Senior Construction Manager

Paragon Construction Consulting; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company matching

Term life insurance

Paid time off and company holidays

Job summary

Paragon Construction Consulting seeks a Senior Construction Manager to lead complex projects from pre-construction through closeout in Irvine, CA. You will act as the owner's representative, manage client relationships, and guide project teams with a strong focus on budget and schedule compliance.

The role requires 8–12 years of experience, mastery of Procore and Excel, and a track record of delivering large-scale commercial, institutional, or public works projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 8–12 years of progressive construction management or owner's representative experience.
• Experience with California prevailing wage and public agency delivery.
• Procore proficiency; advanced Excel; familiarity with scheduling tools.
• PMP, CCM, California contractor license, or LEED credential is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead one or more complex construction projects as the owner's representative.
• Be the main client contact for day-to-day matters and escalate to executives.
• Lead kickoff, OAC, and executive progress meetings; communicate risks and mitigations.
• Oversee contracts, budgets, change orders, and pay applications with financial scrutiny.
• Direct field teams, ensure schedule adherence and quality control.
• Mentor junior team members and support recruiting and onboarding.

Skills

Procore

Excel

Microsoft Project

Client-facing communication

Contract analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management

CCM

PMP

California contractor license

LEED credential

Tools

Microsoft Project

Excel

Job description

The Senior Construction Manager is an experienced project leader responsible for managing complex construction projects independently on behalf of Paragon's ownership clients, from pre-construction through closeout.

Location

Irvine, CA

Work Type

Full-time

$150 - 175K

Experience

8-12 Years

Operating with a high degree of autonomy, the Senior CM oversees all aspects of project delivery from pre-construction through closeout, while also serving as a mentor and resource to junior Construction Managers and Assistant Construction Managers. This role bridges day-to-day project execution with strategic client communication and is well-suited to a professional with deep field knowledge, strong financial acumen, and a track record of delivering large-scale projects. This is a full-time position based in Irvine, CA with site visits and remote flexibility.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Client Management

• Independently lead one or more complex construction projects as the primary owner's representative.
• Serve as the main client contact for day-to-day project matters; elevate strategic issues to the Executive Construction Manager.
• Lead project kickoff meetings, monthly owner-architect-contractor (OAC) meetings, and executive progress presentations.
• Proactively manage client expectations, anticipate project risks, and communicate mitigation strategies clearly.

Advanced Contract & Financial Oversight

• Administer and interpret complex owner-contractor and owner-consultant agreements; identify and resolve contract disputes.
• Maintain and update the Master Development Budget; prepare detailed variance analyses and financial forecasts.
• Review and process pay applications, change orders, and invoices with a high level of financial scrutiny.
• Assemble and transmit monthly billing packages, ensuring full compliance with lender, agency, or ownership requirements.
• Manage change order negotiations and provide recommendations to ownership on cost and schedule impacts.

Construction Oversight & Quality Control

• Direct contractor and consultant performance across all project phases, with particular attention to schedule adherence and quality standards.
• Conduct site visits, review progress documentation, and verify percentage of completion.
• Lead constructability reviews and value engineering exercises during pre-construction.
• Resolve complex field issues, coordinate design team responses to RFIs, and manage the submittal review process.

Team Mentorship & Coordination

• Mentor and provide guidance to Construction Managers, Assistant Construction Managers, and Construction Administrators.
• Delegate tasks appropriately to project team members and review their work product.
• Support the Executive Construction Manager in developing team capabilities and applying firm-wide best practices.
• Participate in recruiting, onboarding, and performance feedback for junior team members.

Compliance & Closeout

• Ensure project compliance with building codes, safety regulations, prevailing wage requirements, and CWA/DAS obligations on applicable projects.
• Lead project closeout activities, including final punchlist management, lien waiver collection, retainage release, and closeout package assembly.
• Maintain audit-ready project records in Procore throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support firm-level compliance reporting and documentation initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field; significant equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum 8-12 years of progressive construction management or owner's representative experience.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex, high-value projects in commercial, institutional, healthcare, or public works sectors.
• Strong command of construction contracts, cost control, schedule management, and change order analysis.
• Proficiency in Procore; advanced Excel skills; familiarity with Microsoft Project or equivalent scheduling tools.
• Experience with California prevailing wage, CWA compliance, and public agency project delivery.
• Excellent client-facing communication skills and experience preparing executive-level reports.
• PMP, CCM, California contractor license, or LEED credential is a strong plus.

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company matching
• Term life insurance
• Paid time off and 10 company holidays per year
• Professional development opportunities and continuing education support

If you're a results-driven construction professional with a track record of delivering complex projects, we'd love to hear from you.