Construction Project & Operations Manager

RJS Grading

Construction Project & Operations Manager

Grading and Sitework | RJS Grading | Raleigh, North Carolina

Lead the crews and keep the jobs on plan. RJS Grading is hiring a Project & Operations Manager with grading and civil sitework experience to coordinate daily field work, manage active projects, and catch cost or schedule problems early. You will work directly with Robert and take responsibility for routine project decisions.

Company

RJS Grading is a Raleigh, North Carolina-based civil excavation and underground utility contractor. Our work includes grading, sitework, utilities, clearing, demolition, hauling, and related site services. We value people who own the outcome, communicate early and honestly, take pride in the work, protect our people, and grow together. This is an opportunity to work directly with the owner and help establish clear, practical systems for a small contractor. You will combine project management with day-to-day operations leadership.

Position type

Full-time employee. Based in the Raleigh area, combining daily field oversight with office planning and reporting. Reports to Robert, the Owner/President, and directs operations through working foremen, with support from the Office & Project Coordinator. Work is primarily in Wake County, with rare travel to jobs up to two hours away. Overnight travel is not typical, but may occasionally be required depending on future projects. Typical crew hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., varying by season and project.

This role is for you if

You enjoy both field leadership and the planning behind it. You can give crews clear priorities, work constructively with experienced field leaders, communicate directly with customers, and use production and cost information to make decisions.

Description of duties

• Take assigned jobs from award through closeout. Review the scope, plans, budget, contract requirements, and milestones before mobilization.
• Build the weekly work plan and daily crew, equipment, and trucking assignments. Coordinate materials, subcontractors, inspections, and schedule changes across jobs.
• Lead field work through working foremen. Visit jobsites, verify progress and quality, resolve routine problems, and check crew hours and job codes.
• Review production, costs, commitments, and remaining work each week. Update the cost to complete and expected job result; act early on overruns.
• Lead safety planning and follow-through with field leaders. Address hazards, support stopping unsafe work, and keep required checks and incident reporting current.
• Document changed conditions and scope changes, obtain pricing support, and secure required approvals. Give customers clear updates and the office timely billing support.
• Coach foremen and lead short weekly project reviews. Give Robert practical estimating feedback on production, sequencing, and lessons from completed work.

How the role fits

This role combines project management and superintendent responsibilities, with daily field oversight through working foremen. Robert retains sales, final bid pricing, major customer commitments, and owner decisions. The office supports billing and project records, while specialist estimating support is arranged as needed. Purchasing and approval limits are established during the handoff.

What success looks like

Every new job has an approved scope, budget, and plan before mobilization. Active jobs receive weekly schedule and cost-to-complete reviews. Crews know upcoming priorities, changes are documented, billing support arrives on time, and routine project problems are resolved without defaulting to Robert.

Skills and requirements

• A demonstrated record of managing grading, earthwork, utilities, or civil sitework through completion; approximately five years of relevant project/field leadership experience or equivalent demonstrated capability.
• Ability to read civil plans and specifications and understand production rates, resource needs, sequencing, and job costs.
• Direct experience supervising grading/sitework crews, assigning equipment and trucking, coordinating subcontractors, handling scope changes, and communicating with customers and suppliers.
• Practical spreadsheet and project-tracking skills, sound safety judgment, and willingness to maintain reliable records.
• Ability to travel between assigned jobsites; a valid driver's license for required business driving.

Helpful experience: Experience working in a small civil contractor, developing foremen, using digital plans or takeoff tools, and improving weekly production and job-profitability reviews.

Compensation

Base salary of $110,000-$120,000 annually, based on demonstrated grading/sitework leadership, field supervision, and job-cost skills.

Benefits

• RJS pays 100% of employee-only medical premiums. Employees pay additional dependent premiums. Optional dental and vision are employee-paid. Insurance eligibility begins on day 91 of full-time employment, subject to plan enrollment requirements.
• Up to 80 hours of PTO (10 eight-hour days) per calendar year, earned evenly each pay period from day one and prorated for partial-year employment. Earned PTO may be used with 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 on the preceding Friday; Sunday holidays on the following Monday.
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with company matching contributions up to 3% of compensation, subject to plan eligibility.
• Company-paid phone. Business travel using a personal vehicle is reimbursed by mileage. A company vehicle is not currently provided; RJS is working toward making one available, with no confirmed date. Reimbursement details will be discussed during hiring.

Application

Apply through this posting with your resume and a brief description of two grading/sitework projects you helped lead. Explain the scope, crew responsibility, and one action you took to correct a schedule or cost problem. Include your start availability.