Lead Project Manager, Commercial Construction

Cobalt Recruitment; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Health savings account

Cell phone reimbursement

401(k)

Paid time off

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Job summary

Cobalt Recruitment is seeking a Construction Project Manager to lead commercial projects from estimating to closeout in Newark, NJ. The role focuses on bank branch renovations and national retail improvements, coordinating with owners, GCs, field teams, and in-house union carpentry crews.

Office-based with some NYC travel, expenses covered. You will drive budgets, schedules, RFIs, submittals, and change orders while ensuring safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of construction industry experience (5+ years preferred).
• OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 required.
• Strong problem-solving, multitasking, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and take ownership of tasks.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally.

Responsibilities

• Estimate and bid projects; manage full bidding process.
• Build and manage project budgets.
• Own RFI process and logs.
• Assist in preparation of contracts, subcontracts, and purchase orders; manage bonding.
• Manage submittal process and logs.
• Create and maintain project schedules; run meetings.
• Read blueprints and CSI codes; interpret addenda.
• Process change orders and events.
• Handle invoices and owner/GC billings (AIA docs).
• Coordinate with in-house union carpentry crews on self-performed scopes.
• Run punch list, as-built, and closeout process.
• Understand insurance requirements and review front-ends for red flags.
• Maintain relationships with clients, field personnel, and contractors; support BD.
• Uphold OSHA safety standards.

Skills

Construction management

OSHA 10

OSHA 30

Strong communication

Attention to detail

Multitasking

Problem solving

Work under pressure

Lift up to 50 pounds

Education

Degree in Construction Management, Design, or Engineering

Job description

Lead Project Manager, Commercial Construction (JN -092026-85771) Newark, New Jersey

Salary: USD100000 - USD140000 per annum + 100% paid health insurance

Construction Project Manager, Commercial Construction

Location: Newark, NJ

Job Type: Full-time, in-person

Industry: Commercial General Contracting (Banking Branch Renovations, Retail Capital Improvements, Corporate & Healthcare Construction)

Pay: $100,000 - $140,000 base salary +100% employer-paid health insurance

An employee-owned specialty general contractor with a 65-year track record and offices nationwide is hiring a Construction Project Manager to run commercial projects end-to-end, with a focus on bank branch renovation and national retail capital improvement programs alongside corporate and healthcare work. You'll own the full project lifecycle, from estimating and bidding through budgets, RFIs, submittals, change orders, and closeout, working directly with owners, GCs, field teams, and the company's in-house union carpentry crews. The role is primarily office-based (roughly 80-85% of the time), with occasional travel into New York City for client meetings on higher-profile projects, expenses covered.

Responsibilities

• Perform estimating and project takeoffs, and carry out the full project bidding process
• Build, understand, and maintain project budgets
• Own the RFI process, including maintaining RFI logs
• Assist in the preparation of prime contracts, subcontracts, and purchase orders, and manage bonding as needed
• Manage the submittal process and maintain submittal logs
• Build and maintain project schedules, and schedule, hold, and attend project meetings as required
• Read and interpret blueprints, drawings, specifications, and project addendums, including CSI cost codes
• Execute and process change orders and change events
• Process vendor/subcontractor invoices and owner/GC billings (AIA applications, lien waivers, etc.)
• Coordinate daily with the company's in-house union carpentry crews on self-performed scopes
• Run the punch list, as-built, and closeout process
• Understand insurance requirements and coverage limits, and review contract front-ends for red flags
• Maintain strong working relationships with field personnel, clients, and contractors, and support business development with existing and new accounts
• Uphold project safety in line with OSHA 1926

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of construction industry experience (5+ years construction management / general contractor experience preferred)
• OSHA 10 and OSHA 30
• Strong problem-solving, multitasking, and attention-to-detail skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and take ownership of assigned tasks
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds occasionally

Preferred

• Degree in Construction Management, Design, or Engineering
• Experience managing projects with union labor

Compensation and Benefits

• $100,000 - $140,000 per year
• 100% company-paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and families
• Health savings account
• Cell phone reimbursement
• 401(k)
• Paid time off
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Career growth opportunities with a stable, employee-owned contractor