Division Manager - Construction Management

City of Wilmington, NC; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid holidays

Job summary

City of Wilmington, NC seeks a Construction Management - Division Manager to lead the City’s Construction Management team and oversee projects from planning to delivery.

You will guide project managers and inspectors, ensuring safety, efficiency, and high standards across public infrastructure and private development work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or closely related field from an accredited university.
• Strong knowledge of construction management practices for public infrastructure and private development projects.
• Familiarity with engineering principles, standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with contract administration, budgeting, and procurement processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Construction Management team and project managers.
• Oversee permitting, contracts, budgets, and compliance with standards.
• Coordinate with engineers, departments, contractors, and the public on project delivery.
• Develop value engineering alternatives and review project design decisions.
• Chair meetings (pre-bid, progress) and represent the City to agencies and media.

Skills

Leadership

Construction oversight

Budgeting

Public works

Contract administration

Stakeholder communication

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering

Job description

The City of Wilmington is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Position Description

One City. One Team. One Community.

As the Construction Management - Division Manager, you’ll play a key leadership role in shaping the projects, infrastructure, and development that help our community thrive. You’ll lead the City’s Construction Management team, guiding project managers and construction inspection personnel while ensuring City construction and private development projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards.

Why This Position Matters

Great communities don’t happen by accident—they’re built through strong leadership, thoughtful planning, and people who care about getting the details right. In this role, your leadership will directly influence the quality, efficiency, and success of projects that residents, businesses, and visitors rely on every day.

You’ll serve as a critical connection between engineering, construction, City departments, contractors, developers, and the public. From overseeing contracts and project finances to maintaining technical standards and providing solutions to complex construction challenges, you’ll help turn plans into projects that make a lasting difference.

Typical Tasks

• Supervises staff by implementing departmental procedures and guidelines for daily tasks and activities, assigning project management and inspection duties, evaluating performance, making field visits, coaching for improvement, recommending personnel actions and being responsible for management of the division and construction project budgets.
• Oversees and coordinates the permitting of City construction projects and ensures compliance with professional engineering requirements and city technical standards; administers construction contracts for City projects. High degree of responsibility for public health and safety.
• Directs the work of surveyors, environmental consultants, geotechnical consultants, computer-aided drafting specialists, geographical information systems specialists, and engineering interns to produce construction drawings for multiple capital projects. Supervises work of consulting engineers, providing directives and guidance on complex administrative and technical issues.
• Fiscal management of multiple City projects, involving the preparation of project applications; project justifications; grant applications; and cost estimates. Monitors budgets; negotiates contract amendments; and initiates change orders.
• Develop alternatives for value engineering on project designs. Weigh competing criteria between alternatives for decision-making in a multifaceted context (e.g., public relations vs. economic feasibility vs. materials availability vs. workforce capabilities vs. operation & maintenance considerations vs. life-cycle costs vs. regulatory agency requirements, etc.).
• Authors technical specifications and creates construction details for improvements to existing methods; to address new technologies; and to maintain compliance with changes in regulations. These documents must be practical and functional in a frequently contentious and volatile construction contract environment.
• Chairs public information meetings; pre-bid meetings; pre-construction meetings; and progress meetings for capital project construction. Represents City in meetings with regulatory agencies and respond to media inquiries. Prepare public notices.
• Provides internal support by determining appropriate materials for various applications, completing design modifications, and assisting with contract issues.
• Stays abreast of changes in regulations, construction methods and industry standards through continuing education, as required for project assignments.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or closely related program from an accredited university.

Experience

Five (5) years of increasingly responsible direct work experience in construction management, including all aspects of process development and execution.

