Head of Engineering and Project Management

Kitchell seeks an experienced and dedicated Project Manager II to join our Southern California region in San Diego to build a long‑term career at one of the most innovative and growth‑oriented building companies in the United States.

Provide PM/CM services under Division of the State Architect (DSA) guidelines in the Community College and/or K‑12 Construction Market Sector. This position is client facing with project scope from pre‑construction through closeout.

Provides scoping, oversight of schedule, budget, quality control, change order reviews, including time impact analysis, estimates and contractor performance

Coordinates with architects, engineers, inspectors, contractors, school sites, and District staff to ensure projects are delivered safely on time, and within approved budgets

Ensures compliance with DSA requirements, District standards, safety regulations, and contract documents

Prepares project documentation, progress reports, and supports issue resolution throughout all phases of construction

Reviews pre‑construction documents and submits comments to Designer as necessary

Plans, organizes, and prepares reports to upper management with respect to the status and/or progress of the projects

Coordinates with all pertinent public agencies during pre‑construction and construction to comply with all off‑site work, coordinates with various District and Project staff

Manages the project budget and schedule to maintain qualitative standards which reflects the project status and progress

Manages daily activities of the contractor, reviews contractors’ construction schedules and submittals, and coordinates responses to the contractors’ inquiries thru the Requests for Clarifications (RFC) and other related documents

Receives, reviews, and negotiates Contractor Change Order Proposal(s) to achieve a fair & reasonable price in accordance with the General Conditions

Reviews and addresses all Schedule impacts in accordance with the project specifications in a timely manner

Monitors and manages project close‑out with respect to project certification with the Division of State Architects (DSA) and project financial close out

Minimum of 7–10 years or more of experience managing public sector or K‑12 or community college construction projects, including active construction oversight is required

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Architecture, Engineering, or a related field is required. (Experience utilizing Building Information Modeling (BIM) is preferred

Experience with Division of the State Architect (DSA) construction/design processes is required

An RA Certificate or PE Registration from the State of California is preferred

A valid Certified Construction Manager (CCM) credential or Project Management Professional (PMP) credential is strongly preferred

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must regularly work in an office and/or construction environment. Conditions regularly include exposure to outdoor elements, hot/cold temperatures, wet conditions, noise, atmospheric conditions, and cramped quarters. Travel Requirements

Founded in 1950, Kitchell began as a commercial contracting business and over the years developed new talents and enterprises, acquiring complementary businesses and expertise to remain competitive. We provide a wide range of services within the built environment, including general contracting, construction management, development, facilities management, engineering, architecture, and myriad other services. Our employees manage projects from our main offices located in Arizona, California, and Texas. We offer an entrepreneurial environment that fosters personal and professional growth through in‑house education programs, formal and informal mentoring, and cross‑training opportunities. At Kitchell, we prioritize internal growth and building careers from within. We consistently rank among the top places to work, thanks to our tenured staff and outstanding benefits that are designed to enrich our employees’ physical, mental, emotional, and financial well‑being. These benefits include company performance bonuses, discretionary stock options, incentive bonuses, health, and life insurance, health savings accounts (HSA) with wellness incentives, flexible spending accounts (FSA), 401(k) plans with a 4% company match, tuition reimbursement, weight loss programs, discounted auto insurance, identity theft protection, rewards programs, and much more.

Kitchell is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

The Company’s salary ranges are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual pay is determined through interviews and an assessment of various factors, including job‑related skills, relevant education and experience, abilities of the applicant and equity with other team members.