Construction and Development Manager

Construction and Development Manager

Challenger School • Sandy, Utah

Utah Corporate Office, 9424 S 300 W, Sandy, Utah

United States of America

Challenger School is seeking an experienced construction professional who wants to take greater responsibility and grow toward Director of Development.

Challenger School is an independent, nonprofit private school operating 27 campuses in California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Texas, serving more than 10,000 preschool through eighth grade students annually.

You will represent Challenger as the owner on construction, remodel, and playground projects. Working directly with our CEO, you will learn Challenger’s standards and develop the judgment needed for broader development responsibilities. Advancement depends on demonstrated performance, leadership capacity, and business needs.

This individual-contributor role has no current direct reports but leads architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and vendors.

On-site only. This position is not eligible for remote or hybrid work.

Responsibilities

• Manage projects from planning and design through permitting, construction, closeout, and warranty.
• Direct architects, engineers, contractors, and vendors while protecting Challenger’s budget, schedule, standards, and long-term interests.
• Manage scopes, budgets, schedules, bids, contracts, payment applications, and change orders.
• Review drawings, verify field conditions and completed work, question unsupported costs, and follow deficiencies through correction.
• Coordinate work on occupied campuses and within compressed summer schedules.
• Learn Challenger’s building and playground requirements and progressively assume responsibility for site evaluation, public approvals, due diligence, and development planning.

Experience and Skills

• Demonstrated success managing commercial or institutional construction projects for a general contractor, developer, owner, or owner-representative firm.
• Direct responsibility for project budgets, schedules, contractor coordination, change orders, and closeout. Ground-up and multi-site experience are particularly valuable.
• Strong working knowledge of construction drawings, building systems, and site coordination.
• Exceptional integrity, conscientiousness, and follow-through: report accurately, raise problems promptly, take responsibility for mistakes, and complete commitments.
• Ability to learn quickly, examine facts, question assumptions, apply feedback, and exercise independent judgment.
• Willingness to do detailed project and field work, travel nationwide, and earn increasing responsibility.
• Related bachelor’s degree or equivalent progressively responsible experience; Certified Playground Safety Inspector credential or ability to obtain within 90 days; travel commonly 50% or more during peak periods.

Position Offerings

• Salary of $125,000–$150,000
• Direct guidance from the CEO and opportunity for advancement
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Significant tuition discounts for children and grandchildren

Please watch for an email from notify@ dayforce.com confirming your application and providing a link to our pre-employment assessment. Your application is complete when the assessment is submitted.

Challenger School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.