Commercial Construction Project Manager

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
Vaco is hiring a construction Project Manager for our client, a third-generation, family-owned commercial construction general contractor with over 40 years of experience building in Central Indiana. This role will be based in the downtown Indy office and travel to local construction locations.

THE ROLE
As a Project Manager, you'll own the full lifecycle of assigned commercial construction projects - from preconstruction through final closeout. This is not a coordinator or support role. You will be the central leader on your projects, connecting clients, field crews, subcontractors, and internal operations.
Expect roughly a 50/50 split between office work and job site visits. Project sites are within a 2-hour radius of Indianapolis.
Typical project range: $200,000 - $5,000,000 (averaging ~$1M). Markets include education, public sector, commercial, and institutional.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Preconstruction & Project Start-Up

• Partner with estimators to define scope, budget, and execution strategy
• Lead subcontractor buyout, contract development, and procurement planning
• Develop project schedules, milestones, and critical path sequencing
• Identify risks, long-lead items, and key coordination challenges
• Participate in project kickoff and align all stakeholders

Active Construction

• Lead day-to-day project execution in coordination with field leadership and union foremen
• Manage subcontractors, vendors, and all project communications
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients and project stakeholders
• Monitor and control project costs, forecast financial performance, and protect margins
• Maintain project documentation: RFIs, submittals, change orders, and logs
• Ensure alignment with schedule, safety standards, and quality expectations
• Resolve field, design, and coordination issues in real time

Project Closeout

• Drive punch list completion and project turnover
• Ensure delivery of all closeout documentation (O&M manuals, warranties, as-builts)
• Manage final billing, financial reconciliation, and project wrap-up
• Maintain client relationships beyond project completion

Leadership & Financial Ownership

• Lead, support, and collaborate with field teams and project staff
• Set expectations and drive accountability across all project partners
• Own project financial performance from buyout through closeout
• Track costs, forecast risks, and proactively manage budget exposures
• Contribute to improving internal processes, workflows, and project systems
• Support business development through strong client performance and relationship-building

WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR

Required

• 8 years of commercial construction project management experience (some flexibility for exceptional candidates slightly under)
• Must understand the actual construction workflow, not just theory; residential backgrounds will not be considered
• Fluency in RFIs, submittals, change orders, and the full construction project management process - the hiring manager will probe this directly in the interview
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and prints with precision
• Proven ability to manage project budgets, schedules, and subcontractor coordination
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, materials, and sequencing
• Comfortable working in a smaller, tight-knit environment where not every process is fully documented - adaptability matters
• Strong communicator who keeps multiple stakeholders informed proactively

Preferred / Differentiators

• Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field
• OSHA 30 Certification
• Proficiency with Bluebeam (can be learned, but familiarity is a plus)
• Experience with Procore, Sage, Microsoft Project, or similar PM/scheduling software
• Background managing projects in education, public sector, or institutional markets

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.


EEO Notice


Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.


Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io .


Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal .

Representation Notice


By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring's discussions with its Client, Highspring's understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice


Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here .
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here .
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here .
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here .
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here .

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here ( ). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice


Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.