Chief Operating Officer - Construction

Employment Resource Group, Inc.An EOS company; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 130,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Employment Resource Group, Inc. seeks an experienced construction operations leader to join the executive team. You will work shoulder to shoulder with the President and leadership to shape strategy and own its execution across the business.

You will connect the full project lifecycle from design and preconstruction planning through field delivery, building processes, teams, and accountability structures to enable the company to scale.

Qualifications

• 15 years of progressive experience in commercial construction project management.
• Deep understanding of construction processes, building codes, safety regulations, and industry best practices.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor multiple department managers.
• Ability to perform duties independently and expeditiously with minimal supervision, and strong planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the President and CFO to develop strategic goals and implement operational activities that support them.
• Partner with functional leaders across the project lifecycle to implement department-specific initiatives that support strategic goals.
• Develop and implement operational strategies and core processes that enhance efficiency and productivity.
• Ensure adherence to project schedules, budgets, and quality standards across departments, with focus on client experience.
• Ensure core processes are documented, communicated regularly, and followed by all team members.
• Lead initiatives to recruit, hire, train, mentor, and retain operations team members.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Strategic thinking

Communication

Mentoring

Problem solving

Job description

At this company, leadership shows up on the jobsite, not just in the boardroom. Decisions are made with the same care whether the person affected is a client, a teammate, or a subcontractor, and “doing the right thing” is treated as a daily practice rather than a poster on the wall. Team members are trusted to solve problems creatively and are given real ownership over outcomes. It is a place where collaboration genuinely drives how work gets done, not just how it gets described.

Dream Job

This is a rare opportunity to step into a true operational leadership seat, working shoulder to shoulder with the President and executive leadership to shape strategy and then own its execution across the business. You will be the connective tissue across the full project lifecycle, from early design and preconstruction planning through field execution, building the processes, teams, and accountability structures that let the company scale. For a seasoned construction operations leader who wants direct influence on company direction and a clear path to broader executive responsibility, this role delivers both.

Role Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the President and CFO to develop strategic goals and implement operational activities that support them
• Partner with functional leaders across the project lifecycle, from design and preconstruction through project management and field execution, to implement department-specific initiatives that support strategic goals
• Develop and implement operational strategies and core processes that enhance efficiency and productivity
• Ensure adherence to project schedules, budgets, and quality standards across departments, with a focus on outstanding client experience
• Ensure core processes are simplified, documented, communicated regularly, and followed by all team members
• Act as a problem solver, providing recommendations and options to help resolve operational challenges
• Collaborate with department leaders to recruit, hire, train, mentor, and retain operations team members
• Foster a positive, collaborative work environment focused on continuous learning and development
• Develop and implement department-specific and individual training and mentoring programs to support growth and succession planning
• Oversee resource utilization and allocation by department to optimize team member efficiency
• Work with department leaders to select, purchase, and implement technologies that improve productivity
• Serve as the primary liaison between operational department leaders and executive leadership, ensuring alignment from early planning through field delivery
• Work with department leaders to optimize procurement and supply chain management
• Champion a culture of safety, ensuring compliance with OSHA standards and company policies
• Lead initiatives to improve safety performance and reduce risk on all project sites
• Establish and enforce quality control standards and procedures
• Engage legal and risk management resources to review and negotiate design consultant, subcontractor, and purchase order agreements, minimizing company risk
• Engage legal resources as needed to address contractual performance deficiencies by design consultants, subcontractors, or suppliers
• Collaborate with the CFO and risk management resources on annual insurance renewal
• Collaborate with the internal team and external consultants to promote and elevate the company's brand and reputation
• Take an active role in the company's lead generation initiatives
• Generate proposal information and participate in customer presentations as requested
• Monitor and verify customer satisfaction across the operations group

Qualifications

• 15 years of progressive experience in commercial construction project management, including at least 5 years leading multiple direct reports
• Deep understanding of construction processes, building codes, safety regulations, and industry best practices
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams
• Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor multiple department managers
• Ability to perform duties independently and expeditiously with minimal supervision, and strong planning skills