Project Manager

Western Steel Buildings, Inc.; Fort Wayne (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Steel Buildings in Fort Wayne, IN is seeking a Project Manager to own the execution of complex PEMB and structural steel projects. This role coordinates internally to keep engineers, fabrication, vendors, installers, and leaders aligned while client communications stay with designated managers.

The ideal candidate has 3+ years in project management within construction/steel, with strong cost, schedule, and risk awareness.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of project management experience in construction or steel buildings.
• Commercial awareness: understand how delays and costs affect profitability.
• Strong knowledge of construction documents, steel building systems, fabrication schedules, delivery logistics.
• Urgency, follow-through, and ownership to resolve issues.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and project management tools.
• Advanced degree or PMP preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of complex, high-value PEMB and structural steel projects from contract execution through fabrication, delivery, installation coordination, and project closeout.
• Keep projects moving while staying on top of cost, schedule, contractual obligations, vendor performance, and operational risk.
• Own project budgets, logistics, procurement timelines, fabrication and delivery schedules, and internal execution milestones.
• Work closely with the President to ensure projects remain on schedule, within budget, and aligned with company expectations.
• Accurately order buildings, coordinate factory communication, manage vendor follow-up, and ensure fabrication and delivery schedules are actively tracked and maintained.
• Communicate internal project updates to District Managers, Account Managers, Estimators, Installers, and Operations Leadership in a timely and complete manner.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of steel building applications and technical project requirements, including blueprints, site planning, snow load, wind load, erection considerations, foundation design coordination, HVAC coordination, fire suppression coordination, insulated panel systems, and related scopes.
• Identify missing information, design conflicts, scope gaps, vendor delays, schedule risks, and cost exposure early, and escalate those issues with proposed solutions.
• Coordinate with internal teams, engineering, factories, vendors, and installers to keep projects on track.
• Support District Managers, Account Managers, and other Project Managers with internal information needed to address callbacks, warranty claims, change orders, schedule updates, and project-related issues.
• Serve as an internal escalation resource for complex, high-risk, or technically challenging project issues.
• Protect Western Steel’s commercial interests by understanding how project decisions impact margin, cost exposure, delivery commitments, client obligations, and company resources.
• Uphold the Western Steel Buildings mission and guiding questions throughout all aspects of the role.

Skills

Project management

Construction

Vendor coordination

Budgeting

Scheduling

MS Office

Communication

Leadership

Tools

MS Office

PM software

Job description

Project Manager

Western Steel Buildings - Fort Wayne, IN

The Project Manager owns the execution of Western Steel Buildings’ projects. This is an internal role focused on driving work forward behind the scenes; in accordance with the Western Steel SOP Manual, client communication stays with the District Manager, Account Manager, or other approved client-facing team member as assigned.

Reporting directly to the President, this position is responsible for cost, schedule, and the accurate execution of assigned projects. It is a fast-moving, high-impact role that demands real urgency and commercial awareness to understand how each decision affects margin and delivery. It is also the central coordination point that keeps engineering, fabrication facilities, vendors, installers, District Managers, Account Managers, Project Managers, and operations leadership working in sync.

Execution decisions compound quickly, giving this role a direct impact on Western Steel Buildings’ profitability and on the company’s ability to deliver on its commitments. It calls for a clear understanding that delays, missed details, and unclear handoffs carry real financial consequences, as well as the ability to capture repeat business. It is a high-ownership position with real influence over how our projects come together, and it requires proactive problem-solving, disciplined follow-through, and a strong sense of responsibility for ensuring projects succeed.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to be a highly successful company by providing superior products, outstanding service, and the greatest value inthe steel building industry. We respectfully engage and challenge each other to continuously improve and perform at thehighest level while embracing the positive feedback necessary to openly assess our performance. Our deep commitment togrowth, development, and personal responsibility enables us to deliver superior value to everyone associated with ourcompany.

