Vice President of Operations-Heavy Civil Construction

Kimmel Associates; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 270,000 - 330,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Company vehicle or vehicle allowance

Significant annual performance bonus

Employee ownership stake

Long-term incentive opportunity

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision,

401(k) with company contribution/match

Paid time off and holidays

Short- and long-term disability

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Kimmel Associates is recruiting two newly created Vice President of Operations positions in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. One role focuses on public-sector work, the other on private-sector, reporting to the VP of Operations.

These positions aim to bolster leadership and autonomy as founders transition to a board role. Ideal candidates bring 15+ years in heavy civil construction, proven multi-project leadership, strong P&L ownership, and a track record of improving profitability and safety across

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive heavy civil construction experience.
• Experience leading Project Managers, Superintendents, and senior staff.
• Proven ability to own full P&L for a major business unit or portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee heavy civil operations across a portfolio of projects.
• Direct and develop project managers and senior field leaders.
• Ensure safety, schedule, budget, and customer satisfaction targets are met.
• Maintain full P&L accountability including budgeting and forecasting.
• Set and monitor operational KPIs and performance standards.
• Collaborate with estimating and senior leadership on strategy.
• Optimize manpower and equipment across projects.
• Build strong relationships with owners, developers, agencies, and subcontractors.
• Drive safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Support major pursuits, negotiations, and strategic growth.
• Travel regularly to project sites.

Skills

Heavy civil leadership

Multi-project portfolio management

P&L ownership

Executive communication

Contracts and risk management

Team development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or related field

Engineering or Business background

Job description

About the Company

Our client is a well-established heavy civil construction contractor with over five decades of experience, headquartered in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The company specializes in complex infrastructure and site development, including transportation, earthwork, paving, utilities, structures, commercial development, mining, and residential projects.

With strong self-perform capabilities, a substantial equipment fleet, and an experienced leadership team, the organization is entering a new phase of growth and leadership development, and is seeking senior operations executives to help lead it.

About the Position

The company is seeking two newly created Vice President of Operations roles, one focused on public-sector work, one on private-sector work, both reporting directly to the company's VP of Operations. These positions were created to support continued growth and to build out a stronger operating leadership structure as company founders transition into a board-only role, creating real day-to-day autonomy and high visibility for the leaders who step into these seats.

Both positions require a proven heavy civil executive capable of leading a large portfolio of concurrent projects, developing teams, improving profitability, and driving operational excellence. Candidates should have experience managing many simultaneous projects rather than being assigned to a single large project at a time.

Job Location:

Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Relocation assistance available.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee large-scale heavy civil construction operations across a portfolio of concurrent projects
• Direct and develop Project Managers, Superintendents, and senior field leadership
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to customer expectations
• Hold full P&L accountability for assigned operations, including budgeting, cost control, forecasting, and margin optimization
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs and performance standards
• Partner with estimating, preconstruction, and senior leadership on project strategy and execution
• Optimize manpower, equipment, and other resources across projects
• Build strong relationships with owners, developers, agencies, subcontractors, and other stakeholders
• Champion safety, quality, employee development, and continuous operational improvement
• Support major pursuits, business development, contract negotiations, and strategic growth initiatives
• Travel regularly to project sites

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive heavy civil construction experience, including significant operational leadership
• Proven success managing a large, multi-project portfolio simultaneously, not primarily single large projects
• Experience leading Project Managers, Superintendents, and other senior construction professionals
• Strong background in heavy civil, infrastructure, transportation, or site development
• Demonstrated responsibility for project profitability, forecasting, scheduling, cost control, safety, and customer relationships
• Proven success owning full P&L for a major business unit, region, or portfolio of complex projects
• Strong understanding of contracts, estimating, project controls, change management, claims, and risk
• Experience with both self-performed and subcontracted work
• Proven ability to recruit, develop, and retain high-performing teams
• Strong executive communication, leadership, relationship management, and business acumen
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred

Preferred experience:

Public works/DOT, highways, bridges, utilities, large-scale earthwork, or commercial civil site development.

Benefits

• $300,000+ base salary
• Significant annual performance bonus
• Meaningful employee ownership stake, with a track record of strong annual growth in employee equity value
• Long-term incentive opportunity
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) with company contribution/match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Short- and long-term disability
• Company vehicle or vehicle allowance
• Relocation assistance
• Significant opportunity for long-term executive growth