General Manager

Knife River Corporation; Billings (MT); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Knife River Corporation seeks a strategic General Manager to lead daily operations of its construction and materials division in Billings, Montana. You will ensure quality, safety, and profitability across civil projects and production facilities, guiding teams in aggregate, asphalt, and ready‑mix concrete operations.

The role requires deep industry experience, strong operational mindset, and proven leadership ability, with oversight of planning, budgeting, and market analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 15+ years of relevant industry experience. An advanced degree is preferred.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible management experience.
• Minimum of 10 years in construction; 15+ years preferred.
• Proficiency with construction/industry software and systems.
• Strong leadership with a track record of mentoring teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, including public speaking.
• Experience in employee development and training initiatives.
• Deep knowledge of civil construction, asphalt paving, aggregates, ready‑mix concrete, and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing daily operations for civil construction and materials production/sales.
• Developing strategic and operational plans including budgets and forecasts.
• Identify capital improvements and maintenance needs to support objectives.
• Monitor bidding activity and material pricing for competitiveness.
• Ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget.
• Lead safety and compliance with MSHA, OSHA, EPA, and DNR regulations.
• Build relationships with customers and identify new opportunities.
• Collaborate with estimating on pricing and post‑bid analysis.
• Oversee equipment, plant, and facility maintenance and replacements.
• Establish an organizational structure that supports goals and growth.
• Provide leadership and foster a strong team culture.
• Travel as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Strategic planning

Communication/public speaking

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Construction/Engineering or 15+ years experience

Tools

Construction software

Job description

Knife River is seeking a strategic and experienced General Manager to lead the daily operations of our construction and materials division in the Billings, Montana region. This role is responsible for ensuring quality, safety, and profitability across civil projects and production facilities. Key responsibilities include managing civil construction projects and overseeing the production and sales of aggregate, asphalt, and ready‑mix concrete, all while ensuring operational efficiency across all business units. The ideal candidate brings deep industry experience, a strong operational mindset, and proven leadership ability.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing daily operations for civil construction, aggregate production and installation, asphalt production and sales, and ready‑mix concrete operations.
• Developing strategic and operational plans including financial forecasting, market and competitor analysis, and labor planning.
• Identifying capital improvement and maintenance needs to support business objectives.
• Monitoring bidding activity and materials pricing to ensure competitiveness within the market.
• Ensuring project execution stays on schedule and within budget.
• Partnering with safety and environmental leaders to develop, enforce, and support safety protocols and compliance with MSHA, OSHA, EPA, and DNR regulations.
• Building and maintaining relationships with key customers and identifying new business opportunities.
• Collaborating with estimating staff on project selection, pricing strategies, engineering input, and post‑bid performance assessments.
• Overseeing equipment, plant, and facility maintenance and replacement programs.
• Developing and maintaining an organizational structure that supports business goals.
• Providing leadership and vision that fosters employee growth, retention, and a strong team culture.
• Traveling as needed, including on short notice and for extended periods.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field, OR 15 years of relevant industry experience in lieu of a degree. An advanced degree is preferred.
• 5+ years of progressively responsible management experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in the construction industry, 15 or more years preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects.
• Proficiency with computer systems and software relevant to the construction and materials industry.
• Strong leadership abilities with a proven track record of managing and mentoring teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking and presentations.
• Experience in employee development, performance assessment, and training initiatives.
• Strong skills in estimating, planning, and operational analysis.
• In‑depth knowledge of civil construction practices, asphalt paving, underground utilities, grading and excavation, aggregates and material quality control, ready‑mix concrete production, and industry safety standards, metrics, and protocols.

How To Apply

If unable to apply online, please mail completed application to:

Knife River Billings
4014 Hesper Rd
Billings, MT 59106

Knife River is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status or any other protected category under applicable state/federal law.

Subject to pre‑employment drug testing and background checks.

Women, minorities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.