Senior Construction Manager

Kleinfelder Inc•Dover, DE

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Kleinfelder's Construction Services team is looking for a highly qualified Operations Leader to manage the Delaware Construction Inspection Department. This department delivers comprehensive construction management and inspection services for complex transportation infrastructure projects, including roadway and bridge construction inspection, utility coordination, contract administration, quality assurance, and compliance monitoring. The Construction Inspection Department Manager will lead this dynamic practice and drive its continued growth and operational success. This role has full responsibility for the Department’s performance, overseeing profit and loss, operational management, business development, and client relationships. The manager will collaborate closely with marketing teams on proposal development, coordinate with public agencies, contractors, and teaming partners, oversee technical and field delivery, and ensure projects are executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with client standards and regulatory requirements. Additionally, the manager will build and lead a high-performing inspection team by attracting top talent and fostering a culture centered on quality, accountability, safety, and profitable growth. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience developing and managing construction inspection and construction management contracts with State DOTs, local municipalities, contractors, and teaming partners. This individual is a motivated, people-centered leader who fosters collaboration, demonstrates strong emotional intelligence, and communicates effectively with clients, contractors, agency personnel, and internal teams. The successful candidate will also be a forward-thinking professional who understands evolving transportation construction practices, emerging technologies, and inspection methodologies, while establishing internal standards and best practices that support consistent, high-quality project delivery. This role is responsible for developing and executing long-term growth strategies, including one-, three- and five-year strategic plans that identify target markets, strategic clients, and operational priorities. By providing clear direction and strong leadership, the Construction Inspection Department Manager will guide the group from strategy through execution—ensuring the right personnel are assigned, the right opportunities are pursued, and client satisfaction, compliance, and project performance remain top priorities.

Requirements

10+ years of transportation construction inspection and construction management experience, or experience in project design and construction oversight, including leadership responsibilities.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field required.
Strong understanding of transportation construction practices, inspection procedures, contract administration, and DOT specifications.
Excellent time management, organizational, and decision-making skills.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to lead, mentor, and grow high-performing teams.
Solid understanding of financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and operational performance metrics.
Professional demeanor appropriate to represent the company with clients, contractors, agencies, and industry organizations.
Established professional relationships with key regional transportation clients, contractors, and teaming partners.
Demonstrated ability to recruit, retain, and develop top-tier technical and field personnel.
Proven ability to successfully deliver results on complex and challenging transportation construction projects.

Nice To Haves

PE licenses are preferred
additional certifications such as CCM, or PMP construction certifications are a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Construction Inspection Department across Delaware, guiding daily operations, staffing forecasts, resource allocation, and workload balancing to ensure strong project execution and financial performance.
Plan, recruit, develop, and retain the talent necessary to support the department’s technical, managerial, and supervisory needs, ensuring the team is positioned for sustained growth and successful project delivery.
Lead the growth and expansion of the Construction Inspection practice through the pursuit and delivery of services including roadway and bridge construction inspection, utility inspection coordination, construction management, constructability reviews, maintenance of traffic oversight, ADA compliance verification and contractor coordination.
Build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with existing clients to ensure the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and responsive inspection services and project documentation, while promoting repeat work, client satisfaction, and long-term partnerships.
Establish, implement, and continuously improve inspection standards, processes, and procedures that promote consistency, quality assurance, safety compliance, risk management, and targeted profitability across construction inspection and construction management projects.
Conduct regular portfolio and performance reviews of Construction Inspection projects, ensuring accountability for key financial and operational metrics including profitability, accounts receivable (AR), days sales outstanding (DSO), net revenue multiplier (NRM), work-in-progress (WIP), safety performance, and gross and net revenue goals.
Ensure compliance with State DOT specifications, construction standards, contract requirements, safety regulations, and quality control procedures.
Support business development efforts by identifying opportunities, participating in industry organizations, preparing proposals, attending client meetings, and maintaining strong relationships with transportation agencies, municipalities, and contractor partners.