Traveling Construction Superintendent / Field Manager
Primary Office: San Diego, California
Project Locations: California, Arizona, Nevada, and other locations throughout the Western United States
Employment Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire
Travel Requirement: Extensive travel required
Compensation: Approximately $90,000 to $150,000, depending on experience
Company Overview
An established general contractor specializing in public-sector, federal, military, institutional, design-build, renovation, and historic preservation projects is seeking an experienced Traveling Construction Superintendent / Field Manager.
The company performs technically complex construction projects for government agencies, military installations, educational institutions, tribal organizations, national parks, and other public-sector clients.
Projects typically range from approximately $1 million to $10 million and may include renovations, tenant improvements, occupied-facility upgrades, infrastructure improvements, historic restoration, government buildings, military facilities, schools, and specialized public-use facilities.
Position Summary
The Traveling Construction Superintendent / Field Manager will lead all daily field operations for public-sector construction projects throughout the Western United States.
This individual will be responsible for site supervision, subcontractor coordination, safety compliance, quality control, scheduling, documentation, client communication, and overall jobsite management.
The Superintendent will work closely with the Project Manager to ensure each project is completed safely, on schedule, within scope, and in accordance with contract documents and government requirements.
This is a true traveling position. The successful candidate must be comfortable remaining near an out-of-state project site for the duration of the assignment, with periodic trips home based on project needs and company travel policies.
Key ResponsibilitiesField Leadership and Project Execution
- Manage daily construction activities and overall jobsite operations.
- Direct subcontractors, vendors, field personnel, and project resources.
- Coordinate construction sequencing, site logistics, material deliveries, equipment, and labor.
- Develop short-term look-ahead schedules in coordination with the Project Manager.
- Monitor field progress against the project schedule and contractual milestones.
- Identify potential delays, conflicts, and constructability concerns before they affect the project.
- Maintain a clean, organized, secure, and professionally managed jobsite.
- Ensure subcontractors understand and fulfill their contractual scope and schedule obligations.
- Coordinate work in occupied buildings, active campuses, secure facilities, and operational environments.
- Manage project startup, mobilization, construction, punch-list, and closeout activities.
Public-Sector and Federal Project Management
- Supervise construction projects for federal, military, educational, municipal, tribal, and other public-sector clients.
- Maintain compliance with government contract requirements and agency-specific procedures.
- Coordinate with contracting officers, government representatives, inspectors, facility personnel, and end users.
- Understand the additional documentation, safety, quality, and reporting requirements associated with publicly funded projects.
- Support projects involving Davis-Bacon wage requirements when applicable.
- Maintain professional relationships with owners, occupants, government agencies, consultants, and project stakeholders.
- Coordinate work around facility operations, public access, security requirements, and client schedules.
Safety Management
- Lead and enforce the project-specific safety program.
- Maintain compliance with OSHA and applicable federal construction safety standards.
- Implement EM 385-1-1 requirements on applicable projects.
- Conduct daily safety reviews, toolbox talks, inspections, and job hazard analyses.
- Review subcontractor safety plans and confirm compliance before work begins.
- Identify and immediately correct unsafe conditions or work practices.
- Maintain required safety documentation, reports, certifications, and meeting records.
- Coordinate safety requirements with government representatives, subcontractors, and project leadership.
- Promote a proactive and accountable jobsite safety culture.
Quality Control
- Review plans, specifications, submittals, shop drawings, and contract documents.
- Inspect subcontractor work for compliance with approved project documents.
- Identify quality issues before subsequent work is installed.
- Maintain quality-control documentation and inspection records.
- Coordinate preparatory, initial, and follow-up quality-control meetings when required.
- Manage testing, inspections, deficiencies, corrective work, and punch-list completion.
- Verify that materials and equipment comply with approved submittals and project specifications.
- Support commissioning, client training, final inspections, and project turnover.
- Serve as the Quality Control Manager when project requirements and qualifications permit.
Scheduling and Coordination
- Assist with the development and maintenance of the project schedule.
- Prepare and manage three-week and six-week look-ahead schedules.
- Coordinate subcontractor manpower, sequencing, materials, inspections, and equipment.
