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Location: Riverside, CA (Southern California) | Schedule: Full-time, on-site/field with regional travel | Compensation: $160,000–$200,000+ base, depending on experience

Overview

A self-performing heavy civil contractor serving Southern California is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead complex infrastructure projects. This hands-on leadership role covers the full project lifecycle—from preconstruction through closeout—and is critical to delivering projects safely, profitably, and on schedule.

What you'll do

• Manage heavy civil construction projects from preconstruction and startup through completion and closeout
• Own project financial performance, including budget, revenue, gross margin, cash flow, forecasting, and profitability
• Develop and maintain accurate cost-to-complete forecasts and monthly project financial projections
• Manage self-performed scopes including underground utilities, water/sewer/storm drain, earthwork and mass grading, excavation, asphalt paving, structural concrete, railroad infrastructure, and public works
• Partner with Superintendents to develop construction plans, schedules, manpower and equipment needs, and project sequencing
• Monitor field production, labor costs, equipment utilization, material costs, and subcontractor performance
• Review project plans, specifications, contracts, geotechnical reports, and other construction documents
• Identify project risks, constructability issues, scope gaps, and potential cost or schedule impacts
• Manage RFIs, submittals, change orders, claims, correspondence, and project documentation
• Identify, price, negotiate, and execute change orders while protecting project profitability and contractual rights
• Develop and maintain project schedules and ensure critical milestones are achieved
• Manage subcontractors, suppliers, vendors, and procurement activities
• Negotiate subcontracts, purchase orders, and major material commitments
• Coordinate with owners, engineers, inspectors, public agencies, utility companies, railroad representatives, and other stakeholders
• Lead project meetings and provide clear communication regarding schedule, cost, risk, quality, and performance
• Participate in project handoffs from estimating and validate bid assumptions, production rates, quantities, and scope
• Support estimating and preconstruction efforts on future pursuits with historical cost data, production information, and operational input
• Ensure compliance with project safety, environmental, quality, and contractual requirements
• Mentor Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, Project Engineers, and other project staff
• Build and maintain long-term client relationships that support repeat business

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive heavy civil construction experience
• 5+ years of Project Management experience managing heavy civil infrastructure projects
• Strong background working for a self-performing heavy civil contractor
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple self-perform scopes such as utilities, earthwork, grading, asphalt, and concrete
• Experience delivering California public works, transportation, railroad, municipal, or utility infrastructure projects
• Strong knowledge of heavy civil construction means and methods
• Ability to manage complex projects from startup through final completion
• Strong understanding of project contracts, plans, specifications, schedules, and cost controls
• Proven ability to manage project teams, subcontractors, vendors, and field operations
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Extensive experience with project budget management, cost-to-complete forecasting, revenue and margin forecasting, cost control, cash flow management, change order management, claims and contract management, labor productivity, equipment utilization, subcontractor cost management, procurement, schedule management, and project risk management
• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline preferred; equivalent heavy civil construction experience may be considered

Preferred qualifications

• Experience managing multiple heavy civil disciplines, including underground wet utilities, water and sewer pipelines, storm drain, earthwork, mass excavation, mass grading, asphalt paving, structural concrete, bridges and structures, railroad construction, Caltrans, public works, utility infrastructure, transportation infrastructure, and municipal/agency projects
• Caltrans project delivery experience
• Railroad construction experience with BNSF, Union Pacific, Metrolink, or similar rail owners
• Extensive California public works experience
• Experience managing large, complex self-performed heavy civil projects
• Strong understanding of union labor and prevailing wage requirements
• Experience with Design-Build, CM/GC, Progressive Design-Build, or other alternative delivery methods
• Established relationships with Southern California owners, agencies, subcontractors, and suppliers
• Experience mentoring and developing Project Managers and Project Engineers
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred
• Experience with heavy civil construction management software, including HCSS HeavyJob/HeavyBid, Procore, Primavera P6, Bluebeam Revu, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Office Suite, and cost forecasting/project management systems

Compensation and benefits

• Base salary: $160,000–$200,000+, depending on experience
• Profit sharing / performance incentives
• Company vehicle or vehicle allowance
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement benefits
• Paid Time Off
• Additional company benefits
• Career advancement opportunities into Project Executive, Operations Manager, Area Manager, or Division leadership

Why this role

This is an opportunity to take ownership of challenging heavy civil infrastructure projects for a team that self-performs the work it builds, with direct responsibility for project execution, financial performance, field operations, and client relationships, and a clear path toward broader operational leadership.