Jr. Project Manager

ACTalent; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan with company matching

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Actalent in Knoxville, TN, is seeking a Junior Project Manager to support delivery of water and wastewater projects, pump stations, and civil construction. You will assist with scheduling, budgeting, procurement, and coordination across clients, subcontractors, and internal teams.

Role offers hands-on infrastructure exposure, opportunities for growth, and a collaborative PM environment with weekly site visits.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering or related field is required.
• 13 years of construction PM experience, with 12+ in construction PM preferred.
• Proficient budgeting, scheduling, and project coordination processes.
• Proficiency with Excel, Word, and Project for reporting and planning.
• Strong written and verbal communication with stakeholders.
• Ability to travel to project sites about weekly.

Responsibilities

• Develop, update, and monitor project timelines for water/wastewater and civil projects.
• Track costs and monitor expenditures to stay within budgets.
• Assist with procurement and resource planning for materials and subcontractors.
• Coordinate with clients, vendors, and internal teams on goals and milestones.
• Maintain accurate project documentation including reports and contracts.
• Support safety and quality control through site visits and reviews.
• Monitor subcontractor and vendor performance and escalate issues as needed.
• Communicate delays or risks to leadership to support timely resolution.
• Collaborate with project managers to align field operations with planning.
• Travel to project sites roughly once per week for on-site coordination.

Skills

Project scheduling

Budget tracking

Client coordination

MS Excel

MS Word

MS Project

Communication skills

Detail oriented

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering or related field

Construction Management or Civil Engineering emphasis

PMP or PM certifications a plus

Tools

Bluebeam

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Title: Junior Project Manager

Job Description

The Junior Project Manager supports the successful delivery of water and wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and civil construction projects in the Knoxville, TN area. This role assists project leaders with planning, coordination, and execution activities, ensuring projects are completed safely, on schedule, and within budget. The position offers hands-on exposure to large-scale infrastructure work, opportunities for professional growth, and a collaborative project management environment.

Responsibilities

• Support project scheduling activities, including developing, updating, and monitoring project timelines for water/wastewater, pump station, and civil construction projects.

• Assist with project budgeting by tracking costs, monitoring expenditures, and identifying budget variances to help keep projects within financial targets.

• Participate in procurement and resource planning by helping to source materials, equipment, and subcontractor services in alignment with project requirements.

• Coordinate regularly with clients, subcontractors, vendors, and internal teams to ensure clear communication and alignment on project goals, milestones, and expectations.

• Maintain accurate and organized project documentation, including reports, contracts, change orders, RFIs, and other key records throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support quality control efforts by participating in site visits, reviewing work against specifications, and helping to ensure compliance with regulatory and project standards.

• Assist with jobsite safety initiatives by reinforcing safety protocols, supporting risk management efforts, and helping to identify and address potential hazards.

• Help manage subcontractor and vendor performance by monitoring deliverables, timelines, and quality, and escalating issues when necessary.

• Monitor project schedules and promptly communicate delays, risks, or issues to project leadership and stakeholders, contributing to timely problem resolution.

• Collaborate with project managers to coordinate project activities, resolve coordination challenges, and maintain alignment between field operations and office-based planning.

• Utilize Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, and Project, to prepare reports, track data, and support planning and communication tasks.

• Travel to project sites approximately once per week to conduct site visits, attend meetings, and support on‑site coordination and oversight.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related field.

• 13 years of construction project management experience, with at least 12 years specifically in construction project management strongly preferred.

• Knowledge of construction budgeting, scheduling, and project coordination processes.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and Project, for documentation, reporting, and planning.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills to interact effectively with clients, subcontractors, vendors, and internal teams.

• Solid organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, documents, and priorities in a fast‑paced project environment.

• Effective problem‑solving skills, with the ability to identify issues, propose solutions, and support timely decision‑making.

• Detail‑oriented work style with a proactive approach to identifying and addressing project needs.

• Ability and willingness to travel to project sites approximately once per week.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelors degree preferably in Construction Management or Civil Engineering.

• Experience working on water or wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, or civil infrastructure projects.

• Familiarity with wastewater systems, wastewater treatment processes, and related construction practices.

• Experience using Bluebeam for reviewing drawings, documents, and project plans.

• Hands‑on experience with Microsoft Excel for data tracking, cost analysis, and schedule reporting.

• Exposure to managing or processing RFIs (Requests for Information) within construction projects.

• PMP or other project management certifications are a plus.

• Demonstrated ability to work as a strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills.

• Adaptable, self‑motivated, and eager to learn new methods, tools, and industry practices.

Work Environment

This role operates within a project management team focused on water, wastewater, and civil construction projects in and around Knoxville, TN. Work is performed in both office and field settings, with regular collaboration across engineering, construction, and operations groups. The position involves frequent use of Microsoft Office tools and project documentation systems, and may include use of Bluebeam and other construction‑related software. The Junior Project Manager visits project sites approximately once per week to support on‑site coordination, quality control, and safety initiatives. The work environment is supportive and collaborative, emphasizing professional development, mentorship, and teamwork. Employees benefit from a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings plan with company matching, and opportunities for career growth and advancement through hands‑on involvement in large‑scale infrastructure projects.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Knoxville, TN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $48.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job‑related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long‑term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Knoxville, TN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 19, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Knoxville,TN.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.