Project Director - Construction

BuildLabs; Bridgehampton (NY); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus opportunities

In-person role

Bridgehampton office & job sites

Job summary

Buildlabs Custom LLC in Bridgehampton, NY, seeks a Project Director to lead our luxury residential projects across the Hamptons. You will manage project managers, site leaders, and administration from preconstruction through closeout, ensuring schedules, budgets, and client commitments are met in person at the office and on sites.

The role requires 5+ years of luxury home-building leadership, strong coordination, and a hands-on approach to problem solving.

Qualifications

• Five+ years of luxury custom home building administration experience.
• Experience overseeing project managers and multiple luxury residential projects.
• Strong knowledge of schedules, budgets, documentation, procurement, and client commitments.

Responsibilities

• Direct project managers, site supervisors, and construction personnel across multiple active projects.
• Establish responsibilities, deliverables, and deadlines for each project team.
• Review PM performance and ensure timely follow-through on commitments.
• Lead project reviews focusing on schedules, costs, procurement, quality, and risks.
• Maintain records of decisions, approvals, and changes.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Problem solving

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in construction management/engineering/architecture

Tools

Procore

Microsoft Project

BOX

QuickBooks Time

Job description

Project Director

Luxury Custom Home Construction

Buildlabs Custom

Bridgehampton, New York | Projects throughout the Hamptons

Full-Time | In-Person | Office and Job Site Responsibilities

Proposed Base Salary: Starting at $150,000 annually, based on qualifications and experience

About Buildlabs

Buildlabs Custom LLC is a luxury custom home builder committed to exceptional craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and innovative construction. Guided by our philosophy of Building Beyond, we bring together skilled professionals, advanced building methods, and disciplined project execution to create homes designed to be loved and built to last.

We are seeking an experienced Project Director to lead our project managers and construction teams across multiple active luxury residential projects throughout the Hamptons.

About The Position

Reporting to the Executive Director and Managing Partners, the Project Director is responsible for the leadership, administration, coordination, and performance of assigned construction projects from preconstruction through final completion.

This individual will oversee project managers and site leadership, establish clear expectations, and ensure that schedules, budgets, documentation, procurement, and client commitments are actively managed. The position requires regular involvement in both the Bridgehampton office and project sites, with the ability to identify problems early, make sound decisions within established authority, and hold teams accountable for results.

Candidates must have more than five years of experience in luxury custom home building administration. Direct experience overseeing project managers and multiple simultaneous luxury residential construction projects is required.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership and Team Accountability

• Direct project managers, site supervisors, and assigned construction personnel across multiple active projects.
• Establish clear responsibilities, deliverables, reporting expectations, and deadlines for each project team.
• Review project manager performance and ensure timely follow-through on commitments.
• Lead regular project reviews focused on schedules, costs, procurement, quality, outstanding decisions, and risks.
• Resolve coordination issues among project teams and internal departments.
• Evaluate staffing and resource needs across sites and recommend adjustments to the Managing Partners.
• Coach and develop project managers and site leaders while addressing performance concerns promptly.
• Maintain a professional culture of accountability, collaboration, and respect consistent with Buildlabs' #NoHarm philosophy.

Construction Administration and Document Control

• Oversee project administration from initial handoff through construction and closeout.
• Ensure contracts, scopes of work, schedules, budgets, purchase orders, change orders, and project records are complete and current.
• Establish consistent procedures for meeting minutes, action lists, RFIs, submittals, selections, approvals, and project reporting.
• Ensure current approved drawings and specifications are available to the appropriate teams and revisions are communicated promptly.
• Monitor outstanding administrative items that could delay fieldwork, procurement, billing, or project completion.
• Maintain clear records of decisions, approvals, responsibilities, and changes.
• Ensure project teams consistently use company construction management and document systems.

Scheduling and Project Delivery

• Oversee master schedules and detailed project schedules across all assigned sites.
• Challenge unrealistic assumptions, identify dependencies, and ensure schedules reflect actual construction requirements.
• Review look-ahead schedules with project managers and site supervisors.
• Monitor critical milestones, inspections, material deliveries, subcontractor commitments, and client selections.
• Require timely recovery plans when projects fall behind schedule.
• Coordinate competing labor, trade, and material requirements across projects.
• Verify that project managers identify and communicate the cost and schedule effects of proposed changes.

