Job Title: Project Manager Ground-Up Commercial Construction
Job Description
This role leads complex ground-up commercial construction projects, with a strong focus on healthcare, K12 and higher education, and experience living facilities in the Northern Virginia and Fairfax corridor region. The Project Manager oversees projects typically ranging from $15 million to $50 million (and up to $70 million), ensuring they are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to a high standard of quality. The position requires deep experience in ground-up commercial work, including extensive coordination with subcontractors, active involvement in preconstruction and estimating, and the ability to manage and mentor a project team across multiple jobs.
Responsibilities
Lead ground-up commercial construction projects from early design through completion, focusing on healthcare, education, and experience living facilities.
Plan, organize, and manage projects in the $15 million to $50 million (and up to $70 million) range, ensuring alignment with client expectations and project goals.
Champion safety on all projects and maintain active OSHA 30-hour compliance while promoting a strong safety culture on-site.
Pre-qualify subcontractors, conduct site and office visits, and evaluate their capabilities to ensure high-quality performance.
Oversee and verify both digital and field mock-ups, ensuring they are completed, reviewed, and approved before work is put in place.
Request, coordinate, and direct Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) needs to support project planning and execution.
Navigate and utilize Building Information Modeling (BIM) models to support coordination, planning, and problem-solving.
Develop a comprehensive Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule from schematic design (SD) through construction documents (CD), continuously refining it using a lean approach.
Use Primavera P6 to build, update, and manage detailed project schedules, including establishing all significant milestones.
Explain and promote lean scheduling concepts to subcontractors and clients, ensuring understanding and buy-in.
Identify and clearly understand the owners value drivers for each project and incorporate them into planning and decision-making.
Analyze project-specific parameters and sequencing to optimize workflow and minimize risk.
Evaluate and reduce waste in the project schedule by identifying inefficiencies and implementing corrective actions.
Implement the Last Planner System to pull plan from established milestones and manage weekly work plans.
Create, use, and manage Short Interval Production Schedules to drive day-to-day and week-to-week production.
Develop and implement recovery schedules when needed to bring projects back on track with key milestones.
Teach and guide staff on budgeting from a lean perspective, explaining the difference between the budget needed to complete the project and the original estimated budget.
Review and understand the entire project scope to identify opportunities for additional contingency or fee recovery.
Oversee project billing processes and ensure projects are fully closed out within 30 days of construction completion, including final payments from owners and full payment to subcontractors.
Schedule, prepare agendas for, and lead large preconstruction meetings involving owners, design teams, and subcontractors.
Supervise 510 staff members across multiple projects, including Administrative Assistants, Project Engineers, and Superintendents, providing direction, coordination, and performance evaluation.
Mentor and develop project team members, promoting collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
Assist with estimating and preconstruction activities ahead of bids, including developing site logistics plans and overall project schedules.
Develop general conditions and staffing plans that align with project scope, schedule, and budget.
Coordinate closely with subcontractors on scheduling, budgeting, and field execution for ground-up commercial projects.
Ensure all work complies with contract documents, quality standards, and applicable codes and regulations.
Communicate effectively with owners, design professionals, and trade partners to resolve issues and maintain strong working relationships.
Support and uphold company standards of quality, safety, and professionalism on every project.
Essential Skills
Minimum of 5+ years of project management experience in commercial construction, with at least 4 years serving as a full Project Manager (not solely as an Assistant Project Manager).
Proven experience managing ground-up commercial projects, particularly in healthcare, K12 and higher education, schools, and experience living facilities.
Demonstrated success leading projects in the $15 million to $70 million range.
OSHA 30-hour certification.
Current first aid certification.
Current CPR certification.
Ability to pre-qualify subcontractors and conduct thorough subcontractor evaluations.
Experience overseeing digital and field mock-ups and integrating them into the quality control process.
Ability to request, coordinate, and manage Virtual Design (VDC) needs.
Proficiency in navigating and using BIM models for coordination and planning.
Strong scheduling skills, including building CPM schedules from SD to CD and continuously refining them.
Proficiency with Primavera P6 for project scheduling and schedule management.
Working knowledge of lean scheduling principles and the ability to explain them to subcontractors and clients.
Understanding of owner value, project-specific parameters, and project sequencing.
Experience using the Last Planner method to pull plan from milestones and manage weekly work plans.
Ability to use and manage Short Interval Production Schedules.
Capability to develop and implement recovery schedules when needed.
Strong budgeting skills, including teaching budgeting from a lean perspective and understanding the difference between required project budget and original estimate.
Experience identifying opportunities for contingency and fee enhancement within project financials.
Proven ability to manage project billings and close out projects within 30 days of construction completion.
Experience scheduling and leading large preconstruction meetings with owners, design teams, and subcontractors.
Demonstrated ability to supervise and coordinate 510 staff members across multiple projects, including Administrative Assistants, Project Engineers, and Superintendents.
Experience assisting with estimating and preconstruction activities, including logistics planning, schedule development, general conditions, and staffing plans.
Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
experience in commercial construction environments such as healthcare, education (K12 and higher education), and experience living.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience working with ground-up healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, or medical office buildings.
Experience delivering K12 school projects, higher education buildings, or other institutional education facilities.
Experience with living or similar occupied or sensitive environments.
Familiarity with lean construction methodologies and continuous improvement practices.
Ability to interpret and apply complex construction documents, specifications, and contracts.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound decisions under time and budget constraints.
Experience managing multiple projects concurrently while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and client satisfaction.
Comfort working in a growing, stable organization with a long history and strong reputation in the commercial construction market.
Motivation to work on impactful K12 and healthcare projects that contribute to community development and societal benefit.
Work Environment
The role operates primarily in a combination of office and active construction site environments within the Northern Virginia and Fairfax corridor region, with office support based in the broader Virginia area. Project Managers regularly visit job sites to monitor progress, coordinate with field teams, and interact with subcontractors and clients. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently encounters moving mechanical parts, high and sometimes precarious places, and outside weather conditions. The employee may occasionally be exposed to wet or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, risk of electrical shock, risk of radiation, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is typically moderate to loud, consistent with active construction sites. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role. The position involves working with modern construction technologies such as BIM, Virtual Design tools, and Primavera P6 scheduling software, and requires regular collaboration with field and office personnel to support safe, efficient, and high-quality project delivery.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Winchester, VA.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $43.27 - $57.00/hr.
Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Winchester, VA.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 9, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Winchester,VA.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.
