Federal Construction Project Manager / Superintendent

Position Overview

The Federal Construction Project Manager / Superintendent is responsible for managing and coordinating on-site construction operations for federal civil construction, site development, environmental restoration, and infrastructure projects. This role oversees project execution from Notice to Proceed (NTP) through final closeout, ensuring work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with federal contract requirements, approved plans, specifications, and quality standards.

This is a hands-on, on-site leadership position that combines field supervision with comprehensive federal project administration. The successful candidate will oversee field crews, subcontractors, scheduling, safety, quality control, project documentation, billing, and compliance while serving as the primary point of contact for the federal Project Manager and Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR).

The ideal candidate has direct experience managing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) or other federal construction contracts and understands both the operational and administrative requirements of federal outdoor construction projects.

Key Responsibilities

Federal Project Management & Administration

• Manage federal construction projects from Notice to Proceed (NTP) through final inspection, acceptance, and closeout.
• Oversee federal contract administration, ensuring compliance with contract requirements, specifications, applicable regulations, and project milestones.
• Prepare, submit, track, and manage federal submittals, including ENG Form 4025-R or equivalent documentation, shop drawings, product data, and required resubmittals.
• Ensure work does not proceed until required submittals, materials, plans, and activities have received the necessary approvals.
• Prepare, maintain, and organize project records, daily reports, correspondence, meeting minutes, and other required documentation.
• Manage Requests for Information (RFIs), submittal logs, approval tracking, and project documentation systems.
• Serve as the primary on-site point of contact for the federal Project Manager, COR, government representatives, and other project stakeholders.
• Monitor contract requirements, identify potential compliance issues, and coordinate timely corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate records to support project audits, inspections, progress reviews, billing, and closeout.

Field Operations & Construction Supervision

• Direct and coordinate daily field operations for outdoor civil construction, site development, earthwork, site utilities, environmental restoration, and related infrastructure projects.
• Supervise foremen, field crews, subcontractors, equipment operators, and other project personnel.
• Develop daily work plans and coordinate labor, equipment, materials, deliveries, and subcontractor activities.
• Monitor productivity, workmanship, and project progress to ensure work meets approved plans, specifications, and schedule requirements.
• Identify field issues, resolve operational challenges, and coordinate solutions with project stakeholders.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and develop additional field personnel as needed to meet project demands.
• Maintain a visible on-site leadership presence and ensure field activities align with project priorities and contractual obligations.
• Coordinate with engineering, quality control, safety, procurement, and other project support personnel.

Scheduling & Project Controls

• Develop, maintain, and manage the baseline Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule.
• Prepare regular schedule updates and two-week look-ahead schedules to coordinate upcoming activities, resources, and milestones.
• Monitor critical-path activities, project milestones, subcontractor performance, and schedule variances.
• Identify potential delays, constraints, and sequencing conflicts, and implement corrective measures to maintain progress.
• Coordinate schedule requirements with the federal client, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal project personnel.
• Maintain accurate progress tracking and communicate schedule status, risks, and recovery plans to project stakeholders.

Budgeting, Billing & Financial Management

• Monitor project costs, labor utilization, equipment expenses, subcontractor costs, and overall financial performance.
• Prepare, review, and track pay applications, progress billings, and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate certified payroll submissions and ensure compliance with applicable federal labor and reporting requirements.
• Track quantities installed, work completed, contract changes, and other information required for accurate billing.
• Review project expenditures against the budget and identify potential cost overruns or opportunities for improved efficiency.
• Support change-order documentation, cost estimates, and contract modifications as needed.
• Maintain accurate financial and production records and provide timely project status updates to management.

Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Implement and enforce federal construction safety requirements, including applicable provisions of EM 385-1-1.
• Prepare, review, and maintain Accident Prevention Plans (APPs), Activity Hazard Analyses (AHAs), and other required safety documentation.
• Conduct toolbox talks, safety briefings, site inspections, and routine safety observations.
• Ensure field personnel and subcontractors understand and follow established safety procedures, site-specific requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Identify hazards, investigate incidents and near misses, and coordinate corrective actions.
• Maintain required safety records and ensure appropriate training, certifications, and documentation are current.
• Promote a proactive safety culture that prioritizes hazard prevention, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Quality Control & Inspections

• Coordinate construction quality control activities with the designated Quality Control (QC) representative.
• Support the implementation of project-specific quality control plans and applicable federal inspection requirements.
• Coordinate preparatory, initial, and follow-up inspections as part of the required three-phase quality control process.
• Verify that materials, workmanship, and completed activities conform to approved submittals, drawings, specifications, and contract requirements.
• Track deficiencies, nonconforming work, corrective actions, and inspection outcomes through resolution.
• Ensure required inspections, approvals, testing, and documentation are completed before work progresses to subsequent phases.
• Assist with punch lists, final inspections, acceptance procedures, and project closeout.

Communication & Stakeholder Coordination

• Maintain regular communication with the federal Project Manager, COR, government inspectors, subcontractors, suppliers, and project personnel.
• Lead project coordination meetings and communicate work plans, schedule updates, safety requirements, and quality expectations.
• Provide timely updates on progress, financial performance, potential delays, risks, and corrective actions.
• Coordinate responses to RFIs, submittal comments, field conditions, and other project-related inquiries.
• Build effective working relationships with government representatives and project stakeholders while maintaining professional communication and accountability.

Project Closeout

• Coordinate final inspections, punch-list completion, outstanding documentation, and corrective work.
• Compile and organize closeout submittals, as-built records, warranties, test results, and other required deliverables.
• Confirm that outstanding RFIs, submittals, quality issues, safety records, and billing requirements are addressed.
• Support final payment applications, contract reconciliation, and formal project turnover.
• Ensure all contractual and administrative closeout requirements are completed accurately and on time.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of construction industry experience, including at least 5 years in a Superintendent role on comparable projects.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a Project Manager, Superintendent, or equivalent field leader on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) or other U.S. federal construction contract.
• Direct responsibility for both field execution and federal project administration, including required documentation, submittals, scheduling, billing, and compliance.
• Experience with outdoor construction operations, including civil construction, site development, earthwork, site utilities, environmental restoration, land restoration, or infrastructure projects.
• Working knowledge of federal construction submittal procedures, daily reporting, CPM scheduling, two-week look-ahead schedules, RFIs, pay applications, certified payroll, and contract documentation.
• Practical knowledge of EM 385-1-1 and federal construction safety requirements.
• Experience with Accident Prevention Plans, Activity Hazard Analyses, toolbox meetings, and site safety inspections.
• Understanding of federal construction quality control procedures, including the three-phase inspection process.
• Proven ability to supervise field crews, subcontractors, and foremen while coordinating labor, equipment, materials, and project schedules.
• Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and project coordination skills.
• Ability and willingness to work on-site and maintain a consistent field presence throughout project execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with USACE, Department of Defense (DoD), or other federal agency construction projects.
• Experience with federal civil works, environmental remediation, restoration, reforestation, site utilities, earthwork, or outdoor infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with federal contracting procedures, applicable labor requirements, and government inspection and acceptance processes.
• Experience with CPM scheduling software, construction project management platforms, electronic submittal systems, and project cost-tracking tools.
• Relevant safety training, construction management certifications, or other industry-recognized credentials.