Construction Manager

As valued members of the KJ family, you've already witnessed our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence firsthand. Now, it's time to take your career to the next level within our organization. Explore the opportunity below to grow, develop, and continue making a difference as part of our dedicated team. Your journey with KJ is just getting started!

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Construction Manager in California to lead major water, wastewater, and infrastructure construction projects that support communities and strengthen our growing market presence.

With a strong pipeline of complex, long-term infrastructure projects, this role offers the opportunity to step directly into meaningful work, provide day-to-day leadership in the field, and guide construction delivery from planning through closeout.

You'll help lead active projects with construction schedules that may span several years, coordinate closely with clients, contractors, designers, and field teams, and contribute to continued growth with the backing of a national, employee-owned firm.

What You'll Do

As a Construction Manager , you'll lead construction execution, coordinate project stakeholders, mentor field teams, and support successful delivery of complex infrastructure projects.

• Lead project execution: Serve as the day-to-day leader on major infrastructure construction projects, guiding work across scope, schedule, budget, quality, and safety, including contractor schedule reviews and recommendations.
• Coordinate stakeholders: Act as the primary point of coordination between clients, contractors, designers, subconsultants, permitting agencies, regulatory partners, the public, and field teams.
• Guide field teams: Provide direction, mentorship, accountability, and performance input for Resident Engineers, Junior Inspectors, and other field staff supporting active construction work.
• Manage construction administration: Oversee RFIs, submittals, technical plan and specification reviews, change orders, progress payments, daily reports, as-builts, material testing, special inspections, and related construction-phase documentation.
• Facilitate communication: Lead project meetings, resolve issues, and maintain clear communication across project stakeholders.
• Represent project work: Support client, public-facing, and business development discussions, including pre-proposal meetings and interviews, while promoting alignment with contract documents, SWPPP requirements, project goals, and client expectations.

What Makes This Role Different

• Immediate impact: Step into active, long-term infrastructure projects already underway.
• Leadership opportunity: Lead critical construction work while helping shape how KJ grows locally.
• Stability and momentum: Join a respected, employee-owned firm with a strong national presence and meaningful infrastructure work.

What You Bring

• Infrastructure background : Experience with water, wastewater, stormwater, or related infrastructure projects.
• Communication and collaboration : Strong communication skills with the ability to influence, coordinate, and lead across diverse project stakeholders.
• Construction knowledge : Strong working knowledge of construction administration, Division I specifications, safety, methods, contracts, public contract requirements, project controls, startup, commissioning, and delivery approaches.
• Problem-solving and execution : Ability to resolve issues, manage competing priorities, and deliver results in complex construction settings.
• Tools, systems, or methods : Microsoft Office proficiency; Experience with tools such as Procore, SharePoint, or Unifier is a plus.
• Leadership approach : Field-oriented leadership style with a focus on accountability, mentorship, ownership, and practical decision-making.

Qualifications

• Education : Bachelor's or Master's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Experience : 10+ years of experience managing complex construction projects from start to finish, including leadership in active construction environments.
• Certifications, licenses, or professional registrations : PE license in California; CCM or PMP certification is a plus.

This role requires full-time presence on project sites and in the office as needed. KJ offers relocation support if needed.

Salary range for this position is anticipated to be $140,000 to $170,000, and may vary based upon education, experience, qualifications, licensure/certifications and geographic location.

Benefits summary: Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; a health savings account; a 401(k); bonus programs; tuition reimbursement; employee ownership opportunity; professional registration support; business travel assistance; competitive paid time off and holidays; an employee assistance program; and additional programs that support your wellbeing and professional growth.

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Kennedy Jenks is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, disability, citizenship status, genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.