Project Executive

Taylor Ryan Executive Search Partners

Houston (TX)

On-site

USD 160,000 - 200,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k)

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Professional development support

Job summary

A leading executive search firm is seeking a Project Executive in Houston, TX to provide strategic leadership for higher education construction projects. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience in commercial construction, with a proven background in managing complex projects and a strong understanding of campus construction logistics. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and benefits, including a performance bonus and vehicle allowance.

Qualifications

15+ years of progressive experience in commercial construction.
At least 5 years in a leadership or executive capacity.
Proven background delivering higher education and institutional projects.

Responsibilities

Oversee all phases of higher education projects.
Lead and mentor Project Managers and field teams.
Serve as the primary executive contact for clients.

Skills

Commercial construction

Leadership

Financial management

Communication

Procore

MS Project

Education

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

Advanced degree

Tools

Bluebeam

Job description

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Taylor Ryan Executive Search Partners provided pay range

This range is provided by Taylor Ryan Executive Search Partners. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$160,000.00/yr - $200,000.00/yr

The Project Executive provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for multiple higher education construction projects, ensuring alignment with client goals, quality standards, budgets, and schedules. This role represents the company at the executive level, fostering long-term client relationships with universities, colleges, and campus facility departments while mentoring project teams to deliver best-in-class results.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned construction professional with deep experience managing large, complex higher education projects — including new academic buildings, student housing, laboratories, athletic facilities, and campus infrastructure — from preconstruction through closeout.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee all phases of multiple higher education projects from preconstruction through completion, ensuring alignment with client expectations and company objectives.
Lead and mentor Project Managers, Superintendents, and field teams to promote accountability, collaboration, and high performance.
Serve as the primary executive contact for university clients, architects, and stakeholders — maintaining trust, transparency, and communication throughout the project lifecycle.
Review and approve project budgets, contracts, schedules, and major change orders.
Drive risk management, cost control, and quality assurance initiatives across all assigned projects.
Participate in business development efforts, including client presentations, proposal reviews, and relationship management.
Provide executive-level reporting to ownership and senior leadership regarding project performance, staffing needs, and financial forecasting.
Collaborate with preconstruction and estimating teams on early project planning, design reviews, and value engineering.
Ensure compliance with all safety, quality, and sustainability standards consistent with higher education environments.
Represent the company within the higher education market, identifying new opportunities and strengthening client partnerships.

Qualifications

15+ years of progressive experience in commercial construction, with at least 5 years in a leadership or executive capacity.
Proven background delivering higher education and institutional projects ($25M–$200M+ typical range).
Strong understanding of campus construction logistics, occupied renovations, and academic scheduling constraints.
Expertise in project delivery methods including CMAR, Design-Build, and hard bid.
Excellent leadership, financial management, and communication skills.
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
Proficiency in Procore, Bluebeam, MS Project, and other industry-standard software.
OSHA 30 and executive-level safety leadership experience preferred.
Competitive executive-level base salary with annual performance bonus.
Vehicle allowance or company vehicle.
Paid time off and professional development support.