Role : Division Manager – Heavy Civil Construction
Location: Riverside, Southern California
Travel: Regional travel required
Position Overview
An established heavy civil general engineering contractor is seeking a hands-on Division Manager to lead the operational and financial performance of a self-perform construction division.
This role oversees underground utilities, earthwork, asphalt paving, structural concrete, and rail projects. The Division Manager will own the division’s profit and loss performance, develop project and field teams, support strategic estimating efforts, maintain client relationships, and directly assist with critical projects when required.
This is an operational leadership position requiring active involvement in field execution, estimating, and project management.
Responsibilities
- Own division financial performance, including revenue, gross margin, operating margin, cash flow, and profitability.
- Oversee the execution of self-performed underground utilities, earthwork, asphalt paving, concrete, and rail projects.
- Review project performance, cost-to-complete forecasts, schedules, risks, change orders, and cash flow.
- Support strategic pursuits by reviewing takeoffs, validating production rates and unit costs, and developing bid strategies.
- Assume direct Project Manager responsibilities for complex, high-risk, or underperforming projects when necessary.
- Develop annual operating plans, revenue targets, budgets, staffing plans, and growth strategies.
- Recruit, lead, mentor, and retain Project Managers, Superintendents, Estimators, and supporting personnel.
- Strengthen collaboration between estimating, project management, field operations, and equipment teams.
- Build and maintain relationships with public agencies, utility owners, rail clients, and industry partners.
- Improve equipment utilization, crew productivity, production tracking, and field cost control.
- Partner with executive leadership on market expansion, capital investment, and long-term business strategy.
- Ensure projects meet contractual, safety, quality, schedule, and profitability expectations.
- Promote consistent safety and quality standards across all divisional operations.
Required Qualifications
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible heavy civil construction experience.
- Current or recent experience as a Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Project Executive, Operations Director, Area Manager, or Division Manager.
- Strong self-perform construction experience across multiple disciplines, including:
- Underground utilities
- Earthwork and grading
- Asphalt paving
- Structural concrete
- Current experience working in California’s heavy civil construction market.
- Experience delivering public works, municipal, agency, or utility-owner projects.
- Demonstrated responsibility for divisional or business-unit financial performance.
- Strong understanding of P&L management, cost-to-complete forecasting, cash flow, change-order management, and margin protection.
- Ability to review or prepare estimates, evaluate production assumptions, and validate labor, equipment, and material costs.
- Proven ability to lead and develop both field and office teams.
- Willingness to become directly involved in field operations, estimating, and project-level execution.
- Ability to travel throughout the region.
Preferred Qualifications
- Rail construction experience involving Class I railroads, commuter rail systems, or similar clients.
- Caltrans project-delivery experience.
- Previous experience with a self-performing heavy civil contractor.
- Experience supporting regional expansion or developing a new market.
- Bilingual English and Spanish.
Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary of $180,000–$220,000, based on experience.
- Profit-sharing program.
- Company vehicle.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- Paid time off.
- Direct collaboration with executive leadership.
- Opportunity for advancement into broader senior leadership.
Leadership Expectations
This position requires a leader who can set division-level strategy while remaining actively involved in project execution. Candidates seeking a strictly administrative or high-level oversight position without responsibility for field operations, estimating, or critical project support will not be aligned with the role.
Pay: Up to $220,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Company truck
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Fuel discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
