Vice President, Construction Operations

SearchWorks, LLC; Illinois; On-site; USD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

SearchWorks, LLC is seeking an executive to lead Construction Operations, partnering with the President and General Managers to shape safety, quality, and execution across a growing program.

The role oversees Construction Technology, Quality, Operations, and Safety, directing risk management, project oversight, and talent development while embodying high-care, candor, and client-focused leadership.

Job description

A Rare Opportunity to Shape an Organization's Future

This is a newly created executive position, built specifically because the Company has outgrown its current operating model. Sustained growth, larger and more technically demanding projects, an expanding self-perform portfolio, and a strategic push to elevate quality across the board have created the need for a seasoned operations leader to step in and make this role their own. This isn't a role you'll grow into over time. It's built for someone who's already operating at this level and wants a bigger stage.

A True Seat at the Leadership Table

This is a full member of the senior leadership team, not an operational figurehead. The successful candidate will partner directly with the President, serve as a peer to the organization's General Managers, and have a direct hand in shaping the company's future. Four critical functions, Construction Technology, Quality, Operations, and Safety, report directly into this role, giving its leader real authority and the bandwidth to focus on what matters most: safety, quality, and execution, without distraction.

What You'll Own

• Strategy – Set and continuously sharpen the operational playbook across safety, quality, project execution, construction technology, and project controls, directly shaping the Company's growth trajectory.
• Safety & Performance – Build and sustain a culture of safety excellence and high performance across the entire construction organization, modeling the Company's high-care, high-candor values in every interaction.
• Pre-Project Risk & Schedule Readiness – Drive comprehensive risk assessments (PRAM, SRAM, QRAM) and own an active risk register, ensuring every project starts with eyes wide open on schedule, budget, safety, and client dynamics.
• Project Oversight & Performance – Keep a finger on the pulse of every project through KPIs, controls tools, and boots-on-the-ground site visits, stepping in personally to lead mitigation when it counts.
• Team Leadership & Development – Lead and develop Regional Operations Managers, Safety Directors, and functional leaders across Construction Technology, Quality, and Project Controls, building the next generation of Project Executives and Project Directors.
• Talent Strategy – Partner with recruiting to attract, evaluate, and integrate top-tier construction talent, and align team composition to the demands of every project.
• Retention & Culture – Champion a culture where top performers want to build long careers, driving engagement and positioning the Company as an employer of choice in a competitive market.
• Construction Technology & Innovation – Stay ahead of emerging tools and industry trends (Procore, InEight, Power BI and beyond), championing adoption and continuous improvement across every project team.
• Organizational Design – Continuously optimize team structures and accountability, enabling fast, decisive action whenever performance demands it.
• Executive & Client Relations – Serve as a trusted face to clients, subcontractors, and key stakeholders, protecting the brand and the business through proactive, transparent communication with leadership.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for a proven construction operations executive with 15+ years of progressive experience, someone who has led multi-functional teams through complex, lump-sum, competitive-bid programs and knows what it takes to balance productivity, quality, and safety at scale across union and non-union environments. You're technologically fluent and genuinely curious about what's next, not just comfortable with tools like Procore, InEight, and Power BI, but excited to push their use further.

Most importantly, you lead with care and candor. You build trust by developing people, setting clear expectations, and following through on your word. Experience in a privately held, family-owned business is a strong plus, as is the ability to move seamlessly between big-picture strategy and hands-on problem-solving when a project needs you in the trenches.

This is a high-visibility, high-impact role for a leader ready to build something lasting.