Construction Manager/Owner Representative

Austin NAWIC; Tampa, Northern (FL, KY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Paligen Technologies seeks an experienced Construction Manager/Owner Representative to oversee field construction on large-scale, defense-influenced projects in Tampa, FL. You will coordinate EPC partners, GCs, and engineers across multi-disciplinary teams from planning to commissioning.

The role demands 10+ years in construction project management, with 5+ years in defense-related or heavy industrial settings, strong leadership, and proven safety performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree required in CM/Engineering or related field.
• Proven leadership and effective communication in complex projects.
• Experience with defense-heavy, regulated, or industrial capital projects preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop project plans with scope, budget, schedule, and resources.
• Coordinate EPC firms, A&E, GC, engineers, and subcontractors.
• Oversee delivery of complex industrial and chemical processing facilities.
• Ensure alignment of requirements with stakeholder needs.
• Manage milestones to deliver on time within regulated environments.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and foster safety and accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Contract management

Safety awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Tools

MS Project

Primavera

Regulatory compliance tools

Job description

Construction Manager/Owner Representative

Position Title: Construction Manager
Job Family: Program Management
Company: Paligen Technologies
Location: Onsite - Tampa, FL

We are seeking an experienced Construction Manager/Owner Representative with deep expertise in managing large-scale, new build construction projects—preferably within defense, industrial, and chemical processing environments. This role will collaborate with EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) partners, General Contractors, and multi‑disciplinary engineering teams to oversee and direct all field construction activities on projects typically valued at $200M+. The ideal candidate will be a key member for all phases of high‑complexity, regulated facility construction—from planning through commissioning. Candidates should have experience delivering capital projects in environments governed by defense‑related requirements, safety standards, and government regulation, with exposure to energetics, explosives handling, industrial utilities, and process‑safety‑driven construction.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive project plans including scope, budget, schedule, and resource allocation.
• Select and coordinate EPC firms, A&E partners, General Contractors, engineers, and subcontractors.
• Apply expertise in delivering complex industrial, manufacturing, and chemical processing facilities.
• Ensure project requirements and technical deliverables are fully aligned with stakeholder needs.
• Manage project milestones to ensure on‑time delivery within highly regulated construction environments.
• Technical writing skills to develop contracts and agreements thru the project lifecycle.

Subcontract Management

• Coordinate with Supply Chain to define requirements and develop statements of work.
• Support selection of GC, A&E, and qualified subcontractors, including those specializing in energetics, blast‑resistant design, process systems, and industrial infrastructure.
• Oversee subcontractor performance with focus on cost, schedule, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Budget Management

• Prepare and manage project budgets, cost estimates, procurement packages, and financial reporting.
• Implement cost‑control strategies informed by experience in industrial and process‑driven capital projects.

Safety Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with safety, environmental, and quality programs, including those related to energetics, explosives safety, and process safety management (PSM).
• Oversee field execution to maintain adherence to technical standards and construction specifications.

Stakeholder Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients, military personnel, government agencies, regulatory bodies, engineers, and internal leadership.
• Provide consistent progress reporting, risk assessments, and actionable issue resolution.
• Ensure alignment across multiple stakeholders and disciplines.

Risk Management

• Identify risks related to site safety, environmental permitting, process hazards, industrial operations, and schedule impacts.
• Develop mitigation plans to minimize project disruption.
• Address issues, conflicts, delays, and unforeseen challenges during construction.

Team Leadership

• Lead and motivate multidisciplinary project teams including engineers, GC staff, subcontractors, and administrative teams.
• Foster a culture of safety, accountability, responsiveness, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum of 10+ years of construction project management experience, including 5+ years supporting defense‑related or heavy industrial construction.
• Strong background managing large‑scale projects involving process systems, industrial utilities, or chemical manufacturing environments.
• Experience working with DoD stakeholders, military personnel, and regulatory agencies.
• Proven ability to deliver projects safely, on time, and within budget.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• High integrity and collaborative working style.
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera).
• Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Preferred

• PMP certification or advanced degree.
• Experience in energetics, explosives handling facilities, PSM‑regulated environments, industrial estimating, or chemical processing plant construction.
• LEED accreditation or contractor licensing (e.g., CGC) is a plus.

Other Requirements

• Travel: ~20%
• Work Environment: Manufacturing sites, active construction projects, and office settings
• Background Investigation / Drug Screen / US person: Required.

Paligen Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value the unique skills and capabilities that our team members bring to our mission. We make all hiring and employment decisions based solely on individual qualifications, merit, and business needs. We strictly prohibit discrimination, ensuring a fair and objective selection process for all applicants.

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