Director of Construction

Tower Companies•Rockville, MD

21h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Construction is responsible for leading and managing Tower’s renovation, capital improvement, and new construction projects across its portfolio. The Tower Team develops and manages high-performing properties while incorporating sustainable and innovative practices. This role oversees internal project management staff and third-party general contractors to ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, and to established quality standards, supporting Tower’s goal of being a leader in the Washington D.C. real estate industry.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, or a related field; advanced degree a plus.
Minimum 10–15 years of progressive construction experience, with at least 5 years in a senior project management or director-level role.
Demonstrated experience managing third-party GCs or working at a third-party GCs leading large-scale projects ($50M+).
Direct experience delivering ground-up multifamily or mixed-use projects; familiarity with Type IIIA podium construction or Type IA/IB construction.
Proven ability to lead and develop internal project management teams in a multi-project environment.
Working knowledge of construction contracts (AIA A101/A102 GMP, A201 General Conditions), lien waivers, and bonding requirements.
Ability to read and manage construction budgets, forecast cost-to-complete, and present financial reporting to ownership.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management platforms (Procore, Bluebeam, MS Project or equivalent).

Nice To Haves

Experience managing retail landlord work in grocery-anchored or mixed-use retail environments.
Experience managing office landlord work in office building environments.
Knowledge of D.C. and Montgomery County building codes, entitlements, and permitting processes.
Experience using Ingenious Build software.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise and develop a team of three project managers responsible for concurrent multifamily development, retail tenant build-outs, and office build-out projects.
Set clear performance expectations, provide mentorship, and conduct regular project reviews to ensure PM accountability and professional growth.
Serve as the primary escalation point for project-level issues, owner-contractor disputes, and cross-portfolio resource conflicts.
Coordinate with Chief Operating Officer, Development, Engineering, Accounting, and Finance to align construction activity with organizational priorities and investment goals.
Manage owner-side relationship with third-party GCs on major ground-up and conversion projects, including a $150M wood-frame wrap multifamily and a $100M office-to-residential conversion.
Manage the execution of base building projects across the portfolio, including building envelope upgrades, structural repairs, and major amenity renovations.
Lead GC procurement and bid processes: draft and issue RFPs, evaluate bids, conduct scope leveling, and make award recommendations to senior leadership.
Negotiate and administer GMP and lump-sum construction contracts; manage change order review, approval, and budget reconciliation.
Chair regular OAC meetings; maintain rigorous tracking of schedule milestones, RFI logs, submittal logs, and open issues.
Review and approve GC pay applications in coordination with ownership's lender requirements and draw schedules.
Oversee delivery of retail and office tenant improvement projects, from lease execution through landlord work completion and tenant handoff.
Review and negotiate landlord work scopes, TI allowances, and construction timelines during lease negotiations in coordination with the leasing team.
Manage design and permitting processes for tenant build-outs; coordinate with municipal building departments across DC and Maryland.
Maintain consolidated construction budget tracking across all active projects; report portfolio-level cost and schedule status to senior leadership on a regular cadence.
Identify and proactively manage construction risks, including site conditions, supply chain exposure, permitting delays, and subcontractor performance issues.
Ensure robust owner-controlled insurance (OCIP/CCIP) and contractor bonding requirements are in place for major capital projects.
Review and interpret geotechnical reports, structural drawings, MEP coordination, and civil documents to identify constructability issues early.
Coordinate with the development team during design and entitlement to provide constructability input, value engineering recommendations, and schedule feedback.
Manage design consultant team (architects, MEP engineers, civil, landscape) through construction documents and ensure deliverables align with permit readiness milestones.
Liaise with municipal building and fire departments in D.C. and Montgomery County on permitting and inspections.
Support the development team on office-to-residential conversion projects requiring coordination between structural assessments, MEP retrofits, and code compliance reviews.