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Location: Portland, OR (West Coast travel required) | Schedule: Full-time, on-site/field with project office duties

Overview

A heavy civil construction organization is seeking a Senior Tunnel Project Manager to lead complex microtunneling, pipe jacking, trenchless, deep sewer, and large-diameter underground pipeline projects across the West Coast. This senior leadership role carries full accountability for project delivery, profitability, and client relationships on major tunneling and underground infrastructure work ranging from approximately $10 million to $100 million+.

What you'll do

• Lead major tunneling and underground infrastructure projects from preconstruction through final completion and closeout
• Manage projects ranging from approximately $10 million to $100 million+
• Provide leadership to project teams of 10+ employees, including Project Managers, Project Engineers, Tunnel Superintendents, Tunnel Engineers, and field personnel
• Manage projects involving microtunneling, pipe jacking, tunnel boring, utility tunnels, deep sewer pipelines, large-diameter pipelines, launch and receiving shafts, deep excavations, trenchless installations, and water/wastewater infrastructure
• Take ownership of project budget, revenue, margin, forecasting, cash flow, and overall profitability
• Develop and maintain accurate cost-to-complete forecasts and project financial reports
• Manage multiple complex projects or major project phases simultaneously
• Work with Tunnel Superintendents and field leadership on construction sequencing, manpower plans, equipment requirements, and production goals
• Monitor tunneling production, labor productivity, equipment utilization, subcontractor performance, and material costs
• Identify project risks early and develop strategies to protect safety, schedule, budget, and margin
• Review and negotiate change orders, claims, differing site conditions, and other contractual issues
• Manage owner contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, procurement, and major equipment commitments
• Oversee project schedules and develop recovery plans when necessary
• Coordinate with owners, engineers, municipalities, agencies, subcontractors, suppliers, and other project stakeholders
• Maintain strong relationships with existing clients while identifying opportunities for repeat business and future projects
• Lead project meetings and communicate project status, risks, financial performance, and schedule to executive leadership
• Mentor and develop Project Managers, Project Engineers, and other project staff
• Maintain a strong culture of safety, accountability, quality, and operational excellence
• Review estimates prepared by estimating and preconstruction teams, validating quantities, production assumptions, crew compositions, equipment requirements, and tunneling means and methods
• Participate in constructability and risk reviews, and evaluate geotechnical information for potential impact on tunneling operations
• Review shaft requirements, tunneling equipment selection, production rates, and project sequencing
• Participate in final bid reviews and project pursuit strategy, and lead successful project handoffs between estimating and operations
• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with public agencies, municipalities, utility owners, engineers, and industry partners
• Serve as a senior point of contact for project owners and key stakeholders
• Participate in interviews, proposals, negotiations, and business development activities

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Construction Engineering, or related discipline preferred
• 15+ years of relevant heavy civil construction experience
• Minimum 4+ years directly managing tunneling or trenchless construction projects
• Proven experience managing large and complex heavy civil projects
• Strong background in microtunneling, pipe jacking, tunneling, or deep underground pipeline construction
• Demonstrated ability to manage projects profitably
• Strong understanding of project financials, forecasting, contracts, scheduling, and risk management
• Ability to analyze project data and make timely operational and financial decisions
• Strong leadership and team-development capabilities
• Experience managing multidisciplinary project and field teams
• Strong client relationship and negotiation skills
• Ability and willingness to participate in business development and project pursuits
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to travel based on project requirements, including extended assignments to active tunneling and underground infrastructure projects
• Ability to work around active heavy civil and underground construction operations and wear appropriate PPE while onsite

Preferred qualifications

• Extensive microtunneling and pipe-jacking experience
• Experience with projects involving deep, large-diameter sewer or water pipelines
• Experience managing projects valued at $50M–$100M+
• Experience working with public agencies and municipal utility owners
• West Coast heavy civil and underground construction experience
• Design-Build, CM/GC, Progressive Design-Build, or other alternative delivery experience
• Experience managing challenging geotechnical and groundwater conditions
• Strong relationships within the tunneling, trenchless, water, and wastewater construction markets
• Experience with construction management and project controls platforms, including Primavera P6, HCSS HeavyJob / HeavyBid, Procore, Bluebeam Revu, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office Suite, and cost forecasting/project accounting systems

Why this role

This is an opportunity to take a senior leadership role delivering technically challenging microtunneling, pipe jacking, utility tunnel, deep sewer, and large-diameter pipeline projects, with direct responsibility for project execution, financial performance, tunneling operations, client relationships, team development, and future project pursuits across California, Oregon & Washington.