Senior Project Manager

Arkadia Search Recruiting; Columbia (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Arkadia Search Recruiting is seeking a Senior Project Manager for an excavation and concrete contractor. The role blends estimating and project execution with growing operational responsibilities over time.

The position emphasizes hands-on field understanding, planning labor and materials, and guiding projects from bid through completion, while increasingly coordinating scheduling and client relationships as you learn the business.

Qualifications

• Experience in senior project management within excavation, concrete, site development, heavy civil, underground utility, grading or related self-performing construction.

Responsibilities

• Develop and review project estimates, bids, and scopes of work.
• Evaluate labor, equipment, material, and production requirements for planning.
• Manage construction projects from preconstruction through completion.
• Coordinate crews, equipment, materials, subcontractors, and project schedules.
• Work with field personnel to keep projects moving and resolve issues as conditions change.
• Monitor project costs, schedules, progress and overall performance.
• Manage change orders and communications with customers, contractors, suppliers and stakeholders.
• Coordinate labor, equipment and resources across multiple active projects.
• Collaborate with ownership on project and operational decisions.
• Take on increasing responsibility for day-to-day operations as knowledge grows.

Job description

We are partnering with an established excavation and concrete contractor seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager who can take ownership of estimating and project execution while growing into broader operational responsibility over time.

This is not a traditional Project Manager role focused solely on managing individual projects after they are awarded. Estimating and bidding will be a meaningful part of the position from the start. The right person will understand how work is actually performed in the field and be comfortable evaluating plans, developing estimates, planning labor, equipment and materials, and helping carry projects from bid through completion.

The role works directly with ownership and offers significant long-term runway. As this individual learns the business and earns trust, there will be an opportunity to assume increasing responsibility for scheduling, field operations, resource planning, customer relationships and the overall day-to-day operation of the company.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

For a construction professional who has successfully managed and estimated projects but wants broader responsibility, this is an opportunity to take a meaningful next step without having to join a large corporate environment.

You’ll have exposure to:

• Estimating, bidding and project planning
• Managing projects from preconstruction through completion
• Crew, equipment, material and resource planning
• Scheduling and coordination across multiple active projects
• Customer, contractor and stakeholder communication
• Field problem solving and operational decision making
• Working directly with ownership and taking on greater responsibility over time

This is a hands‑on construction environment where plans can change quickly and practical field knowledge matters. The person in this role needs to understand how decisions around labor, equipment, materials, production and scheduling affect both project execution and profitability.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop and review project estimates, bids and scopes of work
• Evaluate labor, equipment, material and production requirements when estimating and planning work
• Manage construction projects from preconstruction through completion
• Coordinate crews, equipment, materials, subcontractors and project schedules
• Work closely with field personnel to keep projects moving and resolve issues as conditions change
• Monitor project costs, schedules, progress and overall performance
• Manage change orders and communicate with customers, contractors, suppliers and other project stakeholders
• Help coordinate labor, equipment and other resources across multiple active projects
• Work directly with ownership on project and operational decisions
• Assume increasing responsibility for broader day‑to‑day operations as knowledge of the business grows

What They’re Looking For

• Project management and/or estimating experience within excavation, concrete, site development, heavy civil, underground utility, grading or a related self-performing construction environment
• Hands‑on estimating or bidding experience with an understanding of how labor, equipment, materials and production affect project cost
• Strong practical understanding of construction and how work is executed in the field
• Experience managing project schedules, costs, resources and field execution
• Ability to make sound decisions when field conditions, schedules or priorities change
• Ability to communicate effectively with field personnel, customers, contractors and company leadership
• Experience balancing multiple active projects and competing priorities
• Municipal, infrastructure, transportation, commercial or DOT construction experience is a plus
• Union construction experience is a plus

The Right Person

The ideal candidate may currently be a Senior Project Manager, Project Manager, Estimator/Project Manager or someone whose responsibilities naturally cross estimating and project execution. You do not need to already be running an entire construction company or operation.

What matters most is having enough excavation, concrete, civil or related self-perform construction experience to understand how the work gets done, the ability to estimate and plan work responsibly, and the desire to take on greater responsibility over time.

This could be particularly attractive to someone who has spent several years successfully managing and estimating projects but is ready for more ownership and influence. Rather than remaining responsible for a handful of projects indefinitely, you’ll have the opportunity to work directly with ownership, learn the broader operation of an established construction business and gradually expand your responsibilities into company wide operations.