Site Construction Lead

Title: Site Construction Lead

Position Type: Contract

Location: Illinois

Key Project Requirements:

• 20+ years of construction management experience supporting utility-scale power generation or large industrial projects.
• 10+ years of site-based leadership on major or mega energy projects, including experience overseeing EPC contractors.
• Strong understanding of the complete EPC project lifecycle from engineering and procurement through construction, mechanical completion, commissioning, and startup.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary Owner's Representative or Owner's Engineer teams while driving safety, quality, schedule, and contract compliance.

Job Summary:

We are seeking an experienced Site Construction Lead to support the construction of a utility-scale combined-cycle power generation facility incorporating advanced carbon capture technology. Serving as the Owner's Representative, this position will lead the on-site Owner's Engineer team responsible for overseeing the EPC contractor throughout construction, commissioning, startup, and project turnover while protecting the owner's interests and ensuring safe, high-quality project execution.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide visible field leadership while promoting a strong safety culture and ensuring EPC contractor compliance with project safety requirements.
• Lead the Owner's Engineer site team responsible for monitoring construction, commissioning, and startup activities performed by the EPC contractor.
• Monitor construction quality, schedule, productivity, and compliance with Issued for Construction (IFC) drawings, specifications, and contract requirements.
• Evaluate construction progress and identify schedule risks while working with the project team to develop mitigation strategies.
• Review discipline-specific change requests, field issues, and contractor claims, providing recommendations to project management.
• Coordinate Owner's Engineer review of field engineering deliverables, RFIs, technical queries, and construction support documentation.
• Ensure required inspection and test activities are witnessed in accordance with the EPC contractor's Inspection and Test Plan (ITP).
• Lead site coordination meetings and provide regular progress reports summarizing construction activities, safety performance, schedule status, and project risks.
• Support mechanical completion, commissioning, startup, and turnover activities through commercial operation.

Job Requirements:

• Proven experience leading construction teams on large EPC or Owner's Engineer projects.
• Strong understanding of construction management, contractor oversight, quality assurance, and project scheduling.
• Experience reviewing engineering deliverables, field changes, technical queries, and contractor claims.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work effectively with owners, EPC contractors, engineering firms, OEMs, and commissioning teams.

Education / Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant project management experience, with a significant portion supporting coal-fired power generation or environmental control retrofits.
• Prior experience working with major EPC firms or OEMs is highly desirable.