GUIDING QUESTIONS

This position must operate in alignment with Western Steel’s guiding questions:
How am I a problem for others? The Project Manager must continually assess whether incomplete information, missed deadlines, unclear communication, lack of follow-through, or poor handoffs are causing problems for the Operations Manager, Project Managers, District Managers, Account Managers, estimators, vendors, installers, or other internal team members.
How can I be more helpful to others? The Project Manager must proactively support the team by providing accurate information, timely updates, complete documentation, clear internal communication, and practical solutions that help move projects forward without unnecessary delay.
How can I help things go right? The Project Manager must identify risks to cost, schedule, quality, procurement, fabrication, delivery, installation, and project execution before those risks become larger problems. When issues arise, they must be escalated quickly with clear facts, recommended solutions, and an understanding of the commercial impact.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Project Execution

• Manage a portfolio of complex, high-value PEMB and structural steel projects from contract execution through fabrication,delivery, installation coordination, and project closeout.
• Keep projects moving while staying on top of cost, schedule, contractual obligations, vendor performance, and operational risk.
• Anticipate and manage financial risk across the full lifecycle of every assigned project.
• Own project budgets, logistics, procurement timelines, fabrication and delivery schedules, and internal execution milestones.
• Work closely with the President to ensure projects remain on schedule, within budget, and aligned with company expectations.
• Accurately order buildings, coordinate factory communication, manage vendor follow-up, and ensure fabrication and deliveryschedules are actively tracked and maintained.
• Communicate internal project updates to District Managers, Account Managers, Estimators, Installers, and Operations Leadership in a timely and complete manner.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of steel building applications and technical project requirements, including blueprints, siteplanning, snow load, wind load, erection considerations, foundation design coordination, HVAC coordination, fire suppressioncoordination, insulated panel systems, and related scopes.
• Ensure all project documentation is complete, accurate, organized, and uploaded into Western Steel Buildings’ approvedsystems and software.
• Identify missing information, design conflicts, scope gaps, vendor delays, schedule risks, and cost exposure early, and escalatethose issues with proposed solutions.
• Coordinate with internal teams, engineering, factories, vendors, and installers to keep projects on track.
• Support District Managers, Account Managers, and other Project Managers with internal information needed to address callbacks, warranty claims, change orders, schedule updates, and project-related issues.
• Serve as an internal escalation resource for complex, high-risk, or technically challenging project issues.
• Protect Western Steel’s commercial interests by understanding how project decisions impact margin, cost exposure, deliverycommitments, client obligations, and company resources.
• Uphold the Western Steel Buildings mission and guiding questions throughout all aspects of the role.

Team Leadership and Mentorship

• Provide mentorship, guidance, and informal leadership to the Project Management team.
• Assist the President in developing and improving processes, workflows, tools, and internal communication standards across the Project Management function.
• Once established in the role, contribute to the onboarding and training of new Project Managers by sharing best practices, institutional knowledge, and lessons learned from complex projects.
• Set the standard for accountability, ownership, and disciplined execution within the Project Management team.
• Help reinforce company standards around communication, documentation, budget control, schedule management, andproactive issue resolution.
• Demonstrate respectful engagement, accountability, continuous improvement, and personal responsibility in every aspect ofthe role.

REQUIREMENTS

• Experience: At least 3 years of project management experience (5 or more preferred) in construction, steel buildings, structuralsteel, PEMB, or a related field.
• Commercial Awareness: Must understand how project execution, schedule delays, vendor coordination, change management,and cost control impact company profitability and client commitments.
• Technical Knowledge: Must have strong working knowledge of construction documents, project coordination, steel buildingsystems, fabrication schedules, delivery logistics, and installation considerations.
• Urgency and Follow-Through: Must be able to move projects forward quickly, identify issues early, upscale appropriately, andmaintain strong ownership until items are fully resolved.
• Technical Proficiency: Must be proficient with Microsoft Office, Google Business Suite, and company-required projectmanagement and communication systems.
• Communication Skills: Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills for internal communication, vendorcoordination, and cross-functional project execution.
• Multi-Tasking Ability: Must be able to manage multiple complex projects, deadlines, stakeholders, and competing priorities atthe same time.
• Adaptability: Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, adjust quickly as project needs change, and remain focused onprotecting cost, schedule, and execution quality.
• Leadership: Must be able to support, mentor, and help develop Project Managers while modeling Western Steel’s mission,standards, and guiding questions.
• Preferred Qualification: An advanced degree or professional certification, such as PMP, is preferred but not required.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the Senior Project Manager position. It is not intendedto be an exhaustive list of qualifications, duties, or responsibilities. Western Steel Buildings reserves the right to modify, add, or remove job duties asnecessary.