Assistant Construction Manager

Hanwha Philly Shipyard; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Philly Shipyard is seeking an Assistant Construction Manager to coordinate and execute shipyard construction activities across vessel-build phases. This field-based role supports day-to-day production, identifies constraints, and helps ensure safe, efficient, and quality-driven construction in line with schedules and contract requirements.

You will work under senior leadership to coordinate across planning, engineering, QA/QC, safety, and subcontractor teams, developing strong shipyard

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Maritime, Industrial Technology, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of experience in shipbuilding, ship repair, heavy industrial construction, or related fields.
• Experience coordinating work across production, planning, quality, safety, and subcontractors.
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, technical documents, and work instructions.
• Bilingual English/Korean preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and execute shipyard construction activities across vessel-build phases.
• Support safety procedures and risk mitigation with HSE and leadership.
• Serve as field-based point of contact to identify constraints and accelerate issue resolution.
• Provide timely feedback on progress, constraints, and forecasted risks.
• Collaborate with production, planning, engineering, QA/QC, safety, procurement, and subcontractors.
• Support turnover, inspections, and readiness for testing and commissioning.

Skills

Field leadership

Cross-functional coordination

Safety & compliance

Reading drawings

Multidisciplinary communication

Bilingual English/Korean

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Maritime, Industrial Technology, or related field

Job description

The Assistant Construction Manager supports the coordination and execution of shipyard construction activities across assigned phases of vessel construction. This role serves as a field-based support leader, assisting with day-to-day production execution, identifying constraints, supporting issue resolution, and helping ensure safe, efficient, and quality-driven construction in alignment with project schedules, contract requirements, and shipyard standards.

Working under senior construction and production leadership, the Assistant Construction Manager helps coordinate across disciplines, phases, and departments while developing strong shipyard construction knowledge and supporting real-time communication between planning, production, engineering, quality, safety, and subcontractor teams.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

Safety & Compliance

Support efforts to ensure that everyone inside the shipyard is safe and performing their work in accordance with our core principles.

• Support communication and enforcement of Hanwha Philly Shipyard safety procedures, rules, and regulations.
• Assist in identifying, communicating, and mitigating safety risks across assigned construction areas in coordination with HSE and construction leadership.
• Develop and maintain working knowledge of vessel hazards including confined spaces, tanks, scaffolding, hot work, testing & commissioning activities, and other high-risk operations.
• Promote a strong safety culture across production teams, subcontractors, and supporting departments.

Construction Execution & Coordination

• Support the coordination and execution of construction activities across assigned vessel-build phases including:
• Hull erection and structural outfitting
• Machinery installation
• Electrical and systems integration
• Coatings, insulation, and joinery
• Testing, commissioning, and final outfitting
• Coordinate daily execution with Foremen, Supervisors, Planners, and Coordinators to help ensure work is sequenced efficiently and executed per plan.
• Assist as a field-based point of contact for construction-related issues, helping identify constraints, communicate risks, support issue resolution, and expedite items requiring senior management decision-making.
• Support and adapt to ad-hoc priorities driven by production realities, material availability, design changes, or schedule impacts.

Schedule, Progress & Reporting

• Support project schedules by helping ensure assigned construction activities align with milestones established by Project Management and Planning.
• Provide accurate, timely feedback on construction progress, constraints, and forecasted risks to construction and production leadership.
• Participate in Plan of the Day (POD) meetings and other coordination forums.
• Identify deviations from planned execution and elevate risks impacting safety, quality, cost, or schedule.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with:
• Production
• Planning
• Project Management
• QA/QC
• HSE
• Procurement and Material Control
• Turnkey subcontractors
• Serve as a bridge between office-based planning and field execution, helping ensure intent translates into reality.
• Support coordination with subcontractors and vendors to maintain construction flow, resolve constraints, and uphold quality standards.

Quality & Completion Support

• Support efforts to ensure construction work meets quality standards, specifications, and contractual requirements.
• Participate in inspections, walkthroughs, and deficiency resolution in coordination with QA/QC and Completion teams.
• Support area turnover, close-out activities, and readiness for testing and commissioning.
• Assist in resolving punch list items and construction-related deficiencies impacting vessel completion.
• Support construction leadership by communicating priorities, following up on assigned actions, and helping maintain accountability with production teams and subcontractors.
• Maintain effective communication across multiple organizational levels.
• Support workforce productivity, morale, and accountability through consistent follow-up and field presence.
• Lead by example in professionalism, adaptability, and problem-solving.

COMPETENCIES

• Strong communication skills across technical and non-technical teams, both verbally and written
• Problem-solving and decision-support in dynamic field environments
• Adaptability, organizational awareness, and willingness to learn shipyard construction processes
• Conflict resolution, follow-up, and stakeholder coordination
• Integrity, professionalism, and accountability
• Stress management in fast-paced, high-risk settings
• Team-oriented mindset with a hands-on leadership approach

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Maritime, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred
• 3-5+ years of experience in shipbuilding, ship repair, heavy industrial construction, manufacturing, production, maintenance, project engineering, or field-based operations preferred
• Experience coordinating work across production, engineering, planning, quality, safety, contractors, vendors, or maintenance teams
• Ability to read and interpret drawings, specifications, schedules, technical documents, and work instructions
• Strong understanding of safety, production flow, sequencing, equipment installation, commissioning, or field execution
• Shipyard experience preferred, but not required if the candidate brings strong heavy industrial, project execution, or manufacturing leadership experience
• Experience working across multiple disciplines and managing shifting priorities
• Bilingual English/Korean skills preferred, but not required

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position is primarily field-based within a heavy industrial shipyard environment. Exposure may include noise, heat, cold, dust, fumes, vibration, and outdoor weather conditions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, including walking long distances, climbing, working at heights, and standing for extended periods. Employment in this position is contingent upon passing the medical examination. Reasonable accommodations may be made.

POSITION TYPE / EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

This is an on-site, full-time, safety-sensitive position. Work hours may vary based on production schedules and operational needs.

OTHER DUTIES

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. Responsibilities may evolve based on project needs and business requirements. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time or without notice.

Hanwha Philly Shipyard is committed to equal opportunity for all applicants. The recruitment, selection, employment, and training of employees during employment shall be without discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, gender or age-except that the applicant must meet the minimum age requirement. Hanwha Philly Shipyard does not, and will not, discriminate because of the disability of such an individual.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.