Construction Manager

 

About Northwest Playground Equipment, Inc.

Northwest Playground Equipment is a fast-paced, collaborative, and customer-centric small business that provides turn-key solutions for designing, procuring, and constructing outdoor amenity solutions for public spaces. We partner with high-quality manufacturers to provide a variety of playground equipment options, playground safety surfacing, site furnishings, interactive play, and much more. We are an established company with a 30-year history of helping our customers build community through play.

About the Role

The Construction Manager is a newly created leadership role responsible for overseeing project execution while building out Northwest Playground Equipment’s construction management processes and procedures. Following contract execution, the Construction Manager serves as the client’s primary point of contact through project closeout. Because Northwest Playground Equipment subcontracts installation, this role manages installation and site work subcontractors and ensures projects are properly prepared, compliant, and delivered on schedule and on budget by managing contracts, subcontractor scopes, insurance and bonds, and regulatory requirements while identifying and resolving scope, scheduling, and documentation issues. The Construction Manager owns the project budget, plays a key role in bidding and estimating site development work, and works closely with the Construction Coordinator, who manages manufacturer ordering, freight, and delivery. Reporting to the COO, the role begins hands-on, managing projects directly, and will grow to supervise and develop additional Construction Managers as the team expands. The Construction Manager operates with a high degree of autonomy and partners with the COO to establish the standards, tools, and workflows the team will use going forward.

Responsibilities

The position includes, but may not be limited to, the following responsibilities and activities:

Client Relationship & Communication

• Receive projects from the Parks Consultant at contract execution, confirming scope, schedule, budget, and client expectations.
• Serve as the client’s primary point of contact from contract execution through closeout, leading kickoff meetings and providing regular progress, schedule, and budget updates.
• Communicate client requirements such as site access, delivery windows, and approvals to the Construction Coordinator and installers, so internal teams can focus on execution without direct client contact.
• Manage client expectations proactively, including delays, scope changes, and site issues, with timely and professional communication.
• Lead project meetings and prepare project status reporting for leadership.
• Lead project closeout with the client, including final walkthroughs, turnover documentation, and warranty information.

Team Leadership & Development

• As the team grows, supervise, coach, and direct Construction Managers, providing day-to-day guidance and technical support.
• Assign and prioritize workload across the team, balancing project demands with individual capacity.
• Onboard and train new Construction Managers on company processes, tools, and expectations.
• Conduct regular check-ins with team members and provide feedback to support their growth and performance.
• Review team members’ work product — budgets, submittals, change orders, and field documentation — for accuracy and completeness before it reaches leadership or clients.

Process & Procedure Development

• Partner with the COO to establish and document standardized processes, procedures, and templates for the Construction Management function.
• Identify gaps and inefficiencies in current workflows and lead the design of improved processes for budgeting, documentation, compliance, and field reporting.
• Create training materials and reference guides to support consistent execution across the team.
• Drive adoption of new processes and tools, gathering feedback and refining procedures as the team and company grow.

Proposal & Preconstruction Support (Scope Development)

• Support the proposal process by developing project scope through review of bid documents, site plans, and specifications.
• Provide pricing inputs for site development scopes (demolition, grading, drainage, surfacing, and site amenities).
• Solicit, evaluate, and level subcontractor and vendor quotes for inclusion in proposals.
• Identify permitting, prevailing wage, insurance, and compliance requirements during the proposal stage.
• Coordinate with Parks Consultants to ensure proposals reflect accurate scope, schedule, and cost assumptions.

Subcontractor Management

• Prequalify and onboard installation and site work subcontractors, verifying contractor registration, insurance, safety programs, capacity, and past performance.
• Prepare clear subcontractor scopes of work for each project.
• Schedule and direct installers across concurrent projects, balancing crew availability with project priorities.
• Hold subcontractors to manufacturer installation specifications, contract requirements, and quality standards.
• Evaluate subcontractor performance and maintain a reliable network of qualified installers.

Project Documentation & Install Packages

• Assemble install packages for subcontractors, including approved drawings, specifications, manufacturer installation instructions, and site information.
• Manage project submittals and approvals with clients, coordinating with the Construction Coordinator on manufacturer product data.
• Verify that all documentation aligns with contract requirements and approved changes.
• Maintain complete project records, including field reports, inspection records, and closeout documentation.

Project Budget & Cost Management

• Own the project budget from contract execution through closeout.
• Track committed and actual costs against the approved budget, including labor, materials, freight, and subcontractor costs.
• Ensure all approved change orders are reflected in the project budget and billed accurately.
• Prepare cost reports, identify budget variances, and escalate risks promptly to leadership.
• Reconcile vendor invoices, subcontractor billings, and purchase orders against budgeted amounts.
• Support monthly billing, cost reporting, and project closeout financial reconciliation.

