Project Director

BW Design Group; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

BW Design Group is seeking a Construction Director based in California to lead regional industrial construction programs. You will guide projects from concept to closeout in food, beverage, life science and data centers, collaborating with AEC leaders to deliver high‑quality, safe, on‑time solutions.

You will mentor teams, manage budgets, and drive design‑build and EPC initiatives, with a focus on client satisfaction and scope control.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in diverse construction roles.
• 8+ years in construction management and leading teams.
• Experience with Construction and Design Build projects, especially in industrial sectors (food/bev, Life Science).
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Proven track record managing industrial projects from $50K to $50M.
• Familiarity with process systems and reading P&IDs.
• Safety-focused with experience implementing safety programs.
• Proficient with project management software and scheduling tools.

Responsibilities

• Guide projects from conception to fruition, ensuring alignment with client objectives.
• Lead risk assessment, contract negotiations, and pricing decisions.
• Act as primary client liaison for market leaders and contribute to proposals.
• Oversee budget, schedule, and scope to meet client expectations and budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Industrial construction

A&E design build

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or construction management

Tools

Procore

Bluebeam

MS Project

AutoCAD

Revit

Job description

Who You’ll Work With

You will join one of our 45 offices in the US, be part of a committed team of over 1500 professionals, and work in teams and directly with our clients doing work that is shaping the world around us. You will be welcomed into a rapidly growing business and team and empowered to make an impact. You will be valued, cared for, and challenged on your path to becoming a world‑class professional consultant and surrounded by leaders who are committed to creating an environment that enables you to realize your own success and fulfillment.

Who You’ll Work With

You will join one of our 45 offices in the US, be part of a committed team of over 1500 professionals, and work in teams and directly with our clients doing work that is shaping the world around us. You will be welcomed into a rapidly growing business and team and empowered to make an impact. You will be valued, cared for, and challenged on your path to becoming a world‑class professional consultant and surrounded by leaders who are committed to creating an environment that enables you to realize your own success and fulfillment.

When you join Design Group as a Construction Director, you are joining a team that will challenge you and position you for growth. In this role, you will work with a team of industry experts to help the world’s leading companies solve their most difficult problems. You will join our Architecture + Engineering + Construction (AEC) Business and partner with seasoned leaders, technical specialists, and subject matter experts to deliver the highest quality solutions to our clients with consistency and accuracy.

What You’ll Do

As Director, Construction you'll be at the forefront of regional construction engagements, steering your team from initial client meetings to final closeouts for our clients within the Food, Beverage, Life Science, Home and Personal Care Markets. Your role is pivotal in ensuring that each project reflects our unwavering commitment to client satisfaction, budget adherence, timing precision, quality standards, and safety norms. By embodying the essence of Design Group's vision and values, you will be instrumental in leveraging the full potential of our team, fostering an environment ripe for growth and professional excellence. This role demands effective utilization of team capacity and a focus on team member development.

In this role, you will be supported by a team of industry and project delivery experts who have experience converting our clients’ capital spending initiatives into commercialized solutions. You will join our AEC team and partner with leaders, technical specialists, and subject matter experts to develop design‑build and EPC projects.

Strategic Leadership & Client Relations & Business Development

• Project Visionary: Guide projects from conception to fruition, ensuring alignment with client and organizational objectives.
• Risk and Contract Savvy: Lead in risk assessment, contract negotiations, and making critical fee and pricing decisions.
• Client Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact for market leaders, symbolizing the face of excellence in project performance.
• Identify new opportunities and actively participate in the development of proposals that accurately and concisely define the scope of work, which achieves the clients’ objectives and support group decisions.

Project Management & Operational Excellence

• Budget and Financial Oversight: Maintain a hawk‑eye view on budget and financial aspects, ensuring fiscal responsibility throughout the project lifecycle.
• Construction & Design‑Build Champion: Take charge in Construction & Design/Build initiatives, with key responsibilities in estimating and proposal crafting.
• Scope and Schedule Creator and Guardian: Ensure that estimate, design, schedule sequencing, and proposal stages meet client expectations in terms of budget, aesthetics, scope, and schedule.

Team Leadership & Development

• Team Captain: Communicate project goals and requirements effectively, leading your team to success.
• Mentor, Develop, and Train: Cultivate the talents of your team, guiding them towards achieving personal and professional milestones.
• Willingness to lead by example in all team roles, fostering unity and collaboration of the project team. Ability to step into every role on the project as needed to maintain team effectiveness and morale.

Technical Proficiency & Quality Assurance & Safety focus

• Construction Expertise: Oversee the entire spectrum of construction activities, from initial estimates to contractor bidding processes for industrial facilities & structures (Cold Storage Distribution Centers, Food & Beverage Processing, Packaging, & Distributions Centers, Life Science and Advanced Technology Manufacturing Facilities, Industrial Tilt Wall Distribution Centers, ASRS Robotics Distribution Centers, Data Centers, Clean Room/Dry Room Construction, MEP Driven Projects, etc.).
• Quality and Compliance: Ensure that every aspect of the project aligns with company standards, industry norms, and regulatory requirements.
• Implement and enforce comprehensive safety programs and monitor jobsite safety.

What You’ll Bring

Experience & Industry Knowledge

• Seasoned Expert: Bring a wealth of 15+ years in diverse construction roles and 8+ years in construction management and leading teams.
• Proven ability to lead complex industrial construction projects end-to-end
• Construction & Design Build Acumen: Show your prowess in Construction and A&E design build projects, with a keen eye for industrial structures. Food, beverage, consumer goods, or life science sector experience preferred.
• Excellent leadership and team development skills.
• Proven track record of managing industrial projects valued between $50K and $50M.
• Familiarity with process systems and proficiency in reading P&IDs.
• Safety-focused. Experience implementing comprehensive safety programs and monitoring jobsite safety programs.
• Technologically savvy. Should be adept and quick to learn project management software, scheduling programs, building information systems, etc.
• Travel as needed for client meetings, AHJ meetings, internal meetings, site visits to review project progress and status.

Technical Skills

• Technologically savvy. Experience with Procore, Bluebeam, MS Project, Timberline, AutoCAD, or Revit.
• Strong grasp of prime contract requirements including creation of estimates, schedules, scopes, budgets.
• OSHA 10- or 30-hour certification.
• Construction project management certification (preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, or a related technical field (preferred).
• Contractor Qualifier License(s) or a willingness to obtain licensure in numerous states

Our culture and commitment to our people is what sets us apart. We foster an environment of mutual respect, integrity, and unconditional interest in the individual and collective success of our professionals. Our model and entrepreneurial mindset offer a rewarding, challenging, and highly flexible path. As a Construction Director, you will build a meaningful and fulfilling career with the support of professional development resources and mentorships including our First Year Experience program, Individual Development Plans, and Career Path resources and tools. You will be surrounded by exceptional talent who will support your development as both a world‑class engineer and a highly effective leader.

For candidates based in California, the anticipated base salary range for this position is $150,000 to $200,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, and location. In addition to base salary, this role may be eligible for bonuses, incentives, and other company benefits.