Vice President, Operations & Strategic Initiative - Construction

Employment Resource Group, Inc.An EOS company; Dubuque (IA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Employment Resource Group, Inc. is seeking a seasoned senior leader to take on a regional turnaround in the Midwest.

Based primarily in the Dubuque area, you will build trust with clients, architects, and engineers while guiding a team of project managers toward operational excellence and sustained profitability. You will shape strategy from market insights, partner with executive leadership on long-range growth, and drive cross-functional collaboration across multiple locations to deliver value

Qualifications

• Ten years in senior leadership within commercial construction.
• Track record of running multi-location or multi-service-line operations.
• Comfort operating at the intersection of operations and business development.
• Established credibility with owners, developers, architects, engineers and industry stakeholders.
• Solid financial fluency: budgeting, forecasting and profitability management.
• Experience driving organizational change and standardizing processes.
• Strong executive communication skills and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Own the strength of client, architect, and engineering relationships across the market.
• Provide hands-on leadership, coaching, and resource support to regional operational teams to drive performance.
• Translate market opportunities into actionable strategy through data-driven analysis and insight.
• Partner with executive leadership on financial forecasting, planning, and long-range growth strategy.
• Uphold accountability and operational excellence; lead process improvement initiatives.
• Align day-to-day operations and business development with short- and long-term goals and profitability.

Skills

Senior leadership experience

Client relationship development

Strategic planning

Data-driven analysis

Financial fluency

Executive communication

Change management

Job description

At this organization, leadership doesn't just tolerate new ideas, it actively invites them. Decisions are made collaboratively, and long-tenured leaders describe a culture built on flexibility, mutual respect, and a genuine willingness to try a better way when one presents itself. With deep roots in the communities it serves and a reputation built on long-standing relationships, this is a company where people are trusted, heard, and given real room to lead.

Dream Job

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership seat and lead the turnaround of an established regional office, stabilizing performance, rebuilding backlog, and strengthening client and community relationships from the ground up. The right candidate will spend the majority of their time in the market, building the kind of trust-based relationships that turn one-time clients into long-term partners, while also coaching a team of experienced project managers who need a steady, accountable leader. For someone ready to move beyond project-level leadership into true strategic ownership, this role offers the chance to shape the future of an office and become a visible, trusted part of the company's next chapter.

Position Overview

This is not a remote position. The successful candidate will be based primarily out of the company's regional office within the broader Midwest, with an active, visible presence expected across the operation, client base, and surrounding market. This role carries responsibility for:

• Owning the strength of client, architect, and engineering relationships across the market.
• Providing hands-on leadership, coaching, and resource support to regional operational teams to drive consistent performance improvement.
• Translating market opportunities into actionable strategy through data-driven analysis and insight.
• Partnering with executive leadership on financial forecasting, planning, and long-range growth strategy.
• Upholding accountability and operational excellence, leading process improvement and organizational effectiveness initiatives.
• Aligning day-to-day operations and business development activity with the company's short- and long-term strategic goals.
• Maintaining consistent profitability and service delivery standards across the business units and markets served.

Qualifications

• At least ten years in senior leadership roles within commercial construction.
• A track record of running multi-location or multi-service-line operations at a regional scale.
• Comfort operating at the intersection of operations and business development, with a history of growing client relationships and market share.
• Established credibility with owners, developers, architects, engineers, and other industry stakeholders.
• Solid financial fluency, covering budgeting, forecasting, and profitability management.
• Experience driving organizational change and standardizing processes across teams.
• Strong executive communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across leadership, operations, and business development functions.