Trade Partner Operations Manager

Vessel Technologies • New York, NY

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Vessel Technologies is reinventing the apartment building. Unlike traditional construction companies, Vessel delivers projects through a highly standardized building production system in which design, engineering, materials, sequencing, budgets, work instructions, and construction methods are developed and continuously improved at the corporate level. This approach allows Vessel to deliver multifamily housing with greater speed, quality, predictability, and efficiency than conventional construction. Because Vessel projects are executed through a defined production system, many responsibilities traditionally assigned to construction project managers are centralized or performed by specialized teams. The Trade Partner Operations Manager plays a critical role within this model by ensuring that the trade partners required to execute the Vessel production system are properly sourced, contracted, administered, and managed throughout project delivery. The Trade Partner Operations Manager is responsible for securing, contracting, administering, and managing the network of trade partners required to execute Vessel projects. Working within Vessel’s established production system, the Trade Partner Operations Manager ensures that all required trade partners are engaged and capable of performing within Vessel’s predefined standards for staffing, productivity, quality, cost, and schedule. Unlike a traditional construction project manager, this role does not create project budgets, develop project schedules, manage permitting activities, coordinate inspections, report to ownership, or supervise day-to-day field operations. Vessel’s project plans, budgets, production sequences, and work instructions are established in advance. The Trade Partner Operations Manager’s responsibility is to ensure that the trade partners executing those plans perform successfully.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in construction operations, subcontractor management, procurement, supplier management, project delivery, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of construction trades and field operations.
• Experience negotiating contracts and commercial agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to manage external partners and drive performance.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, highly structured environment.
• Strong sense of accountability and ownership.

Nice To Haves

• Experience managing subcontractors on multifamily, commercial, industrial, or manufacturing projects.
• Experience in supplier management, procurement, operations, logistics, or manufacturing environments.
• Familiarity with lean production systems and process-driven organizations.
• Experience working in organizations that emphasize standardization, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Execute trade partner buyout activities for assigned projects.
• Review project staffing plans and trade requirements.
• Identify, solicit, evaluate, and select qualified trade partners.
• Negotiate commercial terms and subcontract agreements.
• Build and maintain a network of preferred trade partners across all major construction trades.
• Develop backup sources for critical scopes of work.
• Ensure trade partners understand and commit to Vessel’s production requirements, staffing expectations, schedule requirements, and performance standards.
• Prepare, negotiate, execute, and administer subcontract agreements.
• Manage subcontract documentation and records.
• Administer change orders and contract modifications.
• Maintain accurate records of contract values, commitments, and obligations.
• Ensure compliance with contractual requirements throughout project execution.
• Verify insurance coverage, licensing, qualifications, and required certifications.
• Monitor compliance throughout the life of each project.
• Maintain complete and current trade partner qualification records.
• Ensure adherence to Vessel safety and operational requirements.
• Maintain ongoing communication with trade partners throughout project execution.
• Monitor staffing levels, workforce availability, and trade partner readiness.
• Ensure trade partners are performing in accordance with Vessel’s production requirements.
• Address performance deficiencies and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Escalate significant performance concerns and recommend replacement of underperforming trade partners when required.
• Meet regularly with Field Operations leadership to review project progress.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of trade partner performance across active projects.
• Identify emerging labor-related schedule risks.
• Investigate and resolve trade partner-related causes of schedule deviation.
• Develop and execute recovery plans when trade partner performance threatens project objectives.
• Serve as the primary owner of labor-related schedule performance.
• Partner with Procurement to distinguish labor-related delays from material-related delays and ensure issues are properly resolved.
• Provide clear reporting regarding trade partner performance, schedule risks, and corrective actions.
• Review trade partner requisitions and payment applications.
• Confirm completed work in coordination with Field Operations.
• Approve payments in accordance with contractual requirements.
• Track subcontract commitments and remaining balances.
• Coordinate with Accounting to ensure timely payment processing.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation with performance bonus and equity options.
• 401k & Health Plans (Medical, Dental, and Vision), including HSA/FSA options.
• Life, AD&D, and Disability Insurance, plus Critical Illness and Accident Insurance.
• Weekly lunches and team building events.
• Adoption Assistance, Caregiver Support, and Financial Assistance through Employee Support Programs.
• Commuter Benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed