Program Director, Tidewater, VA

Grunley Construction Company, Inc.; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Maternity/paternity leave

Jury duty

Job summary

Grunley Construction Company, Inc. is seeking a Program Director to lead its Tidewater expansion, establishing region-wide client relationships, subcontractor networks, and delivery capability.

The role reports to the President and involves shaping win strategies with USACE Norfolk District, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic, and regional institutions, while building Grunley's presence across federal, state, higher education, and other institutional owners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management or related fields.
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of construction leadership experience, including significant federal government contracting experience.
• Direct experience with USACE, NAVFAC, or other DoD agencies delivering vertical construction.
• Demonstrated success managing work through subcontractors and trade partners; not relying solely on self‑perform.
• Strong track record negotiating government contracts and subcontractor agreements.
• Experience with multiple client types: federal, state/municipal, higher education, K‑12, or other institutional owners.
• Willingness to travel extensively and operate across the Tidewater region.
• Working knowledge of FAR and federal government construction contracting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Market & Relationship Development with USACE Norfolk District and NAVFAC Mid‑Atlantic, etc.
• Identify and build relationships with local subcontractors, suppliers, and partners across the region.
• Engage officials and stakeholders to support pursuits and execution.
• Increase visibility in Tidewater through industry events and community engagement.
• Lay groundwork for expansion into adjacent markets as the office matures.
• Lead pursuit and preconstruction processes with Grunley leadership and teams.
• Develop win strategies, teaming arrangements, and client messaging for each pursuit.
• Support proposal interviews and presentations with prospective clients.
• Lead contract negotiations and execution with clients and subcontractors.
• Hire and assign project management staff; oversee delivery across sites.
• Monitor safety, quality, schedule, and financial performance across the portfolio.
• Build a lean regional program management structure and establish Grunley standards.

Skills

USACE/NAVFAC/DoD contracting

Government contract negotiation

Subcontractor network management

Travel extensively

FAR knowledge

Market development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management or related fields

Job description

Brief Description

This is a market expansion role, not a program built around a single awarded contract vehicle. Grunley does not currently hold an IDIQ or similar dedicated award in Tidewater; the Program Director will be building Grunley's presence in the region from the ground up. The Tidewater/Hampton Roads region offers a durable, diversified base of construction demand across federal, state and local government, higher education, and other institutional owners. The near‑term focus will be building relationships with USACE Norfolk District and NAVFAC Mid‑Atlantic, along with regional municipalities and higher education institutions — with state government, K‑12, and other institutional clients (e.g., healthcare systems, nonprofits) as adjacent segments to develop as the office matures. The Program Director will lead Grunley's expansion into the Tidewater market, with full responsibility for establishing the region's client relationships, subcontractor network, and delivery capability. This person will develop relationships with USACE Norfolk District and NAVFAC Mid‑Atlantic contracting officials, as well as regional municipalities and higher education institutions, and will build toward Grunley's broader public and institutional target markets over time. Working closely with estimating, operations, and executive leadership during pursuits, the Program Director will shape win strategy, negotiate final contract terms, and oversee delivery of awarded projects across the region. This role is equal parts business developer, subcontractor network builder, and program operator — the successful candidate will effectively be building a new regional practice and its culture from scratch. Reports to: President

Requirements

• Required Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management or related fields
• Required Experience
  • This position requires a minimum of fifteen (15) years of construction leadership experience, including significant federal government contracting experience
• Required Qualifications
  • Direct experience with USACE, NAVFAC, or other DoD agencies delivering vertical construction
  • Demonstrated success managing work through subcontractors and trade partners rather than relying solely on self‑performance
  • Strong track record negotiating both government contracts and subcontractor agreements
  • Experience across two or more of the following client types: federal government, state/municipal, higher education, K‑12, or other institutional owners
  • Ability to travel extensively and work effectively across the Tidewater region
  • Working knowledge of FAR and federal government construction contracting requirements
• Preferred Experience
  • Existing relationships with USACE Norfolk District and/or NAVFAC Mid‑Atlantic contracting or program offices
  • Existing relationships with regional municipalities or higher education institutions in Hampton Roads
  • Experience with security-sensitive, remote, or austere-site construction (military, energy, or infrastructure sectors)
  • Prior experience building a new office, market, or business unit from the ground up
  • Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance or facility‑access credentials, for future work with Intelligence Community or other cleared facilities
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Willingness to be based in or relocate to Norfolk, VA.

Responsibilities/Duties

• Market & Relationship Development
  • Serve as Grunley's primary relationship owner with USACE Norfolk District, NAVFAC Mid‑Atlantic, and other regional municipalities and higher education institutions
  • Identify, vet, and build long‑term relationships with qualified local subcontractors, suppliers, engineering firms, and architecture partners across the region
  • Engage local officials, agencies, and community stakeholders as needed to support project pursuits and execution
  • Increase Grunley's visibility in the Tidewater market through industry organizations, networking events, and community engagement
  • Lay the groundwork for expansion into adjacent target markets — state government, K‑12, and other institutional clients — as the office matures
• Pursuit & Preconstruction Management
  • Identify, track, and qualify project opportunities across the region in coordination with Chip Scott and Grunley executive leadership
  • Lead the proposal and pricing process for each pursuit in partnership with Grunley's preconstruction, estimating, and operations teams
  • Develop win strategies, teaming arrangements, and client‑specific messaging for each pursuit
  • Support proposal interviews and presentations with prospective clients
• Contract Negotiation & Execution
  • Lead negotiation of final contract terms with clients
  • Negotiate subcontract terms and pricing with local trade partners
  • Hire and assign project management and field supervision staff to oversee construction across multiple project sites in the region
  • Monitor safety, quality, schedule, and financial performance across the region's project portfolio
• Organization & Culture
  • Build a lean regional program management structure capable of overseeing dispersed projects executed with local subcontractor and trade partners
  • Establish consistent Grunley standards for safety, quality, and reporting across all client and subcontractor relationships
  • Recruit, hire, and develop the project delivery and preconstruction staff needed to support the region's growing portfolio
  • Report pipeline, subcontractor network health, and financial/risk performance directly to Chip Scott

Our benefits package is designed to support employee well‑being and financial security, including employer‑sponsored health and life insurance, paid time off for sick leave, maternity/paternity leave, jury duty, and vacation, and retirement options like 401(k) plans. Other compensation opportunities may include overtime and bonuses. Comprehensive benefits will be discussed during the recruitment process; benefit eligibility is determined by tenure, position and/or plan documents.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] or by phone at 240-399-6162 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this e‑mail address.