Civil Project Manager

Location: Detroit, MI
Compensation: $100,000–$135,000 annually, based on experience
Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire
Classification: Salaried | Exempt

Position Overview

A well-established Michigan-based general contractor with growing operations nationwide is seeking an experienced Civil Project Manager to manage civil construction projects from estimating and preconstruction through field execution and closeout.

This position combines civil estimating, project management, cost control, scheduling, subcontractor coordination, and client management. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with civil construction involving earthwork, underground utilities, concrete, site development, and/or roadway work and can take ownership of project safety, quality, schedule, budget, and profitability.

The successful candidate will be comfortable working between the office and project sites, partnering closely with field supervision, subcontractors, engineers, inspectors, and project owners.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare detailed estimates for civil construction projects involving earthwork, utilities, concrete, site development, and roadway construction.
• Review plans, specifications, engineering drawings, and geotechnical reports to develop accurate quantity takeoffs and project scopes.
• Solicit, review, and evaluate subcontractor and supplier pricing.
• Develop bid proposals, project schedules, and value-engineering alternatives.
• Participate in pre-bid meetings and site walks to evaluate project conditions, risks, and scope requirements.
• Lead projects from kickoff and planning through construction and final closeout.
• Maintain accountability for overall project safety, quality, schedule, budget, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and oversee project safety plans and reinforce established safety requirements.
• Coordinate closely with field supervisors to ensure construction is completed according to plans, specifications, schedules, and quality standards.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for owners, engineers, inspectors, subcontractors, suppliers, and other project stakeholders.
• Prepare and manage RFIs, submittals, change orders, contracts, progress documentation, and project correspondence.
• Monitor project progress and proactively address scope, scheduling, cost, manpower, and resource issues.
• Manage project budgets, cost tracking, forecasting, monthly payment applications, and overall job profitability.
• Conduct regular project-site visits to verify progress and support field operations.
• Manage contracts with subcontractors, testing agencies, and design professionals.
• Supervise, support, and mentor assigned project staff.
• Maintain strong relationships with owners, architects, engineers, and other project partners.
• Identify cost-effective construction methods while maintaining safety, quality, and schedule requirements.
• Manage project closeout, including punch lists, as-built documentation, final billing, and required turnover documentation.
• Maintain and utilize historical cost information to improve future estimating accuracy.

Required Qualifications

• 3–7+ years of civil construction estimating and/or project management experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing or estimating civil scopes such as earthwork, underground utilities, concrete, site development, or roadway construction.
• Ability to read and interpret civil plans, specifications, drawings, and geotechnical information.
• Experience performing or reviewing quantity takeoffs and construction estimates.
• Experience managing project budgets, cost forecasts, schedules, change orders, and subcontractors.
• Strong understanding of field construction operations and the relationship between estimating, project management, and field execution.
• Ability to communicate effectively with owners, engineers, inspectors, subcontractors, and field personnel.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Teams, and standard construction/project-management technology.
• Ability to regularly visit active construction sites.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant construction experience.
• Experience with DOT, municipal, infrastructure, or large-scale site-development projects.
• Experience with scheduling platforms such as Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project.
• Familiarity with GPS machine control and construction surveying technologies.
• Experience developing value-engineering alternatives.
• PE, PMP, CM-Lean, or other relevant professional certification is beneficial but not required.

Ideal Candidate

The strongest candidate will be more than an administrative Project Manager. They will understand how civil work is actually estimated and built and be capable of reviewing plans, developing quantities and costs, coordinating field execution, and maintaining financial control throughout the project.

Candidates coming from heavy civil, site development, excavation, underground utilities, concrete, roadway, infrastructure, or self-performing general contracting environments should translate particularly well.

The ideal candidate can confidently discuss projects they have personally managed or estimated, including project size, civil scope, takeoffs, subcontractor/vendor pricing, scheduling, change management, cost forecasting, and final project performance.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Ability to work in both office and active construction-site environments.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout the workday.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials or equipment up to approximately 20 pounds.
• Ability to safely navigate active project sites and work around construction operations.
• Normal business hours vary based on project and site requirements.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $100,000–$135,000, commensurate with experience.

The position offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, paid time off, and a 401(k) plan, subject to applicable eligibility requirements.

Location: Detroit, MI
Compensation: $100,000–$135,000
Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire