Director of Construction Operations

Audubon Companies; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Audubon Companies in Houston, TX seeks a Director of Construction Operations to oversee planning, execution, and turnover of midstream oil & gas projects, leading PM teams and ensuring alignment with strategic goals.

You will mentor construction leaders, manage safety, schedule adherence, budgeting, and client relationships across multiple sites, report to the VP, Construction Operations, and support business development and proposals.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of industry-related experience as a Construction Manager or Director within the Midstream Sector.
• Effective communication skills and experience in relationship management.

Responsibilities

• Lead all construction operations for oil & gas projects, ensuring safe, efficient execution from mobilization through turnover.
• Provide strategic leadership to Construction Managers, Site Managers, and field teams across multiple projects.
• Champion safety by ensuring compliance with policies, client requirements, OSHA regulations, and best practices.
• Develop and implement construction execution strategies aligned with project objectives and contracts.
• Oversee field productivity, labor utilization, and resource deployment to maximize efficiency.
• Drive planning: staffing, equipment, logistics, work packaging, and site execution plans.
• Collaborate with engineering, procurement, and controls to ensure constructability and schedule adherence.
• Monitor progress against KPIs: labor productivity, earned value, cost performance, and milestones.
• Resolve field execution challenges, scope changes, and risks with minimal impact on safety/quality/budget.
• Ensure QA/QC, codes, client specs, and regulatory standards are met.
• Review schedules, look-ahead plans, S-curves, manpower forecasts, and productivity reports.
• Oversee subcontractor performance and flowdown requirements.
• Lead regular construction meetings with clients, subs, and stakeholders.
• Support project financial performance by monitoring labor costs and change management.
• Mentor construction leaders and drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Drive innovative construction methods and technology adoption to improve delivery.
• Maintain strong client relationships and represent the company on projects.
• Support business development with construction expertise during proposals and presentations.
• Ensure successful turnover through punch lists, commissioning support, and closeout.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationships

Project management

Safety culture

Strategic planning

Budgeting & cost control

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Job description

The Director of Construction Operations oversees the planning, execution, and completion of construction projects within a designated market space or geographic area. This role ensures projects align with the company's strategic goals, focusing on client relationships and leading project management teams. This position reports to the VP, Construction Operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all construction operations for oil & gas projects, ensuring safe, efficient, and successful execution from mobilization through mechanical completion and turnover.
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight to Construction Managers, Site Managers, and field supervision teams across multiple projects and locations.
• Champion a culture of safety excellence by ensuring compliance with company policies, client requirements, OSHA regulations, and industry best practices.
• Develop and implement construction execution strategies that align with project objectives, contractual commitments, and organizational goals.
• Oversee field productivity, labor utilization, and resource deployment to maximize efficiency and achieve project performance targets.
• Drive construction planning efforts, including staffing, equipment, logistics, work packaging, and site execution plans.
• Collaborate with engineering, procurement, project controls, and project management teams to ensure constructability, schedule adherence, and effective project delivery.
• Monitor construction progress against key performance indicators, including labor productivity, earned versus burned hours, cost performance, and schedule milestones.
• Lead the resolution of field execution challenges, scope changes, and operational risks while minimizing impacts to project safety, quality, schedule, and budget.
• Ensure construction activities comply with quality assurance and quality control requirements, applicable codes, client specifications, and regulatory standards.
• Review and evaluate construction schedules, look-ahead plans, S-curves, manpower forecasts, and productivity reports to identify trends and implement corrective actions.
• Oversee subcontractor performance, ensuring adherence to contractual obligations, safety standards, quality requirements, and project expectations through effective flowdown management.
• Facilitate regular construction meetings with clients, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders to review progress, coordinate activities, and proactively address issues.
• Support project financial performance by monitoring labor costs, field budgets, productivity metrics, and change management activities.
• Lead workforce development initiatives by mentoring construction leaders, succession planning, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Drive implementation of innovative construction methods, technologies, and operational improvements that enhance project execution and organizational performance.
• Maintain strong client relationships and serve as a senior construction representative, ensuring client satisfaction and successful project outcomes.
• Support business development efforts by providing construction expertise during proposals, estimating reviews, execution planning, and client presentations.
• Ensure successful project turnover through completion of punch list activities, commissioning support, turnover documentation, and closeout requirements.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

Required:

• Minimum of 10 years of industry-related experience as a Construction Manager or Director within the Midstream Sector, with experience working both EPC Projects and stand-alone Construction Projects.
• Effective communication skills and experience in relationship management.

Preferred:

• 15 years of experience in managing large multi-discipline EPC and/ or C only Projects.
• Experience in client management.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to travel to client jobsites, usually involving heavy industrial production facilities and accessing all areas of the facility. Therefore, the employee is exposed to moving mechanical parts; high precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; and the risk of electric shock. The noise level in workplace can be loud to moderate depending on assignment.

Health, Safety, and Environmental Responsibilities:

• All employees are responsible for supporting Audubon Companies’ Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) policies and procedures. This includes:
• Performing duties in a manner that protects personal and team health and safety
• Participating in required HSE training, meetings, and reporting activities
• Identifying and reporting hazards, near misses, and unsafe conditions
• Following safe work practices and complying with applicable regulatory requirements

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled