Senior Superintendent

Appleton Finn; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

We are seeking a Senior Superintendent to join a high-performing heavy civil construction team delivering complex infrastructure projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This role requires leading field operations, project execution, safety, schedule, quality, and subcontractor coordination to achieve high standards.

The successful candidate will work with owners, engineers, inspectors, and field teams to ensure projects are completed safely and efficiently.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in heavy civil construction.
• Proven experience as a Senior/Superintendent on large-scale civil infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of safety, scheduling, and field operations.
• Ability to lead large field teams and coordinate multiple subcontractors.
• Ability to read and interpret civil drawings and contract documents.
• Willingness to travel throughout the SF Bay Area and Northern California.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of field execution for complex heavy civil projects.
• Lead day-to-day construction operations from mobilization to completion.
• Develop and implement detailed work plans and production strategies.
• Lead and mentor field staff and subcontractors.
• Ensure alignment with schedules, budgets, and quality standards.
• Maintain strong safety culture and compliance with OSHA requirements.
• Coordinate with Project Manager and stakeholders to resolve issues.
• Review plans and RFIs and drive recovery plans when delays occur.

Skills

Heavy civil construction

Senior leadership

Field operations

Reading civil drawings

Safety leadership

Education

Construction Management / Civil Engineering degree

Tools

Procore

Bluebeam

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Job description

Senior Superintendent – Heavy Civil Construction

Employment Type: Full-time

Seniority Level: Senior

The Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Superintendent to join a high-performing heavy civil construction team delivering complex infrastructure projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

This is an opportunity for an established construction leader to take a senior role in the successful delivery of major civil infrastructure projects, with significant responsibility for field operations, project execution, safety, schedule, quality, subcontractor coordination, and team leadership.

We are looking for someone who has built their career on successfully delivering complex projects in challenging environments and who is ready to take ownership of large-scale construction operations.

The successful candidate will work closely with senior project leadership, owners, engineers, subcontractors, and field teams to ensure projects are executed safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards.

Experience with water/wastewater, underground utilities, pipelines, transportation infrastructure, highways, bridges, structures, or major public works projects is highly desirable.

Why Join This Opportunity?

This is more than a traditional Superintendent position.

You will have the opportunity to play a key leadership role on major infrastructure projects in one of the most active construction markets in California, working alongside experienced project professionals and having a direct impact on project performance.

The position offers:

• $200,000 – $250,000 base salary, depending on experience
• Performance-based bonus opportunity
• Opportunity to lead major, high-profile infrastructure projects
• Significant autonomy and ownership of field operations
• Career progression into General Superintendent and senior operations leadership
• Opportunity to work alongside highly experienced construction professionals
• Exposure to complex projects across the San Francisco Bay Area
• A company culture focused on safety, quality, accountability, and long-term career development

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of field execution for complex heavy civil construction projects
• Lead all day-to-day construction operations from mobilization through project completion
• Develop and execute detailed project work plans, construction sequencing, manpower plans, and production strategies
• Lead and develop Superintendents, Foremen, Field Engineers, labor crews, and subcontractor teams
• Establish production expectations and ensure field activities remain aligned with project schedules and milestones
• Coordinate multiple subcontractors, trades, crews, equipment, and work activities
• Work closely with the Project Manager and project leadership to develop and maintain the overall project execution strategy
• Review plans, specifications, drawings, schedules, and contract requirements to identify constructability issues and opportunities
• Drive project productivity and proactively address potential delays, constraints, and field conflicts
• Monitor manpower, equipment, materials, production rates, and overall field performance
• Coordinate subcontractor activities and hold trade partners accountable for schedule, quality, safety, and production
• Lead daily and weekly construction planning and coordination meetings
• Maintain strong communication between field operations, project management, engineering, estimating, and senior leadership
• Work directly with owners, engineers, inspectors, subcontractors, vendors, and other project stakeholders
• Maintain a proactive approach to project risk and develop solutions before issues impact schedule or cost
• Support the development and implementation of recovery plans when projects experience delays
• Ensure construction activities comply with approved plans, specifications, contract requirements, and quality standards
• Champion a strong safety culture across the project and ensure compliance with company, OSHA, and project-specific requirements
• Coordinate inspections, testing, commissioning, and quality control activities
• Manage project logistics, site access, material deliveries, laydown areas, equipment utilization, and temporary facilities
• Review RFIs, submittals, design changes, and field directives and communicate impacts to the project team
• Assist with change order development, documentation, claims, and time impact analysis
• Ensure accurate daily reporting of manpower, equipment, quantities, production, delays, and field conditions
• Participate in project planning, constructability reviews, estimating, procurement, and preconstruction activities
• Drive successful punch list completion, commissioning, closeout, and owner turnover

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in heavy civil construction
• Proven experience as a Senior Superintendent, General Superintendent, or Superintendent on large-scale civil infrastructure projects
• Demonstrated success leading complex projects from mobilization through completion
• Strong understanding of heavy civil construction means, methods, sequencing, and field operations
• Experience managing large field teams and multiple subcontractors
• Strong knowledge of construction scheduling, production planning, site logistics, and resource management
• Ability to read and interpret civil drawings, specifications, schedules, and contract documents
• Strong understanding of construction safety, quality control, and inspection requirements
• Demonstrated experience working directly with owners, engineers, inspectors, subcontractors, and project management teams
• Proven leadership ability with a track record of developing and mentoring field personnel
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and decision‑making skills
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast‑paced, high‑accountability construction environment
• Proficiency with construction technology and software such as Procore, Bluebeam, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or similar
• Willingness to travel throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California as project requirements dictate

A degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Engineering, or a related discipline is preferred but not required for candidates with substantial relevant field experience.

Preferred Project Experience

Candidates with experience delivering projects in one or more of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Water and wastewater treatment facilities
• Water and sewer infrastructure
• Large-diameter pipelines
• Pump stations
• Major excavation and earthwork
• Highways and roadway infrastructure
• Bridges and structures
• Transportation infrastructure
• Public works and municipal infrastructure
• Complex urban infrastructure
• Design-build infrastructure projects

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a proven field leader, not simply someone who can manage a schedule.

You should be someone who understands how to build the project in the field, anticipate problems before they become issues, and bring people together around a common execution plan.

You will be comfortable making decisions, holding subcontractors accountable, coordinating multiple operations simultaneously, and providing clear direction to your field teams.

You should also have the leadership presence to represent the company professionally with owners, engineers, consultants, and senior project stakeholders.

The strongest candidates will bring a combination of:

Field leadership. Technical expertise. Commercial awareness. Schedule discipline. Safety leadership.

Most importantly, you will have a track record of getting major projects built.

This role is intended for a senior construction professional who wants to have a meaningful impact on major infrastructure projects and continue progressing their career.

High-performing individuals will have opportunities to take on increasingly complex projects and progress toward positions such as:

If you are an experienced Senior Superintendent with a strong heavy civil background and are ready to take ownership of major projects in the San Francisco market, we would like to hear from you.