Construction Manager

Construction Manager

GA Group Real Estate is seeking an experienced Construction Manager to lead construction, redevelopment, and tenant-improvement activity across a portfolio of retail real estate assets. This role will support the repositioning and re-leasing of vacant and underutilized retail properties, including former big-box stores and department-store spaces. Projects will range from straightforward tenant improvements and landlord work to complex adaptive-reuse assignments, multi-tenant subdivisions, major renovations, and full-store build-outs for national and regional retailers. The successful candidate will be a hands-on owner's representative who can move projects from initial site evaluation through closeout and tenant turnover. This position requires a practical construction leader who is equally comfortable in the field, in lease and budget discussions, and in executive-level project reporting. Preferred Location: Chicago, IL.

Essential Duties:

• Lead all phases of construction, redevelopment, tenant-improvement, and landlord-work projects across a retail real estate portfolio.
• Evaluate vacant and underutilized retail assets to identify project scope, constructability considerations, capital requirements, schedule implications, and potential risks associated with re-leasing or redevelopment.
• Manage projects from due diligence and preconstruction through design, permitting, bidding, construction, turnover, and closeout.
• Serve as the construction partner to leasing and asset-management teams during deal structuring, lease negotiation, and project delivery.
• Coordinate with tenant construction, real estate, and facilities teams to align project scopes, design standards, prototypes, schedules, access requirements, and turnover expectations.
• Support the administration of tenant-improvement allowances, including budget validation, documentation, approvals, payment milestones, and reconciliation.
• Select, engage, negotiate with, and manage architects, engineers, general contractors, specialty contractors, environmental consultants, and other project professionals.
• Review and approve construction documents, bids, schedules, change orders, pay applications, lien waivers, closeout materials, and other project documentation.
• Establish clear performance expectations for outside vendors and hold them accountable.
• Develop, manage, and report project budgets, forecasts, cost-to-complete estimates, and capital requirements.
• Create and manage project schedules; identify critical-path risks and coordinate mitigation plans with internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on active projects, including budget status, schedule performance, major risks, decisions required, and anticipated completion dates. Escalate material issues promptly and recommend solutions.
• Coordinate permitting, inspections, certificates of occupancy, and other requirements with local jurisdictions, utilities, and regulatory agencies.
• Conduct regular site visits, construction progress meetings, and quality-control inspections.
• Ensure full life cycle of projects comply with applicable building codes, zoning requirements, ADA standards, life-safety requirements, environmental obligations, retailer-specific standards and final warranties.

Skills and Experience:

• 12+ years of progressive commercial construction management experience; candidates with deeper experience may be considered at the Director level.
• Significant experience in retail, shopping-center, big-box, department-store, mixed-use, or adaptive-reuse projects.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, complex tenant-improvement projects, landlord work, full-store build-outs, major renovations, and complex retail-box subdivisions.
• Strong knowledge of the construction issues involved in converting large-format retail space into multiple tenant suites, including demising walls, utility separations, HVAC, electrical service, fire/life-safety systems, access, loading, and shared-building infrastructure.
• Experience partnering with leasing, asset management, legal, finance, property management, and tenant construction teams to define scopes, support lease negotiations, and deliver projects consistent with commercial obligations.
• Solid understanding of tenant-improvement allowances, landlord-versus-tenant work scopes, construction-related lease provisions, and retailer delivery requirements.
• Proven experience managing architects, engineers, general & specialty contractors, regulatory agencies, and other third-party project partners.
• Strong command of project budgeting, bid analysis, cost forecasting, negotiation, lien waivers, and project closeouts.
• Working knowledge of commercial building codes, zoning and permitting processes, ADA requirements, life-safety standards, inspection requirements, and certificate-of-occupancy processes.
• Willingness and ability to travel for site visits, project meetings, and construction oversight as required.

Why GA Group?

• Growth opportunities with training and internal path to promotion
• Encouragement to contribute your valuable ideas to improve our company, products, and services
• Regular communication with senior management of companies in a wide range of industries, providing frequent opportunities to expand your business knowledge.
• Healthy work-life balance with hybrid position, allowing for both remote work and in-person interaction and collaboration