Change Orders & Scope Management

• Review, prepare, and track change orders from initiation through approval and billing.
• Identify missing, unclear, or conflicting scope items and coordinate resolution.
• Work with clients to document scope changes.
• Ensure all changes are properly authorized and reflected in project documents.

Contracts, Insurance & Bonds

• Review and manage project contracts and subcontract agreements.
• Coordinate and track Certificates of Insurance (COI) for all required parties.
• Obtain, review, and maintain required performance and payment bonds.
• Ensure all contractual and insurance requirements are met prior to project start.

Compliance & Regulatory Requirements

• Ensure projects comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including permitting requirements.
• Ensure Northwest Playground Equipment and its subcontractors comply with L&I prevailing wage requirements, including filing Intents and Affidavits and submitting certified payroll where required.
• Verify installations meet applicable playground safety and accessibility standards, including ASTM F1487, CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook guidelines, and ADA requirements.
• Coordinate post-installation safety audits and surfacing testing as required by contract.
• Track compliance status and required documentation for each project.

Schedule Management & Risk Reduction

• Own management and communication of project scheduling.
• Monitor project schedules and identify potential delays.
• Partner with the Construction Coordinator to align material deliveries with installer schedules and site readiness.
• Proactively coordinate with subcontractors, vendors, and internal teams to reduce schedule slips.
• Support recovery plans for delayed materials, approvals, or installations.
• Communicate schedule risks and mitigation strategies to leadership and clients.

Field & Job Site Responsibilities

• Lead pre-installation site walks to verify site readiness, access, utilities, and existing conditions against approved drawings.
• Visit active job sites to assess subcontractor installation progress against schedule, scope, and budget.
• Ensure installers maintain safe job sites, and stop work or escalate when unsafe conditions are observed.
• Document field conditions, discrepancies, and progress through photos, field reports, and site notes.
• Identify and resolve field issues independently, escalating only those with schedule, cost, or safety impact.
• Lead punch list walks and drive completion of outstanding items through project closeout.
• Coordinate and lead site inspections with inspectors, clients, and regulatory agencies.

Required Experience and Education

• 6+ years of construction management or project management experience, including leading, mentoring, or supervising others, delegating work, and reviewing others’ output.Experience managing subcontractors, including scopes of work, scheduling, and quality control.
• Experience owning project budgets from award through closeout, including cost tracking, cost reporting, and job cost systems.
• Experience serving as the primary client contact on public-sector projects for cities, school districts, and park departments.
• Experience estimating and supporting proposals for site development work, including demolition, grading, drainage, and surfacing.
• Strong knowledge of construction documentation, contracts, insurance, bonds, and compliance processes.
• Experience developing, documenting, or improving processes and procedures.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel regularly to job sites across the Pacific Northwest.

Helpful Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification.
• Familiarity with Washington L&I requirements and prevailing wage regulations.
• Familiarity with playground safety and accessibility standards, including ASTM F1487, CPSC guidelines, and ADA requirements.
• Experience in a specialty contractor, supplier, or distributor environment.
• Experience field-checking installations against manufacturer installation guides.

Key Skills

• Reading and interpreting site plans, bid documents, and specifications.
• Building and managing schedules across multiple concurrent projects.
• Preparing and tracking change orders, submittals, and closeout documentation.
• Reviewing contracts, subcontract agreements, and certificates of insurance.
• Leading site walks, inspections, and punch lists.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and project management software.

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have

• Clear, professional communication with clients, installers, and internal teams.
• A collaborative approach to working with Parks Consultants, Construction Coordinators, and installers.
• The ability to spot project risks early and solve problems in the field.
• Exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills.
• The confidence to make decisions independently and the judgment to know when to escalate.
• High standards and a sense of ownership for results.

Working Hours

• Between 7:00a-5:00p, Monday - Friday
• This position works onsite out of the Issaquah office, out of a home office, and in the field.

Salary

• $100,000/yr to $120,000/yr

Benefits

• Hybrid schedule after 90-day Introductory Period
• Professional growth opportunities
• On-the-job training
• 10 paid Holidays
• Paid holiday shut down between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• 401k with 4% employer matching
• Lifestyle Spending Account
• Tuition reimbursement
• Business casual work attire
• Office snacks

All offers are contingent on the successful completion of pre-employment background checks. Relocation and sponsorship are not available. 

Northwest Playground Equipment is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.