Director of Construction

Overview

The Director of Construction is responsible for leading the planning, design, approval, preconstruction, and execution of NFI real estate construction projects, with a primary focus on industrial warehouse and distribution facilities. This role supports projects for NFI operations as well as third-party build-to-suit customers and manages projects from early feasibility and jurisdictional approvals through design, contractor selection, construction, turnover, and closeout. The Director works closely with Real Estate, Finance, Operations, customers, joint venture partners, architects, engineers, contractors, municipalities, and other internal and external stakeholders to deliver projects that meet business, schedule, cost, safety, and quality objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead ground-up industrial warehouse and distribution center construction projects from planning and preconstruction through completion and operational turnover.
• Support construction and development projects for both NFI operations and third-party build-to-suit customers, from early planning through project completion and turnover.
• Work directly with joint venture partners on real estate development projects, coordinating project scope, approvals, design, budgeting, construction, and key decisions throughout the development lifecycle.
• Lead and participate in jurisdictional approvals, entitlements, planning board processes, environmental/DEP approvals, permitting, and other regulatory requirements needed to advance development and construction projects.
• Coordinate design development with architects, civil engineers, consultants, contractors, and business leaders to translate operational and customer requirements into executable building plans.
• Develop and manage project budgets, hard-cost assumptions, schedules, forecasts, contingencies, change orders, and overall financial performance.
• Partner with Real Estate, Finance, and other stakeholders on underwriting, pro forma assumptions, project viability, tenant requirements, and capital planning.
• Lead contractor, architect, engineer, and consultant selection, including bids, RFPs, scope development, contract negotiation, and vendor performance management.
• Manage design-build and other project delivery methods while maintaining accountability for safety, quality, cost, schedule, and risk.
• Oversee multiple concurrent construction projects and adjust priorities as business needs, project conditions, and market costs change.
• Provide clear project updates to senior leadership, including progress, budget, schedule, risks, decisions required, and mitigation plans.
• Manage tenant improvement projects, office renovations, facility upgrades, solar or related capital projects, and other construction initiatives as needed.
• Establish and improve construction project standards, processes, documentation, controls, and lessons learned to support consistency across the portfolio.
• Coordinate project closeout, turnover, punch list completion, warranties, documentation, and transition to Operations and Facilities.
• Maintain strong relationships with municipalities, authorities, customers, vendors, contractors, and internal business partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Engineering, Real Estate Development, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Approximately 10+ years of progressive experience in construction, development, or capital project management.
• Demonstrated experience delivering industrial warehouse, distribution, logistics, or comparable large-scale commercial construction projects.
• Experience managing ground-up construction and site development from preconstruction through turnover.
• Strong knowledge of project budgeting, cost control, forecasting, contracts, change management, procurement, and construction scheduling.
• Experience with contractor and consultant selection, bidding, RFPs, and contract negotiation.
• Working knowledge of entitlement, permitting, environmental, and regulatory approval processes.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while balancing schedule, budget, quality, safety, and stakeholder priorities.
• Strong business judgment and ability to partner effectively with Finance, Operations, Real Estate, customers, and executive stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
• Strong knowledge of construction safety practices and applicable building and construction standards.
• Ability to interpret construction drawings, specifications, contracts, project schedules, budgets, and related technical documentation.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with design-build construction and large industrial warehouse development.
• Experience supporting joint venture, tenant-driven, or developer-led projects.
• Experience with tenant improvements, office renovations, renewable energy/solar, or other facility capital projects.
• Background with both owner-side and general contractor construction environments.

Other

• Ability and availability to travel based on project needs, including regional and occasional air travel.
• Ability to work flexible hours when project schedules, construction activity, or business needs require.

We are excited to share that the base salary range for this position is $172,910 - $230,547. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. NFI takes into consideration applicants' qualifications, experience, education, and geographic location when determining a starting rate of pay.

Employees are also eligible for a robust benefit program, which includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Paid Parental Leave, among other benefit plan options.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

LA County Applicants: The Company will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with applicable state and local laws.