Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Director of Construction

🎯 Role Definition

The Director of Construction leads and scales an organization’s construction function by owning program-level planning, execution, risk management, and continuous improvement. This role combines hands-on construction management, strategic budgeting, vendor and contract governance, and executive-level reporting to ensure projects meet scope, schedule, quality, safety, sustainability and profitability targets across commercial, residential, or institutional portfolios.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Project Manager — large commercial or multifamily projects
Construction Manager / Senior Construction Manager — field operations leadership
Program Manager — multi-project coordination and controls

Advancement To:

Vice President / Head of Construction or Real Estate Development
Chief Construction Officer (CCO) or Chief Operating Officer (COO) for development firms
General Manager of Regional Construction Programs

Lateral Moves:

Director of Facilities or Asset Management
Director of Development or Preconstruction
Head of Vendor / Procurement Management

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the full lifecycle delivery of multiple simultaneous construction projects, establishing clear project objectives, deliverables, budgets, schedules, and success metrics that align with corporate strategy and growth plans.
Own program-level financial performance by developing and managing multi-year capital budgets, performing monthly cost forecasting, variance analysis, cash flow management, and driving corrective actions to meet profitability targets.
Direct preconstruction activities including constructability reviews, scope development, value engineering, detailed cost estimating, scheduling, and bid strategy to reduce risk and optimize cost/schedule outcomes.
Oversee contract strategy and administration across design-build, CMAR, lump-sum, GMP and unit-price contracts, ensuring robust terms, insurance, performance bonds, and change order controls to protect the organization’s interests.
Maintain executive-level responsibility for schedule delivery using CPM (Critical Path Method) scheduling, milestone tracking, recovery planning, and integration with master program schedules to ensure on-time occupancy/delivery.
Lead and mentor project leadership teams (project managers, superintendents, engineers, and field staff), setting performance expectations, developing talent pipelines, conducting performance reviews, and fostering a safety-first, quality-driven culture.
Establish and enforce site safety programs in partnership with EHS teams, ensuring OSHA and local regulatory compliance, jobsite safety audits, incident investigations, and continuous improvement to drive down injury rates.
Implement and govern centralized project controls (cost management, earned value, forecasting, document control) and standardize reporting dashboards and KPIs for transparency across stakeholders and the executive team.
Negotiate major subcontractor and vendor agreements, lead procurement strategies, evaluate vendor performance, and maintain preferred vendor pools to deliver competitive pricing, schedule reliability, and quality workmanship.
Manage risk proactively by developing and implementing risk registers, contingency strategies, insurance reviews, claims mitigation plans, and overseeing litigation or dispute resolution when necessary.
Ensure quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) programs are embedded into field operations, including mock-ups, inspection protocols, commissioning processes, punch-list management, and final acceptance criteria.
Drive regulatory and permit compliance by leading entitlement and permitting strategies, coordinating with municipalities and third-party authorities, and ensuring timely inspections and approvals.
Champion sustainability and green building initiatives such as LEED, net-zero strategies, or energy efficiency programs, coordinating with design teams and commissioning agents to meet environmental objectives and certifications.
Oversee occupied site operations and tenant coordination during phased construction, minimizing business disruption and ensuring clear communication plans for occupants, landlords, and property managers.
Lead change management and contract change order processes, ensuring equitable negotiation, documentation, approval workflows, and incorporation into updated budgets and schedules.
Coordinate cross-functional planning with development, real estate, finance, legal, procurement, and operations teams to align construction outcomes with leasing, handover, and long-term asset plans.
Implement and scale construction technology (BIM/Revit coordination, Procore/Plangrid/Autodesk cloud tools, mobile field reporting, and analytics) to improve collaboration, reduce rework, and accelerate decision cycles.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives by capturing lessons learned, standardizing best practices, optimizing construction methodologies, and improving margin and cycle time across the portfolio.
Present program status, risk profiles, financial forecasts, and strategic recommendations to the executive leadership team, board of directors, or investors with clear, data-driven narratives.
Lead business continuity planning for construction operations, including pandemic response, supply chain disruption mitigation, and contingency plans to sustain critical workstreams.
Direct commissioning, turnover and closeout processes to ensure warranty management, operations readiness, asset documentation, O&M manuals, and long-term maintenance plans are properly delivered.
Monitor and control change order exposure and scope creep across projects by enforcing scope baselines, owner-authorized changes, and strict contract administration discipline.
Develop and manage capital project pipelines, resource allocation (field staff and PMs), and staffing plans to ensure the right skills are available at the right time for program delivery.
Build and maintain strong external relationships with owners, lenders, design teams, regulators, community stakeholders, trades, and JV partners to support project approvals, funding, and community acceptance.

