Director, Construction Services

Director, Construction Operations EXO Inc. has been protecting public infrastructure across the U.S. since 2009. Without consistent maintenance and quality assurance, critical assets face a growing risk of failure over time. EXO delivers engineering, inspection, and remediation services for lighting poles, transmission towers, and other infrastructure exposed to ongoing wear from usage, aging, and environmental conditions. With deep expertise in vertical infrastructure, EXO builds on years of engineering design and fabrication experience across utilities, telecom, transportation, and retail sectors. This foundation supports a comprehensive inspection and asset management approach that addresses both new installations and aging structures requiring immediate attention. Recognizing that full replacement is often impractical due to cost and safety constraints, EXO developed its Ex-Tend approach to manage assets throughout their entire life cycle. From initial quality assurance to ongoing inspection and targeted repairs, this method is designed to extend service life and improve reliability. Supported by data-driven insights, EXO helps clients monitor asset conditions and make informed, strategic decisions. Position Summary: The Director of Construction Operations is responsible for the strategic leadership, operational performance, and overall execution of the companys field construction operations. This position provides executive-level leadership to a geographically dispersed construction organization responsible for multiple concurrent projects involving the remediation, structural repair, maintenance, and construction of utility infrastructure, including transmission towers, lattice structures, concrete foundations, and associated infrastructure. The Director of Construction Operations leads and develops the Construction organization and establishes the systems, processes, standards, and performance expectations necessary to achieve safe, efficient, high-quality, and profitable project execution. This role has broad responsibility for operational planning, workforce strategy, resource allocation, productivity, cost control, safety, quality, client satisfaction, and continuous improvement across the construction organization. The Director serves as a key member of the operational leadership team and partners closely with Executive Leadership, Project Management, Engineering, Safety, Quality, Equipment, Finance, Human Resources, and Business Development to establish organizational priorities, support strategic growth, strengthen operational capabilities, and improve overall company performance. This position is expected to function as a strategic leader rather than solely as a project-level manager, developing scalable processes and a strong leadership team capable of supporting continued growth across multiple geographic markets. Key Responsibilities Construction Operations & Strategic Leadership Provide strategic direction and executive leadership for construction operations across multiple geographic regions and concurrent projects. Lead, manage, and develop the Construction Superintendent organization and other field leadership personnel. Establish operational priorities, performance expectations, and accountability standards for field construction. Develop and implement standardized construction processes, procedures, and best practices to improve safety, productivity, quality, schedule performance, and profitability. Establish consistent operating standards across geographically dispersed projects while allowing appropriate flexibility for project-specific requirements. Develop annual and long-term operational plans aligned with company growth objectives. Identify organizational, operational, staffing, equipment, and resource requirements necessary to support projected business growth. Develop scalable systems and processes that allow the construction organization to expand without compromising safety, quality, or profitability. Serve as the senior operational escalation point for complex construction issues, field performance concerns, and major project risks. Conduct regular field visits and operational reviews to evaluate performance, coach leadership, and ensure company standards are consistently implemented. Establish and monitor operational KPIs and use data to drive accountability and continuous improvement. Partner with Executive Leadership to identify opportunities to expand capabilities, improve operational capacity, and increase competitive advantage. Leadership & Organizational Development Recruit, lead, mentor, and develop Construction Superintendents and other field leadership. Build a high-performing construction leadership team capable of managing increasing organizational scale and complexity. Establish clear performance expectations, accountability structures, and leadership competencies for field management. Conduct performance evaluations and provide coaching, development, and corrective action as necessary. Develop succession plans and career pathways for Construction Superintendents and emerging field leaders. Identify high-potential employees and create development opportunities to strengthen the companys leadership pipeline. Establish consistent leadership practices across all regions and project teams. Promote employee engagement, retention, accountability, and a culture of operational excellence. Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, recruiting strategies, organizational development, employee relations, and retention initiatives. Establish staffing models and organizational structures that support current operations and anticipated growth. Project & Portfolio Execution Maintain executive-level oversight of multiple utility construction and structural remediation projects simultaneously. Partner with Project Management to establish project execution strategies, staffing plans, production goals, schedules, and resource requirements. Review portfolio-level project performance and proactively identify risks to safety, schedule, quality, client commitments, and profitability. Ensure projects are appropriately staffed with qualified personnel and supported by the necessary equipment, materials, and resources. Establish escalation protocols for significant project risks, cost issues, schedule delays, safety concerns, and client issues. Provide senior-level support in resolving complex field