Construction Operations Director

Burns & McDonnell; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Burns & McDonnell is seeking a Construction Operations Director to lead self-perform construction initiatives with a focus on safety, accountability, and high-quality execution. The role emphasizes strategic direction, leadership development, and strong stakeholder collaboration across global practices.

The ideal candidate has extensive experience in project management, budgeting, and client coordination, with a proven track record of delivering cost-effective, safe projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree and 13 years in engineering, construction, or project management or related experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to influence, lead, and manage change.
• Expert experience in managing projects: proposals, contract negotiations, planning, design coordination, budgeting, scheduling, and client coordination.
• Demonstrated success with budget, savings, or profit margins in completed projects.
• Willing to sit for state/local contractor license testing on behalf of the company.
• Microsoft Office proficiency (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization to ensure safety controls, qualifications, and planning requirements are followed.
• Develop and execute strategic business initiatives to achieve goals and OKRs.
• Ensure work stays within worker qualifications and pre-execution planning in high-risk environments.
• Measure and improve internal policies, processes, and procedures with field adoption.
• Drive leadership accountability and clear communication of expectations across all levels.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Project management

Change management

Budgeting

Client coordination

Education

Bachelor Degree in construction/engineering/business

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

The Construction Operations Director is responsible for the managerial leadership and direction of self-perform construction strategic business initiatives, execution management, and organizational leadership. This role leads in a dynamic and profitable manner while ensuring alignment with Burns & McDonnell's core objectives and Constructors core values. In addition to execution performance, this position is responsible for ensuring that leadership accountability, safety controls, and operational expectations are consistently followed.

• Lead the organization in a manner that ensures safety controls, task qualifications, and planning requirements are consistently followed.
• Manage development and execution of overall strategic business initiatives to achieve goals and objectives; and achieve stated targets and standards for company objectives & key results (OKRs).
• Ensure that work is not performed outside of defined worker qualifications and authorizations; and that planning requirements are met prior to execution in high-risk environments.
• Responsible for the measurement and effectiveness of internal policies, processes, and procedures, with emphasis on field adoption and compliance.
• Drive accountability across all levels of leadership to ensure that expectations are clearly communicated, understood, and followed through.
• Responsible for building relationships across various global practices and regional offices to support self-perform business objectives and ensure alignment of expectations.
• Responsible for ensuring self-perform scope has the proper resources and qualified personnel to support active and projected projects safely and cost-effective utilization of resources
• Responsible for overall successful execution of self-perform projects with a primary focus on safe, sustainable, and repeatable performance.
• Recruit, hire, develop, and retain employees with a focus on building leadership capability and accountability at all levels.
• Responsible for conducting performance evaluations for direct reports, including assessment of leadership accountability, ownership, and decision-making.
• Adhere to and enforce Burns & McDonnell Quality Control program.
• Ensure compliance with company HSES program and safety policies, with emphasis on consistent application and enforcement in the field.
• Responsible for the recruitment, development, training, and retention of staff.
• Responsible for conducting performance evaluations for department staff.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and instruction to the department.
• Responsible for interpreting the organization's policies, purposes, and goals to staff.
• Responsible for overall QA/QC process adherence.
• Enforce compliance with company and site safety policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all policies and standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor Degree in construction, engineering, business, or related field and 13 years in engineering, construction, or project management or related experience required.
• Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients. Position requires the ability to thoughtfully and positively influence, lead, and manage change. Must possess strong project management skills and a strategic perspective.
• Expert experience in managing projects, which includes proposal development, contract negotiations, project planning, design team coordination & communication, budgeting, schedule management, and client coordination.
• Demonstrated success as to budget, savings and/or profit margins in completed projects.
• Capable and willing to sit for state/local contractor license testing on behalf of Company.
• Expert knowledge of Microsoft Office suite to include Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.

This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.

EEO/Disabled/Veterans

Job: Construction Services

Primary Location: US-TX-Houston

Schedule: Full-time

Travel: Yes, 50 % of the Time

Job Hire Type: Experienced #LI-AN #REF N/A