Job Title: Construction Superintendent (GSA PER DIEM, HOMETRIPS EVERY OTHER WEEKEND, TRAVEL REQUIRED)
Must have: Proven experience leading construction of cold storage, manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, food processing, or other industrial facilities.
Job Description
The Construction Superintendent leads field operations for large industrial construction projects, ensuring all work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This role manages subcontractors, project schedules, material procurement, and daily construction activities throughout the entire project lifecycle. The superintendent coordinates closely with project management teams, owners, architects, engineers, and trade partners to resolve issues and maintain project momentum. They oversee project safety programs, quality control processes, and the development of field personnel, driving project execution from startup through closeout while maintaining strong client relationships and delivering successful outcomes.
Responsibilities
Lead field operations for large-scale industrial construction projects from project startup through closeout.
Ensure all construction activities are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with quality expectations.
Manage and supervise subcontractors, including performance oversight, coordination, and adherence to project plans and specifications.
Develop, maintain, and update project schedules, integrating subcontractor activities and critical path milestones.
Oversee material procurement and delivery to ensure timely availability of equipment and supplies for daily construction operations.
Coordinate daily construction activities across multiple trades to maintain efficient workflow and project momentum.
Collaborate closely with project managers, owners, architects, engineers, and trade partners to resolve field issues and design conflicts.
Implement and enforce project safety programs, promoting a strong safety culture and leading by example on active jobsites.
Monitor and manage quality control processes to ensure work meets design intent, specifications, and industry standards.
Review and interpret construction drawings, specifications, contracts, and shop drawings to guide field execution.
Support and mentor field personnel, fostering professional development and effective teamwork on the jobsite.
Track and manage project budgets as they relate to field operations, including labor, materials, and subcontractor costs.
Utilize CPM scheduling tools, such as Microsoft Project, to plan, sequence, and monitor project activities.
Conduct regular site walks and inspections to assess progress, safety compliance, and quality of work.
Lead onsite coordination meetings with subcontractors and project stakeholders to align on priorities and resolve issues.
Identify potential risks or delays and proactively implement solutions to keep projects on track.
Maintain strong client relationships through professional communication, responsiveness, and delivery of successful project outcomes.
Support project documentation requirements related to field activities, including reports, logs, and updates to project management.
Travel to and work at project locations nationwide, providing hands-on leadership and decision-making on active industrial jobsites.
Essential Skills
Minimum 10+ years of industrial construction experience serving as a Superintendent or Lead Superintendent.
Proven experience leading construction of cold storage, manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, food processing, or other industrial facilities.
Strong understanding of construction means and methods across multiple trades in industrial environments.
Demonstrated ability to manage subcontractors, project schedules, budgets, and quality programs on complex projects.
Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, contracts, and shop drawings accurately.
Experience with CPM scheduling methodologies, with Microsoft Project experience preferred.
Strong safety mindset with the ability to lead by example and enforce safety standards on active jobsites.
Excellent communication skills for interacting with subcontractors, project managers, owners, architects, engineers, and inspectors.
Proven leadership skills with the ability to direct, motivate, and support field teams in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to travel nationally and support projects on-site for extended durations.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Industrial construction management, including ground-up projects and design-build delivery.
Experience working with general contractors and integrated project teams on large industrial and cold storage projects.
Knowledge of budget management and cost control practices related to field operations.
Familiarity with refrigeration systems and temperature-controlled facilities in food and beverage, distribution, and logistics sectors.
Strong problem-solving abilities with a proactive, hands-on approach to resolving field issues.
Ability to influence project strategy and execution through collaboration with design and operations teams.
Interest in long-term career growth into roles such as General Superintendent, Superintendent, or Operations Leadership.
Comfort working across various markets, project @types, and geographic regions, adapting to different project requirements.
Work Environment
This role is primarily field-based on active industrial construction projects, with significant daily presence on the jobsite overseeing operations. The superintendent works in a fast-paced environment and interacts frequently with subcontractors, project managers, owners, architects, engineers, and inspectors. The position carries direct responsibility for schedule performance, safety compliance, quality standards, and subcontractor coordination. Work is hands-on and highly collaborative, involving an integrated design-build team that emphasizes problem-solving and open communication. The role is travel-focused, requiring deployment to project locations nationwide and extended on-site support. The work environment centers on complex industrial facilities, including distribution, logistics, manufacturing, warehouse, and temperature-controlled cold storage projects, providing exposure to sophisticated systems and construction methods and offering a stable backlog of work and strong opportunities for long-term career growth.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Chicago, IL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $67.00 - $75.00/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 position based out of Chicago, IL.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 20, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.
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.
