Construction Department Manager

We’re a people-first organization. We value knowledge and learning. We believe in the power of connection and collaboration and we seek to build relationships that mean something. We employ some of the best and brightest in the industry and we work hard to maintain a culture that our people can be proud of.

• You bring 20+ years of progressive experience in transportation construction, including senior-level leadership and management responsibility.
• You have a deep expertise in roadway and infrastructure construction with strong knowledge of IDOT, Tollway, CDOT, and municipal standards.
• You are a strategic thinker who understands how to scale teams, strengthen agency relationships, and grow a construction practice.
• You are able to balance long-term vision with practical execution and sound operational decision-making.
• You are a confident yet humble leader who builds trust with clients and fosters accountability within teams.
• You are known for strong judgment, clear communication, and the ability to navigate complex construction environments.
• You are experienced in mentoring leaders, developing talent, and building high-performing teams.
• You hold a B.S. in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field from an accredited program.
• An active Professional Engineer (P.E.) license is preferred. 

Department & Team Leadership 

• Lead the Construction Department, with oversight of Construction Group Managers and construction staff. 

• Build and maintain a high-performing, safety-focused, and accountable team culture. 

• Provide mentorship, performance management, and career development guidance. 

• Support recruitment, workforce planning, and succession planning to meet current and future workload demands. 

• Conduct performance reviews and ensure efficient, cost-effective staff utilization. 

Practice Growth & Strategy 

• Drive strategic growth of the Construction practice, aligning department goals with the firm’s long-term vision. 

• Identify new market opportunities and strengthen relationships with IDOT, Tollway, CDOT, counties, and municipalities. 

• Partner with firm leadership on staffing strategies, revenue goals, and operational planning. 

• Support and participate in proposal development, interviews, and pursuit strategies. 

Client Leadership & Business Development 

• Serve as a senior client-facing leader and trusted advisor. 

• Maintain and expand relationships with transportation agencies and public-sector clients. 

• Support project pursuits, contract negotiations, and service expansion opportunities. 

• Represent the firm at industry events and agency meetings. 

Technical Oversight & Quality 

• Provide executive-level technical oversight across transportation construction projects. 

• Ensure compliance with IDOT, Tollway, CDOT, and other applicable standards. 

• Oversee development and implementation of QA/QC plans, safety programs, and project schedules. 

• Support resolution of complex construction, schedule, or coordination challenges. 

• Ensure projects meet scope, budget, schedule, and quality expectations. 

Operational & Financial Management 

• Oversee department performance, backlog, forecasting, and workload planning. 

• Monitor project budgets and financial performance in collaboration with Project Managers. 

• Conduct regular status meetings to review schedule, budget, and resource allocation. 

• Ensure accurate reporting and documentation across all construction projects. 

• An excellent benefits package including 401K match and employee stock ownership, gym and transit subsidies, paid volunteer time off, parental leave, continuing education reimbursement and much more
• Flexible work scheduling in a fast-growing company
• A fun, inclusive, and collaborative environment
• Colleagues that appreciate differences in people, perspectives, cultures, and ideas
• The fruits of our employee-led committees focused on offering engaging social, wellness and community service activities all year long

Starting salary is between $180,000 – $200,000 based on skills and qualifications, with the high end of the range limited to applicants based on relevant years of experience.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Primera is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity. Primera’s practices and employment decisions, including those regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation, shall not be based on any person’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, disability, physical handicap, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, citizenship status or other protected group as defined by law.