Secondary Functions

Support corporate strategic initiatives by participating in mergers and acquisitions diligence, integration planning, and post-acquisition construction assessments.
Conduct periodic internal audits of construction processes, QA/QC practices, safety performance, and compliance to identify gaps and drive corrective actions.
Collaborate with HR and recruiting to define role profiles, hire experienced construction leadership, and implement onboarding for project teams.
Assist business development efforts by providing technical and cost input for proposals, RFP responses, and client presentations to win new projects.
Contribute to organizational knowledge management by documenting playbooks, standard operating procedures, and training materials for centralized reuse.
Mentor junior leaders and succession candidates through coaching, stretch assignments, and formal development plans.
Partner with finance to refine capital allocation models, ROI analysis, and project prioritization frameworks.
Facilitate vendor performance reviews, warranty escalations, and long-term service contracts to protect asset value post-delivery.
Lead community and stakeholder outreach for high-impact projects, managing expectations and maintaining positive public and governmental relationships.
Participate in industry associations, conferences, and certification programs to keep the organization informed on best practices, regulatory changes, and technology adoption.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Construction program management and construction operations leadership across multi-site portfolios and complex project types.
Financial management: capital budgeting, forecasting, earned value management (EVM), cost-to-complete analysis, and P&L responsibility.
Contract administration and negotiation for AIA, ConsensusDocs, GMP, and design-build agreements; strong change order and claims management experience.
Scheduling expertise in CPM and tools such as Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, and integrated master schedules.
Proficiency with construction management software: Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud, PlanGrid, Viewpoint, or equivalent.
BIM coordination and lifecycle understanding of Revit/BIM workflows for clash detection and design-for-construction planning.
Knowledge of permitting, code compliance, building inspections, and local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) processes.
Quality control and commissioning processes, including punch lists, testing, commissioning agents, and turnover documentation.
Safety management and compliance: OSHA standards, site safety plans, incident investigation, and safety performance metrics.
Cost estimating and value engineering skills, with familiarity with RSMeans or equivalent estimating methodologies.
Procurement and supply chain management for subcontractor selection, prequalification, and long-lead procurement strategies.
Data-driven reporting and KPI creation using Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or similar analytics and dashboard tools.
Familiarity with sustainability frameworks and certifications: LEED, WELL, or other green building standards.
Risk management, insurance, surety processes, and dispute resolution best practices.

Soft Skills

Strategic leadership with the ability to translate business objectives into executable construction plans and measurable outcomes.
Outstanding communication and presentation skills tailored to executives, boards, owners, and field teams.
Strong negotiation and influencing skills to manage contractors, vendors, and stakeholders through complex decisions.
Problem-solving orientation and decisiveness under pressure with a track record of resolving schedule, budget, and quality issues.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to build cross-functional partnerships and cultivate high-performing teams.
Emotional intelligence and people development focus to coach, mentor, and retain top talent.
Adaptability and resilience in fast-paced, rapidly changing construction environments.
High ethical standards and professionalism dealing with confidential financial and contractual information.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance multiple high-priority projects and organizational initiatives.
Client-focused attitude with a commitment to delivering best-in-class service and product quality.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Architecture, Building Science, or related disciplined.

Preferred Education:

Master’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), or equivalent advanced degree.
Professional certifications such as CCM (Certified Construction Manager), PMP (Project Management Professional), PE (Professional Engineer), or LEED AP.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Construction Management
Civil / Structural Engineering
Architecture
Business Administration (MBA)
Facilities / Building Systems

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 10–20+ years of progressive construction experience with at least 5–10 years in senior leadership or director-level roles overseeing multiple projects or programs.

Preferred:

15+ years with proven success delivering commercial, multifamily, industrial, healthcare, education, or large-scale tenant-improvement portfolios.
Demonstrated record of leading capital programs exceeding $50M–$500M+ in aggregate value.
Experience managing both field and office teams, implementing construction technologies, and scaling processes in growth-stage or enterprise organizations.
Prior experience interacting with C-level executives, boards, owners, lenders, and major stakeholders; comfortable presenting financial and risk analyses.
Active certifications or training in OSHA (30-hour), LEED, PMP, CCM, or equivalent industry credentials preferred.