Construction Project Director

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute overall project strategy, ensuring alignment with sponsor, stakeholders, and business leaders throughout the project lifecycle.

• Provide clear leadership and direction to internal teams, sub-consultants, owners, and trade partners, building a healthy, high-performing, and collaborative "One Team" environment.

• Lead design and preconstruction efforts, bringing experience, insight, and practical guidance to help the entire team succeed.

• Monitor team health, including internal staff, external partners, and clients, and intervene as needed to resolve issues and maintain strong collaboration.

• Manage end-to-end project delivery, including chartering, safety, design, preconstruction, permitting, construction, document control, procurement, commissioning and qualification (C&Q), automation, consulting, and warranty phases.

• Ensure the team understands and maintains the required Standard of Care throughout all phases of the project.

• Ensure adherence to company and client policies and procedures, as well as all applicable laws and regulations.

• Set up, maintain, and ensure proper use of all required management tools, systems, and best practices.

• Ensure key performance indicators (KPIs) are met, including safety, pre-planning, execution, customer satisfaction, quality, schedule, and profitability.

• Provide input to develop project strategies, logistics, and sequencing, and coordinate with architecture and engineering teams to ensure proper flow of design and construction packages.

• Lead the team and the owner through business case alignment and chartering phases to establish clear project objectives and success criteria.

• Lead development of the Project Execution Plan (PEP) and ensure it is implemented and maintained throughout the project.

• Partner with the preconstruction group to plan projects for success, including constructability reviews, procurement planning, logistics, scope reviews, budgeting, and costing.

• Ensure all relevant logistics are incorporated into project phasing, design, and construction plans.

• Develop, manage, and maintain detailed project schedules and timelines.

• Take accountability for monthly financial and schedule reporting for all assigned projects.

• Monitor and approve project costs, provide cost forecasting input, and authorize expenses and workflows within established signing limits.

• Develop, monitor, track, and negotiate project costs to ensure projects are successful and profitable.

• Ensure all preconstruction work carries over seamlessly into field operations and construction activities.

• Ensure all pre-mobilization activities are completed, including PEP, BEP, site requirements, permitting, and related preparations.

• Lead the team in creating a coordinated procurement plan, including long-lead equipment, trade partners, subcontractors, and enabling work.

• Encourage and oversee development of early turnover plans (ETOP) to ensure timely and efficient project closeout, planning closeout from the beginning of the project.

• Lead estimate development, facility reviews, and input, while controlling scope creep and managing requests for non-essential enhancements.

• Spot-check quality documents, field reports, and logs for completeness and accuracy.

• Participate in site safety walks, ensure the project team uses appropriate safety tracking software, and build strong relationships with client site safety representatives.

• Develop project-specific quality management plans, monitor work sites, and address issues that do not meet quality standards, ensuring all quality documentation and forms comply with contract requirements.

• Participate in pull planning sessions, both internally and externally, to create clarity, alignment, and common understanding of project tasks and milestones.

• Create and validate financial forecasts for upcoming activities and projects, protecting the companys financial interests while maintaining positive client relationships.

• Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as the primary point of contact for client interactions on assigned projects.

• Identify and resolve potential conflicts with clients and project stakeholders in a timely and professional manner.

• Conduct regular senior-level client meetings focused on KPIs, project performance, and mutual success.

• Solicit candid feedback from clients on performance and follow through on any required improvements.

• Negotiate and manage the development and execution of prime contracts, subcontracts, and vendor agreements.

• Identify new business opportunities with both new and existing clients, applying market knowledge to determine growth opportunities.

• Lead or participate in major pursuits, often acting as pursuit lead, and develop and implement pursuit strategies and action plans.

• Understand client negotiating strategies and work to maximize the companys negotiating position and leverage.

• Lead responses to requests for proposals (RFPs), ensuring all key differentiators are clearly articulated.

• Ensure all commercial and technical portions of RFP responses are complete, accurate, and tailored to the specific project.

• Lead and coach presentation teams, preparing them for client interviews and presentations.

• Contribute to post-presentation requests from clients to help secure project awards.

• Ensure planned project resources are available, properly allocated, and supported throughout the project lifecycle.

• Identify team and project inefficiencies and address them in collaboration with the project team.

• Monitor individual and overall team performance, provide coaching and guidance, and make course corrections, including restaffing when necessary.

• Support and contribute to business operations, including project management, construction management, business development, preconstruction, budgeting, and proposal development.

• Represent the organization as a leader on high-profile, mega projects and in a growing regional market.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or an equivalent field.

• Minimum of ten years of experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

• Proven experience managing large construction projects, ideally within advanced manufacturing sectors such as biotech, food and beverage, life sciences, or data centers.

• Demonstrated sr project management success leading single large projects or a portfolio of smaller projects.

• Advanced understanding of core engineering disciplines, project execution, and delivery in both design and construction.

• Strong ability to manage the design process and the relationship between design and construction, ensuring designers deliver quality, budget-conscious, and complete documents on schedule.

• Ability to travel between project and office locations as required.

Work Environment

This role operates primarily in an on-site project environment, especially during the initial phase of market growth. The position will involve regular presence at construction sites and client facilities, overseeing field activities, safety walks, and coordination with site teams. Within approximately one year, a dedicated brick-and-mortar office is expected to be established in the local market, providing a more permanent base for project and business operations. The role requires travel between locations, including regular travel between Louisville and Cleveland, to support project execution, client meetings, and team coordination.

Recruiter: Eisen Hardy - 'View email address on click.appcast.io'

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of New Albany, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $150000.00 - $250000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

5 week PTO 7 paid holiday $1,000 monthly vehicle allowance 20% bonus target

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of New Albany, OH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 29, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in New Albany,OH.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.