Budgeting and Financial Oversight

• Review project budgets, commitments, expenditures, forecasts, and estimated costs to complete.
• Hold project managers accountable for accurate cost reporting and early identification of potential overruns.
• Review subcontractor proposals, scopes, exclusions, and purchasing commitments for completeness and alignment with project budgets.
• Ensure change orders are documented, priced, reviewed, and approved through established procedures.
• Coordinate with accounting to support timely invoice coding, review, client billing, and resolution of discrepancies.
• Ensure project-level labor time is recorded accurately with meaningful descriptions of work completed.
• Provide the Managing Partners with clear explanations of financial risks and recommended corrective action.
• Exercise purchasing and financial authority within company approval limits.

Procurement and Subcontractor Coordination

• Work closely with estimating and procurement to ensure a complete transition from preconstruction to execution.
• Confirm that subcontractor scopes and project responsibilities are clearly defined.
• Monitor long-lead materials, specialty finishes, custom fabrication, and delivery requirements.
• Ensure purchasing follows company purchase order and approval procedures.
• Address subcontractor performance issues with project managers and site leadership.
• Support the development of dependable trade and vendor relationships appropriate for luxury custom home construction.

Quality Safety and Site Oversight

• Conduct regular site visits to assess progress, workmanship, coordination, and adherence to approved documents.
• Ensure teams understand and consistently deliver the quality expected in luxury custom homes.
• Identify recurring deficiencies and require corrective action before they affect later phases of construction.
• Support site leaders in enforcing company safety procedures, maintaining orderly sites, and documenting concerns.
• Coordinate with architects, engineers, and other qualified professionals when technical clarification is required.
• Ensure inspections and required approvals are tracked and incorporated into project planning.

Client and Design Team Communication

• Serve as a senior point of contact for significant project matters and escalated concerns.
• Maintain professional relationships with homeowners, architects, designers, engineers, and consultants.
• Ensure project managers provide accurate, consistent updates regarding progress, decisions, costs, and schedules.
• Lead sensitive discussions with sound judgment, discretion, and a focus on resolution.
• Protect client confidentiality and maintain clear records of important communications.

Project Completion and Continuous Improvement

• Oversee punch lists, final inspections, closeout documentation, warranties, and homeowner turnover.
• Ensure remaining commitments are assigned, tracked, and completed.
• Review completed projects to identify lessons that improve future execution.
• Improve reporting, coordination, and administrative procedures to reduce delays and strengthen accountability.

Required Qualifications

• More than five years of direct experience in luxury custom home building administration, including responsibility for construction documentation, scheduling, budgeting, contracts, procurement, and project coordination.
• Previous experience serving in construction management is required.
• Demonstrated experience directly overseeing project managers and construction teams across multiple simultaneous luxury custom home projects.
• A proven record of delivering ground-up luxury custom homes from preconstruction through completion and turnover.
• Strong understanding of residential construction sequencing, building systems, detailed architectural plans, and high-end finishes.
• Demonstrated competence in budget oversight, cost forecasting, subcontract administration, change management, and schedule control.
• Ability to identify incomplete scopes, coordination gaps, and project risks before they result in significant disruption.
• Experience working directly with discerning homeowners, architects, interior designers, engineers, and specialty trades.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to set expectations, address underperformance, and maintain consistent accountability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, organization, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with construction management software, digital document systems, scheduling tools, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work in-person in Bridgehampton and travel regularly among Hamptons project sites.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Reliable attendance, punctuality, and consistent follow-through.

Luxury custom home experience and previous project management experience are mandatory qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience delivering luxury custom homes in the Hamptons or elsewhere on Long Island’s East End.
• Familiarity with local permitting, inspection processes, and regional construction conditions.
• Established relationships with qualified local subcontractors and vendors.
• Experience with Procore, BOX, QuickBooks Time, Microsoft Project, or comparable systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field.
• Experience with offsite construction, prefabrication, mass timber, or other innovative building methods.

What Success Looks Like

• Project managers and construction teams understand their responsibilities and consistently meet commitments.
• Schedules and financial forecasts remain accurate, current, and useful for decision-making.
• Project risks are identified early and addressed with clear action plans.
• Documentation, purchasing, change orders, and reporting follow company procedures.
• Workmanship meets Buildlabs' luxury construction standards.
• Clients and design partners receive timely, professional communication.
• Projects move through completion with organized closeout and clear accountability.

Compensation

• Proposed annual base salary: $150,000 and up based on education and experience.
• Salary will be determined based on relevant experience, qualifications, and demonstrated leadership of multiple luxury custom home projects.
• Performance-based bonus opportunities.