Division Manager-Public Works

Kimmel & Associates • San Francisco, CA

4d • $250,000 - $285,000

About The Position

The Division Manager – Public Works will build and lead a public works division from the ground up at a heavy civil engineering and construction firm serving Northern California. The role spans business development, estimating, bidding, project management, and project delivery. The successful candidate will bring established relationships with Bay Area public agencies and municipalities, along with the technical and commercial ability to pursue, estimate, win, and deliver public works projects.

Working directly with ownership, the Division Manager will have significant autonomy to shape the division’s strategy, processes, team, and market presence. The role includes pursuing projects generally ranging from approximately $100K to $3M, overseeing field operations and client relationships, and establishing the operational discipline required to serve public-agency clients. As the division grows, there is a potential path to executive-level leadership and equity or partnership.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive construction experience, with significant responsibility in project management and/or operations.
• Demonstrated experience combining estimating/bidding and 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 operate 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.
• The role is intended for an early-to-mid career leader with substantial career runway ahead.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field preferred.
• Understanding of public contracting processes; experience with LBE/DBE, 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 $100K to $3M.
• Lead estimating, bidding, and bid strategy while also managing 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: Manager