Director of Construction Operations

McGough is a respected partner that brings six generations of experience to high profile, unique and complex construction projects. We take great pride in our people and their extraordinary expertise in planning, development, construction and facility management. McGough employee tenure reflects the commitment and pride we share in our work. Ask anyone who knows us - the caliber of our people sets us apart.

DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS

The Director of Construction Project Operations - Federal Sector at McGough provides strategic and operational leadership across all federal projects, ensuring successful execution from preconstruction through project closeout. This role drives operational excellence, ensures compliance with federal contracting requirements, supports project teams, and strengthens client relationships within the federal marketplace.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or related field.
• 12+ years of progressive construction management experience.
• Proven experience managing large-scale, complex construction projects
• Strong knowledge of procurement processes, contracting regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated success managing multi-disciplinary project teams and subcontractors.
• OSHA 30 training.
• Ability to pass customer-required background and security screenings.
• 3+ years US Residency
  
  
  
  • 
    

    Employees who work on federal projects must pass a federal background check. This includes a requirement for non-Citizens to have a minimum of 3 years of residency in the United States.

    
    
  
  
  
  
• Valid driver's license with a clear record.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Construction Management or related
• 15+ years of field-related experience
• 5+ years of federal project experience
• DBIA Designated Design-Build Professional Certification
• USACE CQM training
• EM385-1-1 Training

Competencies:

• Leadership & Influence: Inspires, mentors, and leads teams with clarity and confidence.
• Operational Excellence: Strong project management, scheduling, and financial oversight skills.
• Strategic Thinking: Aligns project operations with federal sector growth objectives.
• Communication & Relationship Management: Exceptional skills engaging federal clients, partners, and internal teams.
• Problem-Solving & Decision-Making: Navigates complex challenges, mitigates risks, and makes sound business decisions.
• Accountability & Integrity: Models ethical leadership and holds self and others accountable.
• Cultural Stewardship: Promotes McGough's values of safety, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Office and Travel:

• Extensive national travel to Federal construction projects and business development opportunities.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

Strategic Planning

• Develop comprehensive project plans aligning timelines and budgets with federal requirements and client expectations.
• Accurately forecast labor, equipment, and materials to ensure efficient project execution.
• Monitor project progress to achieve on-time, on-budget, and high-quality delivery.
• Resolve escalated project conflicts or resource constraints to maintain momentum.

Ensure Federal Compliance (FAR, DFARS, Security, Contracting)

• Lead adherence to federal acquisition regulations and contracting guidelines.
• Oversee protocols for obtaining and maintaining security clearances.
• Ensure project documentation and reporting meet federal requirements.
• Train and coach project teams on compliance obligations and contract management best practices.
• Strong understanding of cost-loaded schedules and invoicing requirements

Lead Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies

• Proactively identify operational, financial, and regulatory risks and embed contingency plans into project strategies.
• Facilitate risk management workshops and scenario planning to evaluate and prioritize risks.
• Maintain a portfolio-level risk register, escalating high-impact risks to executive leadership with actionable recommendations.
• Drive accountability for risk mitigation, ensuring teams implement response plans effectively.
• Integrate risk management with strategic and operational planning to balance mitigation, efficiency, and client satisfaction.

Champion Best Practices, Continuous Improvement, and Lean Construction

• Promote adoption of lean construction principles to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and maximize value delivery.
• Monitor and improve processes, tools, and reporting systems across federal projects to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Capture and implement lessons learned from completed projects to strengthen organizational knowledge.
• Encourage innovation in project delivery, including digital tools, prefabrication, and data-driven decision-making.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement with measurable performance targets and recognition programs.

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop project managers, superintendents, engineers, and support staff of all levels.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Ensure project teams are trained and certified in federal contracting compliance and safety standards.
• Identify and develop future leaders, aligning development plans with career goals and organizational needs.
• Drive team engagement and retention through recognition, professional development, and a positive work environment.

Client and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong client relationships to encourage repeat business and long-term collaboration.
• Align project plans with client expectations while balancing contractual and operational requirements.
• Promote McGough's organizational reputation through ethical and professional interactions.
• Support business development efforts by participating in proposals, presentations, and pursuit planning.
• Facilitate stakeholder collaboration across internal teams to ensure alignment with client objectives.

Other Duties

• Collaborate with the Federal and Raleigh Teams to support shared goals.
• Represent McGough professionally at company and industry events.
• Attend meetings and pursue ongoing professional development.
• Participate in Lean events and initiatives to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support team and project success.

MEASUREMENT OF SUCCESS

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Project Performance: Schedule adherence, cost variance, earned value, milestone completion, change order management.
• Financial Health: Profitability, cash flow, budget compliance, financial reporting accuracy.
• Safety: Recordable incident rate (RIR), lost-time incident rate (LTIR), near-miss reporting, safety program compliance.
• Quality: Deficiency rate, rework rate, inspection pass rate, client-requested modifications.
• Client Satisfaction: CPARs, PPQ, CSAT, NPS, issue resolution time, repeat business rate.
• Portfolio Review Effectiveness: Review frequency, action item closure rate, team engagement.

Key Behavioral Indicators (KBIs)

• Team Leadership: Models McGough values; develops and empowers teams.
• Accountability & Integrity: Takes ownership of decisions and outcomes; holds teams accountable; promotes ethical behavior.
• Safety Leadership: Prioritizes safety in all project and operational decisions.
• Client-Centered Mindset: Listens and responds to client needs; communicates transparently and timely.
• Risk Management: Identifies and escalates high-risk activities; ensures mitigation strategies are implemented.

Cultural Stewardship: Drives cross-unit knowledge sharing, continuous improvement, and organizational reputation

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands outlined here are representative of those required for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

This position requires prolonged periods of sitting at a workstation or during meetings and travel (by plane or car). The employee must be able to lift up to 20 pounds as needed, demonstrate dexterity to write and use a computer keyboard and mouse, and possess the ability to hear, speak clearly, and distinguish colors on graphs and charts.

The role also requires occasional visits to construction sites, where the employee may be exposed to dust, dirt, uneven surfaces, outdoor weather conditions, and extreme temperatures.

***

In alignment with our commitment to pay transparency, the base salary range for this position is $190,000 to $250,000, excluding fringe benefits or potential bonuses. If you join McGough, your final base salary will be determined by several factors, including geography, location, skills, education, and experience. Furthermore, we place significant value on pay equity among our current team members as part of any final job offer.

Please note that the range provided above reflects the hiring range for this role. Hiring near the top end of this range would be atypical, as we aim to allow room for future salary growth. Additionally, McGough offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. This includes insurance coverage for medical, dental, vision, life, and disability. We also provide generous retirement plans, voluntary benefit plans, parental leave, substantial paid time off, and holiday pay.