SENIOR FEDERAL CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM MANAGER / OPERATIONS LEAD- Southeast Division - FEDERAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Location - Southeast Region, with preference for candidates located in Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, Georgia, or surrounding areas.
Vanguard Pacific is a well-established and growing federal construction contractor specializing in government construction projects, primarily for the Department of Defense. We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Federal Construction Program Manager / Operations Lead to help manage and grow our Southeast Division.
This is a senior leadership role intended for someone who can serve as a key operational partner to executive leadership. The right candidate will be highly accountable, organized, proactive, and capable of managing multiple federal construction projects from preconstruction through closeout.
This position requires strong federal construction experience, excellent communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage project teams, subcontractors, schedules, budgets, billing, client communication, and contract risk.
The ideal candidate has successfully managed federal firm-fixed-price construction contracts, understands how to protect schedule and margin, and can work independently while keeping leadership fully informed.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Senior Federal Construction Program Manager / Operations Lead will be responsible for managing multiple federal construction projects and supporting overall division operations.
Responsibilities include:
- Serve as a senior program manager for federal firm-fixed-price construction contracts.
- Manage multiple construction projects at the same time, typically across different federal installations.
- Oversee projects generally ranging from approximately $500,000 to $10 million.
- Lead and coordinate Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, renovation, repair, and IDIQ-type task order projects.
- Manage project teams, including Project Managers, Superintendents, Quality Control Managers, Site Safety and Health Officers, subcontractors, vendors, and design partners.
- Develop, maintain, and manage project schedules using Microsoft Project; Primavera P6 experience is strongly preferred.
- Review plans, specifications, contract requirements, scopes of work, subcontractor proposals, schedules, and project documentation.
- Estimate construction projects using quantity take-offs, subcontractor/vendor pricing, and review of plans and specifications.
- Support bid reviews, scope development, subcontractor buyout, and preconstruction planning.
- Manage A&E firms and design teams to ensure design deliverables meet contract requirements without unnecessary scope expansion or overbuilding.
- Understand and manage the federal submittal process, including submittal registers, government reviews, resubmissions, and schedule impacts.
- Monitor project performance against budget, schedule, quality, safety, and contract requirements.
- Oversee monthly progress billing and support timely invoice submission, approval, and payment.
- Review and approve subcontractor and vendor invoices.
- Identify potential project risks, delays, changes, and cost impacts early and communicate them clearly.
- Support change order development, REAs, schedule impacts, and documentation of differing site conditions or government-caused delays.
- Maintain strong project documentation to protect the company’s contractual position.
- Communicate professionally and effectively with government customers, contracting officers, CORs, subcontractors, vendors, teaming partners, and internal leadership.
- Build and maintain productive relationships with subcontractors, customers, and teaming partners.
- Support project closeout, including punch lists, as-builts, warranties, O&M manuals, final billing, and required federal closeout documentation.
- Assist executive leadership with operational planning, staffing needs, subcontractor strategy, and division growth.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Minimum of 10 years of federal government construction project management experience.
- Experience managing Department of Defense construction projects strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of federal construction contract requirements, including schedules, submittals, quality control, safety, progress billing, closeout, and documentation.
- Experience with Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, and IDIQ/task order construction contracts.
- Proven ability to manage multiple construction projects in different locations at the same time.
- Strong estimating ability, including quantity take-offs and subcontractor/vendor quote analysis.
- Ability to read, interpret, and compare plans, specifications, contract documents, schedules, and subcontractor proposals.
- Ability to identify scope gaps, cost risks, schedule risks, and contract compliance issues.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong leadership, organization, follow-through, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to communicate professionally with government clients, subcontractors, field teams, and senior leadership.
- Familiarity with USACE EM 385-1-1.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and Adobe.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Project.
- Ability to access federal installations and pass required background checks.
- Valid driver’s license and ability to travel periodically to project sites throughout the Southeast.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, or a related field.
- Equivalent federal construction project management experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
- Primavera P6 experience.
- PMP certification.
- USACE Construction Quality Management for Contractors certification.
- OSHA 30 certification.
- Experience with RMS/QCS, Procore, or similar federal construction management software.
- Experience managing Air Force, Army, Navy, or other federal installation projects.
- Prior experience in a senior operations, division manager, program manager, or portfolio management role.
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SKILLS ASSESSMENT
Candidates may be asked to complete a practical skills assessment prior to an offer of employment. Testing may include:
- Construction estimating from plans and specifications.
- Schedule review or schedule development.
- Review of subcontractor proposals.
- Evaluation of project scope, risk, and sequencing.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Vanguard Pacific offers competitive compensation, strong benefits, and the opportunity to work directly with company leadership in a growing federal construction business.
Employment Classification: Full-time, W-2 position
Salary range: $130,000–$165,000 per year, depending on qualifications.
Benefits include:
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Paid time off
LOCATION REQUIREMENT: Applicants must reside within the Southeastern United States, preferably in Alabama, the Florida Panhandle, Georgia, or surrounding areas, or be willing to permanently relocate to the region within 90 days of their hire date. Relocation and moving expenses are the sole responsibility of the employee and will not be reimbursed by the Company.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Please answer the following questions when applying:
- How many years of federal construction project management experience do you have?
- Please list the federal agencies or installations where you have managed construction work.
- What types of federal contracts have you managed? For example: Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, IDIQ, MATOC, SABER, JOC, or task order contracts.
- What is the typical dollar value of projects you have managed?
- Have you managed multiple federal construction projects at the same time?
- Are you proficient in Microsoft Project?
- Do you have Primavera P6 experience?
- Do you have OSHA 30?
- Do you have a current USACE CQM-C certification?
- Are you willing to travel periodically to federal project sites throughout the Southeast?
- Are you able to access federal installations and pass required background checks?
Vanguard Pacific, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $130,000.00 - $165,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Please list the federal agencies or installations where you have managed construction work.
- Do you have an OSHA 30 Certification?
- Do you have a USACE CQM-C Certification
- What types of federal contracts have you managed? For example: Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, IDIQ, MATOC, SABER, JOC, or task order contracts.
- What is the typical dollar value of projects you have managed?
- Have you managed multiple federal construction projects at the same time?
- Are you proficient in Microsoft Project?
- Do you have Primavera P6 experience?
- Are you willing to travel periodically to federal project sites throughout the Southeast?
- Are you able to access federal installations and pass required background checks?
Education:
Experience:
- Federal government project management: 10 years (Required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Foley, AL 36535
