Director of Operations
Headquartered in Sunrise, FL | Regular Travel to Job Sites Throughout South Florida Ascent Construction Group
Build the Operational Foundation of a Growing South Florida Commercial Contractor
Ascent Construction Group is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to provide company-wide leadership across our commercial general contracting operations.
Reporting directly to the President, the Director of Operations will oversee project execution, operational performance, field leadership, staffing, accountability, and continuous improvement across the organization. This role currently oversees a team of approximately 10 Project Managers and Superintendents across 6 active commercial construction projects, with responsibility growing as the company expands. This individual will work closely with Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, General Superintendents, and Superintendents to ensure that projects are delivered safely, profitably, on schedule, and in accordance with Ascent's quality standards.
This is a hands-on senior leadership position for an experienced construction professional who can strengthen operational systems, develop high-performing teams, identify project risks early, and hold project leadership accountable for results. Ascent is entering a period of significant growth, and this role will play a central part in scaling the operations team, project volume, and leadership bench to support it.
Key Responsibilities
Company-Wide Operational Leadership
- Provide leadership and oversight for Ascent's commercial construction operations across all active projects — currently a team of 10 Project Managers and Superintendents across 6 projects, with continued growth anticipated.
- Direct, support, and hold accountable Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, General Superintendents, Superintendents, and other operational personnel.
- Establish consistent expectations, procedures, reporting standards, and best practices across the organization.
- Ensure effective coordination between field operations, project management, preconstruction, accounting, safety, and executive leadership.
- Develop scalable operational systems that support the company's continued growth.
- Promote a culture of accountability, communication, integrity, teamwork, and operational excellence.
Project Performance and Oversight
- Monitor project schedules, budgets, cost projections, staffing, procurement, subcontractor performance, quality, and overall execution.
- Lead or participate in executive project reviews, operational meetings, and project performance evaluations.
- Identify schedule, cost, staffing, contractual, quality, and client-related risks before they materially affect project performance.
- Develop and oversee corrective-action and recovery plans for underperforming projects.
- Assist project teams with complex scheduling, procurement, subcontractor, staffing, owner, consultant, and client matters.
- Ensure projects are properly planned and mobilized before construction begins.
- Oversee successful project turnover, punch-list completion, closeout, and warranty transition.
- Visit active project sites regularly to evaluate performance, leadership, safety, quality, and adherence to company standards.
Financial and Commercial Performance
- Review project financial performance, cost reports, forecasts, projected profitability, and cash-flow considerations.
- Ensure project teams maintain accurate and timely cost projections and financial reporting.
- Monitor operational efficiency, field productivity, general conditions, and cost-control performance.
- Support timely owner billing, subcontractor management, change-order processing, collections, and project closeout.
- Assist executive leadership with annual budgeting, staffing plans, resource allocation, and operational forecasting.
- Recommend corrective action when projects are not meeting financial or operational expectations.
Safety, Quality, and Risk Management
- Champion Ascent's safety culture and reinforce that safety is a core operational responsibility.
- Partner with safety leadership to ensure compliance with company policies, contractual requirements, and applicable safety regulations.
- Promote consistent quality-control planning, documentation, inspections, and corrective-action procedures.
- Ensure project teams properly manage contractual obligations, documentation, notices, schedule requirements, and operational risk.
- Support lessons-learned reviews and company-wide continuous improvement initiatives.
Team Leadership and Development
- Recruit, evaluate, mentor, and develop project management and field leadership personnel.
- Establish clear performance expectations and participate in formal performance evaluations.
- Provide direct coaching and corrective guidance when performance does not meet company expectations.
- Identify training needs and support professional development throughout the operations team.
- Develop succession plans and strengthen the company's future operational leadership bench — a growing priority as Ascent scales its project volume and headcount.
- Help create a workplace where high-performing employees are supported, challenged, and retained.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible commercial construction management experience, with substantial experience in senior operational or project leadership.
- Demonstrated experience overseeing multiple large commercial construction projects simultaneously.
- Strong experience leading Project Managers, Superintendents, and multidisciplinary project teams.
- Experience with large multifamily, high-rise, hospitality, student housing, mixed-use, or similarly complex commercial construction projects strongly preferred.
- Thorough knowledge of scheduling, budgeting, cost forecasting, procurement, subcontractor management, contract administration, change management, project controls, and risk management.
- Strong financial acumen and the ability to analyze project performance, identify negative trends, and implement corrective action.
- Proven ability to develop systems, improve processes, and create accountability across multiple teams and projects.
- Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
- Proficiency with construction management and scheduling platforms such as Autodesk Build, Procore, Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or comparable systems.
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred. Equivalent senior-level construction experience will be considered.
Leadership Profile
The successful candidate will be:
- A strategic thinker who also remains closely connected to day-to-day project execution.
- A decisive leader who addresses problems directly and follows through on commitments.
- An effective communicator who can build credibility with executives, employees, clients, consultants, and subcontractors.
- Highly organized and capable of managing multiple projects, teams, and priorities.
- Calm and solutions-oriented under pressure.
- Financially disciplined and focused on measurable results.
- Committed to developing people and building high-performing teams.
- Comfortable working in a growing organization where systems and processes are continuing to evolve, and energized by the challenge of scaling operations alongside significant company growth.
Compensation & What We Offer
- Compensation: $200,000–$250,000, based on experience and qualifications.
- Performance-based bonus opportunity.
- Vehicle allowance.
- Phone stipend.
- Relocation assistance (negotiable).
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Paid time off and paid holidays.
- Professional development opportunities.
- The opportunity to work directly with company ownership and play a meaningful role in shaping Ascent's operational structure, leadership team, and long-term growth.
Location
This role is based at Ascent's headquarters in Sunrise, FL, with regular travel to active job sites throughout South Florida.
Why Ascent Construction Group?
Ascent Construction Group is a growing South Florida commercial general contractor focused on building a leadership team capable of supporting long-term, sustainable growth. The company is entering a significant growth phase, with an expanding project pipeline and increasing headcount — making this a pivotal time to join the leadership team.
This position offers the opportunity to work directly with company ownership, influence operational strategy, strengthen project execution, develop future leaders, and help build the systems and culture required for Ascent's next stage of growth.
Drug-Free Workplace
Ascent Construction Group is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive work environment. All offers of employment are contingent upon successfully completing a pre-employment drug screening. Employees may also be subject to reasonable-suspicion, post-accident, and random drug testing in accordance with company policy and applicable law.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Ascent Construction Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Pay: $200,000.00 - $250,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- Describe the largest portfolio of commercial construction projects you have overseen simultaneously, including the number of projects, total contract value, project types, and geographic area.
- How many Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, General Superintendents, and Superintendents have reported to you, either directly or indirectly? Please distinguish between direct reports and total team oversight.
- Provide one example of an underperforming project you personally helped recover. What were the schedule and financial problems, what actions did you take, and what was the measurable result?
- What responsibility have you held for project financial performance, including cost-to-complete forecasting, WIP reporting, cash flow, labor productivity, change-order management, and final profitability?
Work Location: In person
