Senior Construction Manager

About the role

The Senior Construction Manager will lead the on-site construction management of the company’s first greenfield manufacturing plant for magnet production, directing the day-to-day management of construction safety, quality, schedule, cost control, and contractor performance from site mobilization through mechanical completion and turnover to commissioning.

This is a highly visible role requiring exceptional organizational discipline, technical judgment, and the ability to manage complexity across multiple external partners, including EPC firms and specialized vendors. The Construction Manager will serve as the on-site accountable owner for construction execution, embedded on site for the duration of the build and reporting progress, risks, and schedule performance into the capital program leadership.

What you'll do

Construction Leadership & Delivery

• Own construction-phase delivery from site mobilization through mechanical completion and turnover to commissioning

• Lead and motivate the site team in the day-to-day management of construction safety, quality, schedule, cost control, and subcontractor performance

• Deliver the construction scope on time and within the approved capital budget

• Act as the company's accountable owner's representative for all construction activities on site

• Promote and manage the safety and health performance of the site team and subcontractors, adhering to all applicable safety programs, training, and policies

• Maintain a rigorous schedule management process with clear critical path visibility and proactive response to delays

• Lead internal and external project risk reviews and consult with the Legal Department as required

EPC & Vendor Management

• Serve as the primary on-site point of contact for the EPC firm(s), operating two-in-the-box with the EPC's Site Manager during construction

• Manage the on-site activities of construction subcontractors and equipment vendors, including field installation, testing, and service work

• Partner with Procurement to ensure EPC and vendors meet contractual obligations related to scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, and performance

• Manage prime contract, subcontractor, and supplier invoicing, and verify that project insurance, bonding, and licensures are in place per project requirements

• Execute downstream contract administration, including RFIs, submittals, meeting minutes, change orders, and claims mitigation, and enforce accountability across the contractor ecosystem

• Review, negotiate, approve, and execute subcontracts and change orders, and lead the downstream RFP and bid process, including prequalifying, evaluating, and selecting subcontractors and suppliers

Constructability & Design Interface

• Represent construction in design reviews, driving constructability, sequencing, and field-installation input into engineering deliverables

• Manage implementation of drawing releases, specifications, and design changes in the field

• Ensure field changes are captured, documented, and fed back into design and as-built records

Construction & Site Execution

• Oversee site preparation, civil works, building construction, and installation of process equipment

• Ensure adherence to safety, environmental, permitting, and regulatory requirements

• Implement robust construction management, reporting, and quality control systems, including work breakdown structures and field progress tracking

• Establish and oversee the project non-conformance reporting process

• Develop and execute site mobilization, logistics, and laydown plans

• Oversee materials receiving and management, including inventory control, storage, and transportation of goods 

• Lead issue resolution in real time to keep construction moving

• Verify subcontractor and contractor compliance with contract documents, safety, quality, and schedule requirements

Commissioning & Operational Readiness

• Drive mechanical completion, punch-list closeout, and system turnover packages to support commissioning

• Partner with the internal commissioning team to sequence construction completion around commissioning, startup, and performance testing priorities

• Ensure construction handover documentation, including as-builts, test records, and vendor turnover packages, is complete and organized

Startup Environment Leadership

• Create structure, discipline, and transparency where processes are still being defined

• Communicate clearly and regularly with executive leadership, investors, vendors, and key stakeholders

• Manage community and building trades relationships, and lead the development of project labor agreements as required

• Anticipate risks and proactively develop mitigation strategies in a novel, first-plant environment

• Provide mentorship and training to less experienced construction staff, and coordinate employee relations matters with Human Resources

You might be a great fit if you have:

Experience

• Experience leading construction of large-scale industrial or manufacturing capital projects

• Proven success delivering greenfield plants or major facility expansions

• Significant experience managing EPC firms on complex construction projects

• Experience coordinating multiple contractors, vendors, and specialized equipment installations in the field

• Demonstrated accountability for capital budgets typically in the hundreds of millions

Skills & Capabilities

• Exceptional organizational and project execution skills

• Strong understanding of construction means and methods, contract administration, and manufacturing operations

• Ability to manage ambiguity and make decisions with incomplete information

• Comfortable operating as the source of truth for project delivery

• Strong contract management, negotiation, and commercial acumen

• Excellent communication skills across technical, executive, and external audiences

Leadership & Mindset

• Ownership mentality with a bias toward action and results

• Comfortable building structure and processes from scratch

• Calm and decisive under pressure

• Collaborative but firm in holding partners accountable

• Passion for building something new and meaningful

Preferred Experience:

• Experience with advanced materials, magnets, metals, or chemical/process manufacturing

• Prior startup or first-plant experience

• Background in commissioning and operational ramp-up

• PMP or similar certification

Our pay and benefits:

• Salary: $135,000 - $195,000 annually, depending on education, experience and skills
• Equity position in Niron via stock option grant
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Mental healthcare benefits
• 401k plan with 6% company match
• Paid time off to take time for what you need in life
• Experience in a fun, high-performing, manufacturing environment set to change the world

Recruiters and Employment Agencies: Please note that Niron Magnetics does not accept unsolicited resumes from external agencies. Any unsolicited resumes submitted to our career site, hiring managers, or employees will be considered the property of Niron Magnetics. Consequently, we reserve the right to hire these candidates at our discretion without any financial obligation to the submitting agency.