Director, Program Management

Gilder Search Group; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k)

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Onsite Birmingham headquarters

Job summary

Gilder Search Group in Birmingham, AL, seeks a Director of Program Management to own the full P&L across a portfolio of programs within a factory-based construction model. You will set client strategy, structure teams, and deliver outcomes across concurrent programs, with executive accountability and industry representation.

The role requires standing up new programs, reporting to the board, and managing high-stakes client relationships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Building Science, Data Analytics, or related field.
• Demonstrated portfolio of >$100M–$150M+ in actively managed contract revenue annually.
• Proven full P&L ownership across multiple programs.
• Ability to present and defend program performance to the board/C-suite.

Responsibilities

• Own full P&L across programs with explicit margin accountability.
• Build, restructure, and right-size the program team to meet demand.
• Develop and hold C-suite-level client relationships and long-term strategy.
• Lead capital and capacity planning: production capacity allocation, hiring, and investments.
• Stand up new programs and building types; launch new markets or categories.
• Take direct control of programs in difficulty and drive to health.
• Present program and business-case performance to leadership and the board.
• Represent the company externally at industry events and conferences.
• Champion safety and quality culture across every program.

Skills

P&L ownership

Executive leadership

Portfolio management

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management/Engineering

Master's degree beneficial

Tools

Project controls software

PMP certification (beneficial)

Job description

#jobalert | DIRECT PLACEMENT | DIRECTOR, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT | Birmingham, AL

Our client is a design-manufacture-construct firm that builds complex facilities using a factory-based, industrialized construction model. This role sits at the top of the Program Management function and owns an entire category of the company's project portfolio — full P&L, client strategy, team structure, and delivery outcomes across multiple concurrent programs. You will represent the company at the executive and industry level, stand up new programs and building types, and take direct control of programs when schedule, financial, or client-relationship stakes are highest. This is a builder-operator seat for someone who has already run large portfolios and wants ownership over an entire line of business, not oversight of a single project.

• Anticipated $250,000–$350,000, based on experience


• Full benefits package: health, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k); flexible spending accounts (FSA); PTO; short- and long-term disability; and life insurance


• Onsite at Birmingham, AL headquarters minimum 3 days/week (candidates in Atlanta or Nashville may be considered)


• Up to 25% travel

Overview

• Own full P&L across all programs in the assigned category, with explicit margin accountability


• Build, restructure, and right-size the program team to meet operational demand


• Develop and hold C-suite-level client relationships and long-term, multi-year account strategy


• Lead capital and capacity planning: production capacity allocation, hiring, and organizational investment


• Stand up new programs and building types; lead the operational launch of new markets or product categories


• Take direct control of programs in serious jeopardy and drive them back to health


• Present and defend program and business-case performance to executive leadership and the board


• Represent the company externally in the industry — conferences, publications, and standard bodies


• Champion safety and quality culture across every program

Preferred Skills / Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Building Science, Data Analytics, or related field; relevant Master's (MBA, Data Analytics) beneficial


• Professional certification beneficial (PMP, ASHE CHC, or equivalent)


• Demonstrated accountability for a portfolio exceeding $100M–$150M+ in actively managed contract revenue annually


• Proven full P&L ownership across multiple concurrent programs, including board/C-suite reporting


• Track record building and restructuring program teams


• Demonstrated C-suite client relationships — not PM-level contacts only


• Experience standing up new programs, markets, or building-type categories


• Deep command of contract strategy, claims, disputes, negotiation, and mediation


• Excellent communication skills and high technical/software proficiency


• Complex-project experience in Healthcare, EPC, or Mission Critical (Data Center) preferred

KEYWORDS

program director, program management, portfolio management, P&L, construction, modular construction, prefabrication, industrialized construction, design-build, healthcare construction, EPC, mission critical, data center, capital planning, capacity planning, preconstruction, project controls, JCR, change orders, subcontracts, claims management, client relationship management, PMP, ASHE, construction operations, general contractor, program delivery

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