Senior Construction Project Leader

Cupertino Electric, Inc.; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 161,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

Cupertino Electric, Inc. in San Jose, CA is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead day-to-day construction operations and coordinate with partners to drive financial and schedule performance on complex commercial and industrial projects.

You will mentor project teams, manage risk, and ensure execution aligns with safety and quality standards while building trusted client relationships. This on-site role offers a competitive compensation package and annual bonuses.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED required.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or similar preferred.
• Typically requires 8+ years of related experience managing Commercial or Industrial Projects
• Typically requires 8+ years of management experience, including client interface and staff supervision.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organizational, supervisory and planning skills.
• Thorough knowledge of all aspects of construction (technology, equipment, methods), union jurisdiction, labor agreements, and negotiations.
• Driving Record: Valid state-issued driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.

Responsibilities

• Provide full ownership of project delivery, including financial performance, schedule adherence, risk management, client satisfaction, and strategic alignment with company objectives.
• Lead multiple complex projects or large flagship projects simultaneously, ensuring all scopes are executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with contract requirements.
• Serve as the primary point of accountability for project outcomes, directing Project Managers, APMs, Project Engineers, and coordinating with field leadership teams.
• Drive a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement across the project team.
• Develop and implement comprehensive project execution plans, work breakdown structures, and construction sequencing strategies for complex commercial and industrial projects.
• Oversee procurement strategies, long-lead planning, subcontractor buyout, staffing plans, and logistics to ensure all project phases are coordinated and fully resourced.
• Review and validate project estimates, budgets, schedules, and contract documents to ensure alignment between preconstruction and operations.
• Ensure the project team understands project constraints, customer expectations, technical requirements, and success criteria.
• Lead risk identification, analysis, and mitigation planning, including design gaps, scope ambiguities, procurement delays, constructability issues, and project-specific environmental or regulatory risks.
• Maintain and enforce a living risk register, ensuring active monitoring and escalation of issues before they impact cost or schedule.
• Own the financial health of assigned projects, including revenue forecasting, cost-to-complete analysis, margin management, cash flow planning, and change order profitability.
• Develop, approve, and/or negotiate all major change orders, subcontractor agreements, and cost adjustments, ensuring alignment with contract requirements and company financial targets.
• Develop detailed monthly job cost reviews, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and early detection of deviations.
• Oversee and support recovery plans for underperforming projects to protect profitability and schedule commitments.
• Interpret, administer, and enforce contract terms, specifications, and commercial requirements for both upstream client contracts and downstream subcontractor agreements.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with clients, owners, general contractors, agencies, and key project partners.
• Mentor and develop Project Managers, APMs, PEs, and field leadership by providing coaching, training, and performance feedback.
• Promote alignment across departments (Engineering, Purchasing, Production, Safety, QA/QC, Accounting) to ensure seamless project execution.
• Support the Superintendent and field leadership in ensuring the project is built according to plans, specifications, and quality standards.
• Drive the company’s safety culture by ensuring planning for safe operations, correcting unsafe behaviors, and supporting incident investigations and corrective actions.
• Serve as a cultural ambassador for CEI, modeling professionalism, integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Scheduling

Cost accounting

Union experience

Microsoft Office

Project controls

Education

High school diploma or GED

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Construction Management/Business

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS Project

Accubid Classic

Job description

Cupertino Electric, Inc. in San Jose, CA is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead day-to-day construction operations and coordinate with partners to drive financial and schedule performance on complex commercial and industrial projects.

You will mentor project teams, manage risk, and ensure execution aligns with safety and quality standards while building trusted client relationships. This on-site role offers a competitive compensation package and annual bonuses.