conditions and unforeseen construction challenges. Ensure effective coordination among Construction, Project Management, Engineering, Estimating, Quality, Safety, Equipment, subcontractors, and clients. Participate in major project kickoffs, executive project reviews, and strategic client meetings. Ensure lessons learned are captured and incorporated into future projects and operating procedures. Maintain visibility into the performance of the overall project portfolio rather than focusing solely on individual project execution. Structural Remediation & Utility Construction Oversight Provide strategic oversight and organizational leadership for projects involving: Structural steel repair and reinforcement Lattice transmission tower repairs Foundation rehabilitation and replacement Concrete restoration and structural concrete placement Epoxy injection and grout repair Reinforcing steel installation Formwork installation Structural demolition Jackhammering and concrete removal Corrosion mitigation Excavation and backfilling Heavy equipment operations Utility right-of-way construction Transmission and distribution infrastructure repairs The Director is responsible for ensuring the organization maintains the technical capability, qualified personnel, equipment, processes, and leadership necessary to execute this work safely and effectively. Financial & Operational Performance Own and drive construction operational performance with a strong focus on profitability, productivity, and cost control. Establish and monitor key operational and financial KPIs across the construction organization. Analyze labor productivity, equipment utilization, production rates, project costs, and operational efficiency. Partner with Finance and Project Management to monitor project profitability, cost trends, forecasts, and financial performance. Identify trends and root causes affecting margins and implement corrective strategies. Establish labor and equipment productivity expectations and accountability standards. Develop workforce and equipment forecasts based on current backlog and anticipated business growth. Optimize utilization of company-owned equipment, personnel, and other operational assets. Participate in annual budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning. Evaluate capital equipment needs and make recommendations regarding equipment acquisition, replacement, or utilization. Develop initiatives to reduce operating costs, increase productivity, improve utilization, and enhance margins. Hold field leadership accountable for financial and operational performance. Safety Leadership Serve as a senior champion of the companys safety culture and expectations. Partner with Safety Leadership to establish and continuously improve construction safety standards and programs. Ensure Construction Superintendents and field leaders consistently enforce OSHA regulations, company safety policies, and utility owner requirements. Monitor safety performance across the construction organization and establish measurable improvement objectives. Review leading and lagging safety indicators and develop action plans to address trends and recurring issues. Participate in significant incident investigations and ensure appropriate corrective actions are implemented. Conduct periodic field safety and operational audits. Promote proactive hazard recognition, job hazard analyses (JHAs), daily safety planning, and employee engagement in safety. Ensure compliance with environmental requirements and utility owner safety standards. Hold field leadership accountable for safety performance. Quality & Operational Standards Establish a culture of quality and accountability across construction operations. Ensure construction activities comply with engineering specifications, client requirements, contracts, and company quality standards. Partner with Engineering and Quality to establish consistent quality control processes and field execution standards. Review quality performance metrics and identify recurring issues or systemic deficiencies. Ensure quality concerns are addressed promptly and corrective actions are implemented. Establish processes to ensure proper documentation of inspections, testing, completed work, and project closeout. Drive continuous improvement initiatives based on quality trends, project lessons learned, and field feedback. Client & Stakeholder Relations Develop and maintain strong executive-level relationships with key utility clients and strategic stakeholders. Participate in major client meetings, executive project reviews, and performance discussions. Serve as a senior escalation point for significant operational or field-related client concerns. Ensure construction leadership maintains a professional, responsive, and solutions-oriented approach to client relationships. Partner with Project Management and Business Development to strengthen client relationships and support repeat business. Support strategic growth initiatives by ensuring operational capabilities align with customer needs and market opportunities. Represent the company professionally and build confidence in the organizations ability to execute complex construction work. Business Growth & Capacity Planning Partner with Executive Leadership and Business Development to evaluate operational capacity for new business opportunities. Assess manpower, equipment, leadership, geographic coverage, and technical capabilities required to support growth. Identify operational constraints that could limit revenue growth or profitability. Develop strategies to increase construction capacity while maintaining safety, quality, and financial performance. Support market expansion and development of new geographic territories. Provide operational input into estimating, bid strategy, project pursuit, and contract negotiations when appropriate. Evaluate new construction services, capabilities, equipment, and technologies that could strengthen the companys competitive position. Reporting, Analytics & Continuous Improvement Establish standardized reporting requirements for construction operations. Develop and monitor dashboards and KPIs related to: o Safety o Labor productivity o Equipment utilization o Schedule performance o Quality o Project profitability o Manpower o Production o Employee retention Client satisfaction Review operational performance regularly with Construction Superintendents and Executive Leadership. Identify