommendations related to constructability, risks, materials, and methods.
• Manage procurement and bidding processes, including pre-bid meetings, bid evaluations, and contract award recommendations.
• Oversee construction activities including contractor coordination, project documentation, payment approvals, change management, inspections, and project closeout.
• Ensure compliance with applicable standards and funding requirements, including Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) Local Public Agency (LPA) guidelines when applicable.
• Support continuous improvement by identifying industry best practices, improving project delivery processes, and preparing reports or presentations for leadership and the Board.
• Represent Great Rivers Greenway through collaboration with regional partners, committees, and community initiatives.
• Completes other duties and special projects as assigned.

Education, Licenses, and Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Public Administration, Parks and Recreation, or related field required.
• Active OSHA-30 Hour Construction Certification and/or willingness to obtain within the first year of employment.
• A license in Professional Engineer (PE), Project Management Professional (PMP), Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification or similar is preferred.
• Participation in relevant professional organizations is encouraged.

Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience related to Construction Management.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in a leadership/management position required.
• Experience overseeing/managing/inspecting construction of infrastructure projects.
• Experience in construction, contract and project management.
• Familiarity with the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Local Public Agency (LPA) policy and process is desired but not required.
• Understanding of municipal or government processes in procurement, contracting procedures, or construction preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• The ideal candidate is self-directed and exercises sound judgment while successfully managing project goals, budgets, timelines, and deliverables with internal teams, consultants, and community stakeholders.
• This role requires strong leadership skills with the ability to mentor and supervise professional staff, along with a solid understanding of engineering and construction practices.
• The successful candidate will be an effective communicator who can synthesize technical information for diverse audiences, build trusted relationships, and represent the organization’s values.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment are essential.
• Familiarity with project management best practices, including the Project Management Institute’s PMBOK framework, is preferred

Technical Skills:

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Adobe.
• Ability to learn advanced project management software and applications as necessary.
• Ability to work on mobile devices to access internal programs and reports.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Office conditions are normal; the noise level in the environment is moderate.
• Exposure to all types of weather conditions when necessary. Probable exposure to loud noises and dangers associated with construction industries such as exposure to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles and other related risks.
• This position may require limited evening and weekend commitments.
• While performing the duties of this position the employee is regularly required to sit, talk and hear. Vision requirements include close vision, ability to adjust and focus, distance vision (clear vision at 20 feet or more), ability to judge distances and spatial relationships.
• This position requires frequent site visits to various greenway projects and active construction sites. These sites require prolonged periods of standing and walking on uneven surfaces and challenging terrain throughout the year in all types of weather.
• Must be willing to travel to regional worksites in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County.

We are a public agency, created by a vote of the people in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County in the year 2000 to create a sales tax dedicated to this mission. Those funds allow us to collaborate with partners and communities to build, care for and bring to life your network of greenways, creating healthy habitats and watersheds along the way. It’s an honor to deliver on the community’s vision for a vibrant, connected region. 140 miles of greenways and counting! Find one here:

Company Description

We are a public agency, created by a vote of the people in St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County in the year 2000 to create a sales tax dedicated to this mission. Those funds allow us to collaborate with partners and communities to build, care for and bring to life your network of greenways, creating healthy habitats and watersheds along the way. It’s an honor to deliver on the community’s vision for a vibrant, connected region. 140 miles of greenways and counting! Find one here: