Lead Construction Specialist – Chemical / Petrochemical

Position - Construction Specialist (General Mechanical Owner’s Representative)

Location - Plaquemine, LA (Onsite)

Duration - 4 months contract

Pay rate Range - $55/hour on W2 - $60/hour on W2

Turnaround Schedule:

First 4 weeks:

→ You will work a 5/10 schedule (5 days/week, 10 hours/day)

Next 7 weeks (during peak turnaround):

→ You will work a 7/12 schedule (7 days/week, 12 hours/day)

→ This includes night shifts as well

After turnaround (final 5 weeks):

→ Schedule goes back to 5/10 (more normal workload)

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced General Mechanical Owner’s Representative to lead construction management activities for capital projects. This role is responsible for overseeing the execution of construction work, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, within budget, and in accordance with quality standards.

The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership capabilities, hands-on construction expertise, and the ability to manage contractors and field teams across multiple projects or a large-scale site execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all construction activities for assigned projects, ensuring alignment with safety, quality, cost, and schedule objectives
• Champion a zero-incident safety culture and ensure adherence to EH&S standards and best practices
• Provide visible leadership to construction teams, contractors, and stakeholders on-site
• Develop and implement Construction Management Plans, including resource planning and staffing requirements
• Support project planning activities, including Front End Loading (FEL) and constructability reviews
• Manage construction contractors, labor strategies, and resolve contract-related issues including claims
• Monitor and control project budgets, schedules, and field execution performance
• Ensure construction schedules are maintained and proactively address delays or risks
• Drive quality execution and minimize start-up or operability issues through effective planning
• Apply construction best practices, tools, and technologies to improve project outcomes
• Coach and mentor junior construction personnel
• Provide feedback for continuous improvement of construction processes and technologies

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field preferred
• Equivalent industry experience will be considered in lieu of a degree
• 10 years of experience in construction, engineering, or manufacturing environments
• Proven experience managing site-executed capital projects
• Strong background in mechanical construction and field execution
• Experience managing contractors, labor agreements, and construction budgets
• Demonstrated leadership experience in managing teams and driving project execution
• Solid understanding of construction planning, scheduling, and cost control

Key Skills

• Construction Management & Execution
• Contractor & Stakeholder Management
• Safety Leadership (EH&S)
• Project Planning & Scheduling
• Cost Control & Budget Management
• Constructability & Field Problem Solving
• Leadership & Team Development