Division Manager-Public Works

About the Company

Our client is a well-established heavy civil engineering and construction firm serving the Northern California market. The company self-performs a broad range of specialized work, including shoring, demolition, excavation and grading, concrete, utility installation, and specialty foundation construction.

With an agile, entrepreneurial approach, the company provides an alternative to larger branded general contractors while maintaining the capabilities needed to execute complex projects. The organization also holds small-business and disadvantaged-business certifications and is actively expanding its presence in the public works market.

About the Position

We are seeking a Division Manager – Public Works to build and lead a public works division from the ground up.

This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced construction professional who can operate effectively on both sides of the business—estimating and project management . The successful candidate will bring established relationships with Bay Area public agencies and municipalities, along with the technical and commercial ability to pursue, estimate, win, and deliver public works projects.

Working directly with ownership, this individual will have significant autonomy and the opportunity to shape the division's strategy, processes, team, and market presence. As the division grows, there is a clear pathway toward executive-level leadership and potential equity/partnership .

Key Responsibilities

- Build and lead the public works division from strategy and pursuit through estimating and project delivery

- Develop and leverage relationships with Bay Area public agencies and municipalities

- Identify, pursue, and win public works opportunities ranging from approximately $100K to $3M

- Lead estimating, bidding, and bid strategy while also managing awarded projects

- Navigate public contracting requirements, including LBE/DBE programs, prevailing wage, bonding, and related compliance requirements

- Partner directly with ownership on business strategy and market development

- Independently oversee day-to-day project execution and client relationships

- Provide leadership for field operations involving shoring, tie-backs, micropiles, helical piles, drilling, sheet piling, earthwork, and demolition

- Establish the processes, documentation, reporting, and operational discipline required to support public-agency clients

- Recruit, develop, and lead the team as the division expands

- Help establish the division as a significant and sustainable public works operation within the company

Requirements

- 10+ years of progressive construction experience, with significant responsibility in project management and/or operations

- Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field preferred

- Demonstrated experience combining estimating/bidding and project management responsibilities

- Established relationships with Bay Area public agencies, municipalities, or other public-sector clients

- Experience with heavy civil and/or specialty construction, including shoring, foundations, excavation, demolition, or related scopes

- Understanding of public contracting processes; experience with LBE/DBE, prevailing wage, bonding, and public procurement is strongly preferred

- Strong commercial and financial understanding of construction projects

- Ability to operate with significant autonomy in an entrepreneurial, smaller-company environment

- Strong leadership, communication, client-development, and relationship-management skills

- Entrepreneurial mindset with the desire to build something rather than simply maintain an existing operation

- This role is designed as a growth opportunity for an early-to-mid career leader with substantial career runway ahead , rather than a traditional caretaker position

Benefits

- $250,000–$285,000 base salary

- Opportunity for equity and/or partnership , based on the candidate and division's development

- High degree of autonomy and direct access to company ownership

- Opportunity to build and lead a new business division

- Clear potential for advancement into executive-level leadership

- Benefits package to be discussed with qualified candidates

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