trends, recurring problems, and systemic operational deficiencies. Develop and implement corrective action and continuous improvement plans. Ensure field data is accurate, timely, and actionable. Use operational data to support strategic decision-making and resource allocation. Qualifications Required o 12+ years of progressive construction experience with significant experience in utility construction, structural remediation, heavy civil, industrial construction, or a related field. o 7+ years of progressive leadership experience with responsibility for multiple construction projects, field leaders, and geographically dispersed operations. o Demonstrated experience leading multiple Construction Superintendents or equivalent field leadership personnel. o Experience managing a large, geographically dispersed construction workforce. o Demonstrated ability to establish and manage operational KPIs, budgets, productivity goals, and performance standards. o Strong understanding of construction financial performance, labor productivity, equipment utilization, forecasting, and cost control. o Strong knowledge of structural steel repairs, concrete restoration, foundation repair, excavation, demolition, and utility infrastructure. o Experience managing self-perform construction operations. o Strong understanding of project scheduling, manpower planning, resource allocation, and operational capacity planning. o Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, contracts, and construction documents. o Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and utility industry safety requirements. o Demonstrated experience developing and implementing construction processes, procedures, and best practices. o Strong business judgment and ability to balance safety, quality, schedule, client expectations, and profitability. o Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills. o Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office. o Valid driver's license. Preferred o Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field. o Experience in transmission and distribution utility construction. o Experience managing large-scale, multi-state construction operations. o OSHA 30 certification. o Experience with project management, scheduling, ERP, or construction management software. o Experience with construction KPI dashboards and operational analytics. o First Aid/CPR certification. o Experience supporting business development, estimating, or strategic planning. o Experience in a rapidly growing organization with responsibility for scaling construction operations. Physical Requirements Ability to safely navigate active construction sites, including uneven terrain, excavations, utility rights-of-way, and other challenging environments. Frequent walking and standing during field visits. Ability to climb stairs, ladders, scaffolding, and elevated work platforms when necessary for site inspections. Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 50 pounds. Ability to climb transmission structures or elevated platforms when necessary for inspections. Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions including heat, cold, humidity, wind, rain, and snow. Ability to wear required PPE including hard hats, safety glasses, steel-toed boots, gloves, high-visibility clothing, hearing protection, and fall protection equipment. Visual acuity sufficient to inspect construction work, identify quality issues, and recognize safety hazards. Ability to travel extensively to project sites nationwide, including overnight travel. Ability to work extended hours, weekends, or holidays as required to support operational demands. Mental Requirements Exceptional strategic leadership and organizational skills with the ability to lead a geographically dispersed construction organization. Ability to develop and execute long-term operational strategies while maintaining awareness of day-to-day field performance. Strong business and financial acumen, including the ability to evaluate project profitability, labor productivity, equipment utilization, budgets, forecasts, and operational capacity. Advanced decision-making and problem-solving skills in complex, fast-paced construction environments. Ability to identify systemic operational problems, determine root causes, and implement sustainable solutions. Ability to analyze operational data, KPIs, and financial information and translate findings into actionable strategies. Ability to balance competing priorities involving safety, quality, schedule, profitability, staffing, equipment, and client expectations. Strong ability to develop leaders, build organizational capability, and establish accountability at multiple levels. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with executives, clients, engineers, project managers, subcontractors, field personnel, and other stakeholders. Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills. High level of situational awareness and sound judgment in safety-critical utility construction environments. Ability to remain composed and effective under significant operational pressure. Ability to adapt quickly to changing business conditions, project requirements, workforce demands, and customer expectations. Strong executive presence and ability to represent the construction organization with credibility and professionalism. FLSA Status: Exempt Pay Range: $160,000$190,000 Annually, depending on experience and qualifications Reports To: Senior Director, Lighting & Utility Operations Benefits: Exo offers a comprehensive benefits package including: MedicalDentalVisionHealth Savings Account/Flexible Spending AccountsLife and Accidental Death & DismembermentShort Term and Long-Term DisabilityAccident, Hospital Indemnity and Critical Illness401k with company matchPTO 10 paid holidays Scope of Role: The Director of Construction Operations is accountable for the overall performance and development of the companys construction operations. While the Director maintains visibility into individual projects, the primary focus of the role is leading the organization that executes the workbuilding capable field leadership, establishing scalable operating systems, improving productivity and profitability, managing operational capacity, and ensuring the company is positioned to safely and successfully execute continued growth. Exo is committed to equal employment opportunity. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.