Requirements

Valid Class C Driver's License

Knowledge

• Knowledge of construction management practices for public infrastructure and private development projects
• Knowledge of engineering principles, standards, and regulatory requirements
• Knowledge of contract administration, budgeting, and procurement processes
• Knowledge of municipal policies, technical specifications, and inspection procedures

Skills

• Skill in construction oversight, contract administration, and quality control
• Skill in budgeting, financial tracking, and resource allocation
• Skill in communication and public relations with stakeholders, contractors, and the public
• Skill in reviewing technical documents, plans, and specifications
• Skill in personnel management, including coaching, performance evaluation, conflict resolution, and staff development

Abilities

• Ability to lead and coordinate multiple construction projects simultaneously
• Ability to ensure compliance with regulations, standards, and contract requirements
• Ability to represent the department effectively in meetings and public settings
• Ability to develop and recommend policies, procedures, and technical standards
• Ability to provide technical guidance and support across departments
• Ability to lead and motivate a diverse team, foster accountability, and maintain a productive, collaborative work environment

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands

Office Work: Primarily sedentary, involving prolonged sitting, computer use, telephone and office equipment operation, and standard office tasks. Requires visual acuity, hearing, and manual dexterity for reviewing documents, analyzing data, and completing administrative responsibilities.

General Requirements: The position involves occasional travel to meetings, evening events, or after-hours response. All work is performed in compliance with applicable State and Federal OSHA regulations, including hazard communication, personal protective equipment, and slip, trip, and fall prevention.

Working Conditions

This position is primarily office-based, utilizing standard office equipment in a climate-controlled setting and adhering to applicable safety and ergonomic guidelines. The role also requires occasional fieldwork at transportation, streets, and stormwater project and construction sites, with exposure to outdoor conditions, traffic, noise, and uneven terrain, and occasional standing, walking, or lifting of light materials with appropriate safety measures in place.

The position functions in a fast-paced, collaborative, and public-facing municipal environment, involving interaction with elected officials, employees, community members, and external partners. Attendance at evening meetings and occasional after-hours or emergency response may be required.

Our Core Values

INCLUSION | COLLABORATION | CREATIVITY | ACCOUNTABILITY

Our Mission Statement

Through forward-thinking policies and responsible stewardship, we are creating a better city every day with excellent core services and quality of life for all.

What We Offer

The City of Wilmington believes that employees are one of our most important resources. We offer an excellent salary and competitive benefits package to serve the needs of our employees and their families. Our benefits package includes:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance + many other insurance options
• Excellent retirement benefits, including a city provided 4.5% contribution each pay period into a 401(k) account and automatic enrollment into the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ Retirement System
• Employer-paid health & wellness clinic
• Free on-site city gym access
• Paid sick and vacation leave + 13 paid holidays per year
• 6-weeks paid parental leave
• Paid volunteer & blood donation leave to give back to our community
• Flex schedule and telework availability, depending on your position
• Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives
• Tuition assistance benefits

Health Insurance

The City offers two options for health coverage: a standard PPO plan and a High Deductible Health Plan with an associated Health Savings Account. Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following hire for employees and their eligible dependents. Both you and the City contribute to the overall cost of coverage.

Dental Insurance

Coverage becomes effective the first day of the month following hire. Employees, their spouse and dependent children are eligible for coverage.

Life Insurance

The city pays to provide coverage valued at one times your annual salary. Supplemental insurance is available for employees to purchase. Optional coverage for dependents is also available for purchase.

Retirement

• NC Local Government Retirement System - All benefits eligible employees make a mandatory 6% contribution every pay period.
• Deferred Compensation – The city contributes an amount equal to 4.5% of the annual salary to a 401(k) plan regardless of employee contribution. Employees may choose to contribute additional money to the 401(k) or 457 deferred compensation plans, without a match from the City, within the IRS guidelines.

Paid Leave (offered to employees working at least 1,000 hours annually*)

• Sick Leave - 12 days accrued each year
• Annual Leave - Accrual based on years of service and classification. Employees can earn from 10 to 24 days each year.
• Holidays - 13 paid holidays annually
• Paid Parental Leave - Six weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or placement of a child (must run concurrently with FMLA).
• Part-Time Employees will earn paid leave benefits on a pro-rated basis.

Miscellaneous

• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Cancer & Critical Illness
• Accident Insurance
• Whole Life Insurance
• Credit Union membership
• Access to City Fitness Center

Note: The City of Wilmington is on a bi-weekly pay cycle. New employees should expect to receive their first paycheck approximately 4 weeks after their start date.

This is intended to be a brief overview of the benefits offered. Please visit our website at https://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/Government/Departments-Divisions/Human-Resources/Benefits for more information.