Construction Manager

Northwest Playground•Issaquah, WA

35d•$100,000 - $120,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Northwest Playground Equipment is seeking a Construction Manager to oversee project execution and build out the company's construction management processes. This role serves as the primary client contact from contract execution through project closeout, managing subcontractors, ensuring projects are on schedule and budget, and identifying/resolving issues. The Construction Manager will own the project budget, assist with bidding and estimating, and work closely with the Construction Coordinator. Reporting to the COO, this role will initially be hands-on and grow to supervise other Construction Managers. The position requires a high degree of autonomy and collaboration with the COO to establish standards, tools, and workflows.

Requirements

Experience in construction management.
Experience managing subcontractors.
Experience with project budgeting and cost control.
Familiarity with construction contracts, insurance, and bonds.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations, including permitting.
Understanding of prevailing wage requirements and certified payroll.
Knowledge of playground safety and accessibility standards (ASTM F1487, CPSC, ADA).
Experience with project scheduling and risk management.
Ability to conduct site walks and document field conditions.
Experience with change order management.
Proficiency in reviewing bid documents, site plans, and specifications.
Ability to solicit, evaluate, and level subcontractor and vendor quotes.
Experience with submittal management and approvals.
Strong client relationship and communication skills.
Leadership and team development capabilities.
Process improvement and documentation skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the playground equipment industry.
Experience with turn-key solutions for outdoor amenity projects.
Experience working in a small business environment.
Experience with bidding and estimating site development work.

Responsibilities

Receive projects from the Parks Consultant at contract execution, confirming scope, schedule, budget, and client expectations.
Serve as the client’s primary point of contact from contract execution through closeout, leading kickoff meetings and providing regular progress, schedule, and budget updates.
Communicate client requirements such as site access, delivery windows, and approvals to the Construction Coordinator and installers.
Manage client expectations proactively, including delays, scope changes, and site issues, with timely and professional communication.
Lead project meetings and prepare project status reporting for leadership.
Lead project closeout with the client, including final walkthroughs, turnover documentation, and warranty information.
Supervise, coach, and direct Construction Managers, providing day-to-day guidance and technical support.
Assign and prioritize workload across the team, balancing project demands with individual capacity.
Onboard and train new Construction Managers on company processes, tools, and expectations.
Conduct regular check-ins with team members and provide feedback to support their growth and performance.
Review team members’ work product — budgets, submittals, change orders, and field documentation — for accuracy and completeness.
Partner with the COO to establish and document standardized processes, procedures, and templates for the Construction Management function.
Identify gaps and inefficiencies in current workflows and lead the design of improved processes for budgeting, documentation, compliance, and field reporting.
Create training materials and reference guides to support consistent execution across the team.
Drive adoption of new processes and tools, gathering feedback and refining procedures.
Support the proposal process by developing project scope through review of bid documents, site plans, and specifications.
Provide pricing inputs for site development scopes (demolition, grading, drainage, surfacing, and site amenities).
Solicit, evaluate, and level subcontractor and vendor quotes for inclusion in proposals.
Identify permitting, prevailing wage, insurance, and compliance requirements during the proposal stage.
Coordinate with Parks Consultants to ensure proposals reflect accurate scope, schedule, and cost assumptions.
Prequalify and onboard installation and site work subcontractors, verifying contractor registration, insurance, safety programs, capacity, and past performance.
Prepare clear subcontractor scopes of work for each project.
Schedule and direct installers across concurrent projects, balancing crew availability with project priorities.
Hold subcontractors to manufacturer installation specifications, contract requirements, and quality standards.
Evaluate subcontractor performance and maintain a reliable network of qualified installers.
Assemble install packages for subcontractors, including approved drawings, specifications, manufacturer installation instructions, and site information.
Manage project submittals and approvals with clients, coordinating with the Construction Coordinator on manufacturer product data.
Verify that all documentation aligns with contract requirements and approved changes.
Maintain complete project records, including field reports, inspection records, and closeout documentation.
Own the project budget from contract execution through closeout.
Track committed and actual costs against the approved budget, including labor, materials, freight, and subcontractor costs.
Ensure all approved change orders are reflected in the project budget and billed accurately.
Prepare cost reports, identify budget variances, and escalate risks promptly to leadership.
Reconcile vendor invoices, subcontractor billings, and purchase orders against budgeted amounts.
Support monthly billing, cost reporting, and project closeout financial reconciliation.
Review, prepare, and track change orders from initiation through approval and billing.
Identify missing, unclear, or conflicting scope items and coordinate resolution.
Work with clients to document scope changes.
Ensure all changes are properly authorized and reflected in project documents.
Review and manage project contracts and subcontract agreements.
Coordinate and track Certificates of Insurance (COI) for all required parties.
Obtain, review, and maintain required performance and payment bonds.
Ensure all contractual and insurance requirements are met prior to project start.
Ensure projects comply with local, state, and federal regulations, including permitting requirements.
Ensure Northwest Playground Equipment and its subcontractors comply with L&I prevailing wage requirements, including filing Intents and Affidavits and submitting certified payroll where required.
Verify installations meet applicable playground safety and accessibility standards, including ASTM F1487, CPSC Public Playground Safety Handbook guidelines, and ADA requirements.
Coordinate post-installation safety audits and surfacing testing as required by contract.
Track compliance status and required documentation for each project.
Own management and communication of project scheduling.
Monitor project schedules and identify potential delays.
Partner with the Construction Coordinator to align material deliveries with installer schedules and site readiness.
Proactively coordinate with subcontractors, vendors, and internal teams to reduce schedule slips.
Support recovery plans for delayed materials, approvals, or installations.
Communicate schedule risks and mitigation strategies to leadership and clients.
Lead pre-installation site walks to verify site readiness, access, utilities, and existing conditions against approved drawings.
Visit active job sites to assess subcontractor installation progress against schedule, scope, and budget.
Ensure installers maintain safe job sites, and stop work or escalate when unsafe conditions are observed.
Document field conditions, discrepancies, and progress through photos, field reports, and site notes.
Identify and resolve field issues independently, escalating only those with schedule, cost, or safety impact.
Lead punch list walks and drive completion of outstanding items through project closeout.
Coordinate and lead site inspections with inspectors, clients, and regulatory agencies.