- Document schedule delays, changed conditions, and subcontractor performance concerns.
- Communicate schedule impacts and recovery needs to the Project Manager.
- Conduct subcontractor coordination and progress meetings.
- Ensure long-lead materials, submittals, inspections, and deliveries align with the construction schedule.
- Develop recovery plans when project activities fall behind schedule.
Project Documentation
- Prepare accurate and timely daily reports.
- Document manpower, subcontractor activities, equipment, weather, visitors, inspections, deliveries, delays, and field conditions.
- Maintain current project drawings, specifications, permits, submittals, RFIs, and change documentation.
- Communicate daily progress and field concerns to the Project Manager.
- Track RFIs, submittals, inspections, deficiencies, and closeout requirements.
- Maintain jobsite records in accordance with company and client requirements.
- Document changed conditions and potential additional work before proceeding.
- Support project closeout documentation, warranties, operations manuals, and turnover materials.
Communication and Stakeholder Management
- Serve as the primary company representative at the project site.
- Maintain regular communication with the Project Manager and internal project team.
- Coordinate with owners, architects, engineers, inspectors, government representatives, and facility occupants.
- Lead subcontractor meetings, safety meetings, quality-control meetings, and schedule reviews.
- Communicate project expectations clearly and professionally.
- Address disputes, performance issues, and field conflicts promptly.
- Maintain positive relationships with clients while protecting the company’s contractual interests.
- Provide clear updates regarding safety, quality, progress, schedule, and project risks.
Project Types
The Superintendent may support projects involving:
- Federal and government facilities
- Military installations
- Public schools and educational facilities
- Tribal schools and government buildings
- National parks and public-use facilities
- Historic preservation and restoration
- Occupied-building renovations
- Tenant improvements
- Mechanical and HVAC upgrades
- Accessibility and ADA improvements
- Site and infrastructure improvements
- Secure and controlled-access facilities
- Design-build construction
- Emergency response and specialized facilities
Qualifications
- Minimum of five years of daily field supervision experience.
- Previous experience supervising public-sector construction projects.
- Experience with federal, military, government, school, or institutional construction is strongly preferred.
- Experience managing projects valued between approximately $1 million and $10 million.
- Strong knowledge of commercial construction methods, sequencing, scheduling, and field coordination.
- Ability to read and interpret plans, specifications, subcontracts, schedules, and government contract documents.
- Experience managing subcontractors and multiple trades.
- Strong understanding of safety, quality-control, documentation, and closeout requirements.
- Ability to manage renovations and construction within occupied or operational facilities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and make practical field decisions.
- Strong organizational, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to pass required background checks and drug screening.
- Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record.
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field is preferred.
- Significant relevant field leadership and public-sector construction experience may be considered.
Preferred Certifications
- OSHA 30
- USACE Construction Quality Management for Contractors certification
- EM 385-1-1 training
- Site Safety and Health Officer qualifications
- First Aid and CPR certification
- Quality Control Manager experience
- Federal project documentation or RMS/QCS experience
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is an experienced traveling Superintendent who understands the structure, documentation, safety, and quality requirements associated with public-sector and federal construction.
This individual is comfortable independently managing a jobsite while maintaining consistent communication with the Project Manager and company leadership.
The successful candidate will be hands-on, organized, safety-focused, technically knowledgeable, and capable of managing subcontractors in occupied, secure, or operational environments.
Candidates with federal, military, tribal, educational, national park, government renovation, or historic preservation experience will be especially well aligned.
Travel Expectations
This is a true traveling field position.
- Travel throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, and other Western states is required.
- The Superintendent may remain near the project site for the duration of an assignment.
- Trips home are generally available approximately once per month, depending on project schedules and operational needs.
- Candidates must be comfortable transitioning between project locations as assignments are completed.
- Project locations and durations will vary.
The field package is expected to include:
- Company-provided housing
- Company truck or vehicle support
- Company laptop
- Company cell phone
- Approximately $500 per month in travel support
- Approved project-related travel expenses
A daily meal per diem is not currently included.
Compensation
Base Salary: Approximately $90,000 to $150,000, depending on public-sector experience, federal credentials, technical qualifications, travel history, and project background.
Pay: $90,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
