Division Manager-Public Works

Kimmel & Associates • San Francisco, CA

2d

About The Position

The Division Manager – Public Works will build and lead a public works division from the ground up at a well-established heavy civil engineering and construction firm serving Northern California. The company self-performs specialized work including shoring, demolition, excavation and grading, concrete, utility installation, and specialty foundation construction, and is expanding its presence in the public works market.

Working directly with ownership, the Division Manager will shape the division’s strategy, processes, team, and market presence. The role combines estimating and project management: identifying and pursuing public works opportunities, leading bids, winning work, and overseeing project delivery. The successful candidate will bring established relationships with Bay Area public agencies and municipalities and the ability to navigate public contracting requirements. The opportunity offers significant autonomy, the chance to build a new business division, and a potential path to executive-level leadership and equity or partnership as the division develops.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive construction experience, with significant responsibility in project management and/or operations.
• Demonstrated experience combining estimating or bidding with project management responsibilities.
• Established relationships with Bay Area public agencies, municipalities, or other public-sector clients.
• Experience with heavy civil and/or specialty construction, including shoring, foundations, excavation, demolition, or related scopes.
• Strong commercial and financial understanding of construction projects.
• Ability to work with significant autonomy in an entrepreneurial, smaller-company environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, client-development, and relationship-management skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and desire to build an operation rather than simply maintain an existing one.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with LBE/DBE programs, prevailing wage, bonding, and public procurement is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the public works division, from strategy and pursuit through estimating and project delivery.
• Develop and leverage relationships with Bay Area public agencies and municipalities.
• Identify, pursue, and win public works opportunities ranging from approximately $100,000 to $3 million.
• Lead estimating, bidding, and bid strategy, and manage awarded projects.
• Navigate public contracting requirements, including LBE/DBE programs, prevailing wage, bonding, and related compliance requirements.
• Partner directly with ownership on business strategy and market development.
• Independently oversee day-to-day project execution and client relationships.
• Provide leadership for field operations involving shoring, tie-backs, micropiles, helical piles, drilling, sheet piling, earthwork, and demolition.
• Establish processes, documentation, reporting, and operational discipline to support public-agency clients.
• Recruit, develop, and lead the team as the division expands.
• Help establish the division as a significant and sustainable public works operation within the company.

Benefits

• $250,000–$285,000 base salary.
• Opportunity for equity and/or partnership, based on the candidate and division’s development.
• High degree of autonomy and direct access to company ownership.
• Opportunity to build and lead a new business division.
• Clear potential for advancement into executive-level leadership.
• Benefits package to be discussed with qualified candidates.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior