Construction Project & Operations Manager -- Grading and Sitework
RJS Grading
Construction Project & Operations Manager -- Grading and Sitework
Location: Raleigh, NC | Full-time | Field oversight with office planning and reporting
Lead the crews, keep jobs on plan, and address cost and schedule problems early.
Earn $110,000 - $120,000 annually, with employer-paid employee-only medical coverage, retirement matching, paid leave, a company-paid phone, and a company truck. Truck availability at the start of employment will be discussed during hiring.
RJS Grading is a Raleigh-based civil excavation and underground utility contractor performing grading, sitework, utilities, clearing, demolition, hauling, and related site services. We value ownership, honest communication, quality work, safety, and learning together.
About the Role
This role combines Project Manager and Superintendent responsibilities, giving you responsibility for active projects and daily operations through working foremen.
You'll report directly to Robert, our Owner/President, and help establish practical systems for planning, field coordination, and project reporting. You'll make routine project decisions while Robert retains sales, final bid pricing, major customer commitments, and owner decisions. Purchasing and approval limits will be established during the handoff.
Success means crews understand upcoming priorities, jobs have clear plans before mobilization, and cost or schedule concerns receive attention before they grow.
Schedule and travel: Travel between assigned jobsites is required. Working hours, travel radius, and any overnight requirements are pending client review.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage assigned jobs from award through closeout, reviewing scope, plans, budgets, contract requirements, and milestones before mobilization.
- Build weekly work plans and daily crew, equipment, and trucking assignments.
- Coordinate materials, subcontractors, inspections, and schedule changes across projects.
- Lead field operations through working foremen, visit jobsites, and verify progress and quality.
- Resolve routine field problems and check crew hours and job codes.
- Review production, costs, commitments, and remaining work weekly; update projected completion costs and address overruns.
- Lead safety planning, address hazards, support stopping unsafe work, and maintain required checks and incident reporting.
- Document changed conditions and scope changes, obtain pricing support, secure approvals, and provide customer updates and billing documentation.
- Coach foremen, lead weekly project reviews, and share production and sequencing feedback to improve future estimates.
Qualifications
Required:
- A demonstrated record of completing grading, earthwork, utilities, or civil sitework projects.
- Approximately five years of relevant project or field leadership experience, or equivalent demonstrated capability.
- Ability to read civil plans and specifications and understand production rates, sequencing, resources, and job costs.
- Direct experience supervising sitework crews, assigning equipment and trucking, coordinating subcontractors, and managing scope changes.
- Effective communication with customers, suppliers, and field teams.
- Practical spreadsheet and project-tracking skills, sound safety judgment, and reliable recordkeeping.
- Ability to travel between jobsites and a valid driver's license for required business driving.
Preferred:
- Small civil contractor experience.
- Experience developing foremen, using digital plans or takeoff tools, and improving production and profitability reviews.
Pay and Benefits
- Full-Time employment.
- Pay: $110,000 - $120,000 annual base salary, based on demonstrated grading/sitework leadership, field supervision, and job-cost skills.
- RJS pays 100% of employee-only medical premiums. Employees pay additional premiums for spouse or child coverage.
- Optional employee-paid dental and vision coverage.
- Insurance eligibility begins on the 91st day of full-time employment, subject to enrollment requirements.
- Up to 80 hours of PTO annually, accrued evenly from the first day and prorated for partial-year employment. Use requires approval; overtime does not increase accrual.
- Six paid holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Saturday holidays are observed Friday; Sunday holidays are observed Monday.
- SIMPLE IRA with company matching contributions up to 3% of compensation, subject to eligibility.
- Company-paid phone and company truck. Until a truck is available, personal vehicle use for business travel will be reimbursed by mileage. Timing and reimbursement details will be discussed during hiring.
Why Join RJS Grading?
- Work directly with the owner and help shape how projects are planned and managed.
- Your leadership will support foremen, protect crews, and improve daily project decisions.
- Join a small contractor that values accountability, honest communication, and pride in the work.
- Receive competitive compensation and practical employee support while developing people and stronger operating routines.
Apply Today
Submit your resume and a brief description of two grading or sitework projects you helped lead. Explain the scope, your crew responsibilities, and one action you took to correct a schedule or cost problem. Include your start availability.
RJS Grading is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics.
- Company-paid phone and company truck.
- Insurance eligibility begins on the 91st day of full-time employment
- Optional employee-paid dental and vision coverage.
- RJS pays 100% of employee-only medical premiums
- SIMPLE IRA with company matching contributions up to 3% of compensation
- Six paid holidays
- Up to 80 hours of PTO annually