Construction Project Manager, Commercial

Pepper Construction; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Pepper Construction is seeking a Project Manager to lead commercial construction efforts across southern Wisconsin, including health care, multi-family, industrial, and mixed-use markets. You will oversee safety, strategy, budgeting, and client relations from preconstruction through closeout, ensuring on-budget, on-schedule delivery for complex projects.

You will manage teams of engineers and superintendents, work from Milwaukee and Madison offices, and apply Lean principles to improve

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field.
• Experience managing commercial construction projects while leading collaborative teams.
• Proven ability to lead large, complex projects—ideally in healthcare, education, institutional, or mixed-use markets.
• Strong business acumen and working knowledge of preconstruction, estimating, and bidding.
• Proficiency in project management and collaboration software.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all phases of construction to deliver safe, high-quality, on-budget, and on-schedule projects
• Develop and manage project budgets, schedules, and forecasts
• Lead subcontractor procurement and negotiation
• Monitor performance, resolve conflicts, and ensure compliance with contract documents and safety standards
• Manage financial outcomes through cost control and forecasting
• Direct closeout, commissioning, and turnover to ensure client satisfaction
• Successfully manage projects exceeding $25 million
• Lead by example—modeling safety, integrity, and teamwork
• Motivate and develop project engineers, superintendents, and other team members
• Communicate clearly and proactively across all project levels
• Foster collaboration and accountability within project teams
• Ensure safety protocols and procedures are followed at all times
• Conduct regular jobsite inspections for compliance and quality assurance
• Address variances promptly with clear documentation and corrective action
• Apply Lean principles to improve performance and eliminate waste
• Cultivate trusted relationships with clients and partners
• Support business development by identifying new opportunities and participating in presentations and interviews
• Negotiate and secure repeat and referral work

Skills

Project leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Subcontractor negotiation

Lean principles

Communication across project levels

Experience managing commercial builds

Preconstruction, estimating, bidding

Project management software

Education

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

Tools

Project management software

Job description

Working on commercial construction project sites across southern Wisconsin in various markets including health care, multi-family mixed use, industrial, and more, Project Managers lead the overall safety, strategy, and success of complex construction projects—from preconstruction through closeout. They drive results through collaboration, disciplined execution, and strong relationships with clients, trade partners, and internal teams.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Project Leadership

• Oversee all phases of construction to deliver safe, high-quality, on-budget, and on-schedule projects
• Develop and manage project budgets, schedules, and forecasts
• Lead subcontractor procurement and negotiation
• Monitor performance, resolve conflicts, and ensure compliance with contract documents and safety standards
• Manage financial outcomes through cost control and forecasting
• Direct closeout, commissioning, and turnover to ensure client satisfaction
• Successfully manage projects exceeding $25 million

Team & People

• Lead by example—modeling safety, integrity, and teamwork
• Motivate and develop project engineers, superintendents, and other team members
• Communicate clearly and proactively across all project levels
• Foster collaboration and accountability within project teams

Quality & Safety

• Ensure safety protocols and procedures are followed at all times
• Conduct regular jobsite inspections for compliance and quality assurance
• Address variances promptly with clear documentation and corrective action
• Apply Lean principles to improve performance and eliminate waste

Client & Business Development

• Cultivate trusted relationships with clients and partners
• Support business development by identifying new opportunities and participating in presentations and interviews
• Negotiate and secure repeat and referral work

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field
• Experience managing commercial construction projects while leading collaborative teams
• Proven ability to lead large, complex projects—ideally in healthcare, education, institutional, or mixed-use markets
• Strong business acumen and working knowledge of preconstruction, estimating, and bidding
• Proficiency in project management and collaboration software
• Willingness to work from offices and project sites between Milwaukee and Madison

At Pepper, our values guide everything we do:

• We do the right thing.
• We find a way.
• We care.