Senior Project Manager

Innovative Construction Solutions, Inc.; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Innovative Construction Solutions is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead Progressive Design-Build water/wastewater treatment projects in California, with direct oversight of the project team including engineers, superintendents, and field staff.

The role requires PDM/ GMP experience, strong owner relations, and proven ability to manage cost control, scheduling, and safety across preconstruction, GMP, and construction phases.

Qualifications

• Experience as Project Manager or Senior Project Manager on progressive design-build water/wastewater treatment projects with contract values of $100M+.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary IC point of contact for the Owner throughout Preconstruction, GMP development, and Construction.

Skills

Project management

Progressive Design-Build

GMP development

Contract negotiation

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Professional Engineer (PE) license

DBIA certification

Tools

MS Project

Primavera P6

Vista ERP

Job description

Founded in 1999, Innovative Construction Solutions (ICS) is a California-based environmental construction company with 170+ employees across California and Washington. We specialize in environmental remediation, water/wastewater treatment systems, hazardous waste management, and federal contracting. As a Federal Small Business (NAICS 562910) with $175-million bonding capacity and Class A general engineering contractor status, IC delivers projects that protect, remediate, and restore our environment while addressing critical infrastructure challenges.

ICS's Heavy Industrial & Mechanical Construction (HIMC) division self-performs civil construction, structural concrete, structural steel erection, process piping fabrication and installation, process mechanical systems and equipment installation, startup, testing, and commissioning. HIMC has grown from approximately $6 million to approximately $50 million in annual revenue over the past five years and is expanding its Progressive Design-Build and CMAR project delivery capabilities.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary IC point of contact for the Owner throughout Preconstruction, GMP development, and Construction.
• Manage the Progressive Design-Build contractual relationship, including Phase 1 (Preconstruction) services and the transition to the Phase 2 GMP/Construction agreement.
• Negotiate early work packages with the Owner to expedite procurement of long‑lead process equipment ahead of GMP finalization.
• Maintain professional, proactive Owner correspondence and reporting; position IC as a trusted design‑build partner.
• Manage the design Engineer of Record (EOR), engaged as a direct IC subcontractor, including scope, schedule, deliverables, and coordination with the IC estimating and construction teams.
• Lead and manage the estimating team through GMP development at approximately 30% design, ensuring the GMP reflects accurate scope, quantities, subcontractor and vendor pricing, and risk allowances.
• Reconcile design progression against the GMP basis of design and manage scope/value engineering discussions with the Owner and EOR as design matures.
• Hold full P&L responsibility for the project across Preconstruction, GMP, and Construction phases.
• Own monthly cost reporting, budget‑to‑actual variance analysis, and cost forecasting in Vista.
• Manage the project change order process end‑to‑end and maintain the project Change Order Log in real time.
• Manage project billing in accordance with IC billing procedures and contract payment terms; monitor collections.
• Lead procurement of process equipment, including bid packaging, vendor evaluation, and negotiation of equipment purchase terms.
• Sequence procurement to support the overall project schedule, including negotiated early work/early release packages for long‑lead items.
• Directly manage the IC project team, including Project Engineers, Superintendents, and field staff assigned to the project.
• Manage and hold accountable all IC subcontractors for scope, schedule, cost, and quality compliance.
• Lead project planning, scheduling (CPM), and work‑planning processes consistent with IC HIMC PM expectations.
• Mentor assigned Project Engineers and support their development in coordination with the HIMC Operations Manager.
• Own safety performance and safety culture for the project; lead by example on PPE, Toolbox Talks, and site safety planning.
• Ensure subcontractor safety compliance and coordinate with the IC safety team on training, audits, and incident management.

Qualifications

• related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Direct experience serving as Project Manager or Senior Project Manager on Progressive Design‑Build water/wastewater treatment projects with a contract value of $100 million or greater.
• Demonstrated experience managing the owner relationship on a design‑build or collaborative‑delivery project, including GMP development and negotiation.
• Experience managing a design Engineer of Record and/or design subcontractor through design development and GMP.
• Experience managing an estimating team or working directly with estimators through GMP/budget development.
• Full P&L management experience on large‑scale construction projects.
• Experience with process equipment procurement, including vendor negotiation and long‑lead equipment sequencing.
• DBIA (Design‑Build Institute of America) certification, current.
• Strong working knowledge of CPM scheduling (MS Project or Primavera P6) and project management/cost systems (Vista or comparable ERP).
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, process mechanical drawings, and specifications for water/wastewater treatment facilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the presence to represent IC directly to ownership and executive‑level stakeholders.
• Registered Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Prior experience specifically with leachate treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, or landfill‑related environmental infrastructure.
• Experience with CMAR project delivery in addition to Progressive Design‑Build.
• Established relationships with private‑sector water/wastewater clients and engineering design firms in California.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, as noted below:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Innovative Construction Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status.