Project Director-Industrial Construction

Kimmel & Associates; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 185,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Lucrative bonus program

Profit sharing

Approximately 25% travel

Opportunity to lead projects ranging $

Job summary

Kimmel & Associates is seeking an experienced Project Director for a privately held design‑build contractor delivering large industrial projects across North America. You will lead from award to closeout, manage budgets, safety, schedule, and quality, and coordinate diverse teams to exceed client expectations.

The role requires decisive leadership, robust communication with stakeholders, and a track record of delivering projects ranging from $20M to $200M with ~25% travel.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading large-scale heavy industrial construction projects.
• Proven ability to manage projects with multiple contractors, trades, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of industrial construction methods, sequencing, scheduling, and project controls.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, costs, change orders, and financial performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead overall project execution from award through completion and closeout.
• Direct project teams and establish clear goals, schedules, budgets, and expectations.
• Build strong client relationships and proactively resolve issues.
• Lead planning for manpower, equipment, materials, subcontractors, logistics, and scheduling.
• Manage project costs, financial performance, and change orders.
• Coordinate engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, commissioning, and turnover.
• Identify project risks and develop practical solutions.
• Lead Project Managers, Superintendents, Estimators, Engineers, and other project personnel.
• Monitor subcontractor and vendor performance.
• Manage RFIs, submittals, claims, changes, and other commercial matters.
• Maintain strong safety and quality standards.
• Communicate project performance, risks, financials, and major issues to company leadership.
• Support estimating and business development with constructability, execution, manpower, schedule, and risk input.
• Ensure project documentation, turnover, punch lists, and closeout are completed properly.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Budgeting

Client relationships

Communication

Decision making

Job description

About The Company

Our client is a privately held design-build contractor specializing in heavy industrial construction. With approximately $300 million in annual revenue, the company delivers complex projects across food & beverage, agriculture, and industrial processing markets. Projects typically range from $20 million to $200 million and are executed throughout North America. The company combines deep industry expertise with a hands-on, collaborative approach to project delivery.

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced Project Director to lead major heavy industrial construction projects from award through completion and closeout.

This is a hands‑on leadership role with overall responsibility for project execution, safety, schedule, budget, quality, client satisfaction, and team performance. The Project Director will serve as the central leader coordinating clients, engineering, estimating, procurement, project management, construction, subcontractors, vendors, and field teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead overall project execution from award through completion and closeout.
• Direct project teams and establish clear goals, schedules, budgets, and expectations.
• Build strong client relationships and proactively resolve issues.
• Lead planning for manpower, equipment, materials, subcontractors, logistics, and scheduling.
• Manage project costs, financial performance, and change orders.
• Coordinate engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, commissioning, and turnover.
• Identify project risks and develop practical solutions.
• Lead Project Managers, Superintendents, Estimators, Engineers, and other project personnel.
• Monitor subcontractor and vendor performance.
• Manage RFIs, submittals, claims, changes, and other commercial matters.
• Maintain strong safety and quality standards.
• Communicate project performance, risks, financials, and major issues to company leadership.
• Support estimating and business development with constructability, execution, manpower, schedule, and risk input.
• Ensure project documentation, turnover, punch lists, and closeout are completed properly.

Requirements

• Significant experience leading large-scale heavy industrial construction projects.
• Proven ability to manage projects involving multiple contractors, trades, vendors, and stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of industrial construction methods, sequencing, scheduling, and project controls.
• Demonstrated experience managing budgets, costs, change orders, and financial performance.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to build accountability and team respect.
• Excellent communication and client relationship skills.
• Ability to make timely decisions and take ownership of project challenges.
• Experience in food & beverage, agriculture, industrial processing, or related heavy industrial construction is highly desirable.

Benefits

• $185,000–$235,000 base salary
• Lucrative bonus program
• Profit sharing
• Corporate-based leadership role
• Approximately 25% travel
• Opportunity to lead projects ranging from $20M–$200M
• Exposure to major industrial projects throughout North America
• Long-term career opportunity with a privately held company with 100+ years of industry experience