Senior Project Manager

The Axel Group is partnering with a well-established Florida construction management and general contracting firm seeking an experienced Project Manager / Senior Project Manager to join its growing team in the Lakewood Ranch/Sarasota market.

This is a highly respected, long-standing contractor that has been operating in Florida for more than 50 years and has built an excellent reputation throughout the Gulf Coast region. The company has a diverse construction portfolio spanning public-sector, municipal, commercial, industrial, educational, institutional, and infrastructure projects, with a significant amount of its work coming through repeat relationships with municipalities, public agencies, and long-term clients.

While the organization performs a broad range of construction, this particular opening is focused heavily on its horizontal and civil construction work. The team is involved in large-scale roadway and highway improvements, roadway widening and expansion, turnpike and transportation-related work, municipal capital improvement programs, utility infrastructure, drainage and stormwater improvements, traffic and MOT work, site development, and other major public infrastructure projects.

The company has a strong backlog of current and upcoming work throughout Southwest and Central Florida and is looking to add an experienced construction professional who can take ownership of major projects and become an important long-term member of the organization.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone coming from a heavy civil, roadway, transportation, infrastructure, or site development contractor who wants to join an established company with strong leadership, financial stability, a diverse project backlog, and the resources to pursue and execute significant public-sector construction work.

Position Overview

The Project Manager / Senior Project Manager will be responsible for the overall planning, coordination, financial management, and execution of assigned construction projects from preconstruction through final completion.

This individual will work closely with Superintendents, Project Engineers, subcontractors, vendors, owners, engineers, municipalities, and internal leadership to ensure projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with contract requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage heavy civil and infrastructure projects from preconstruction and planning through construction and closeout.
• Oversee overall project budgets, cost forecasting, financial performance, billing, and profitability.
• Develop, maintain, and manage project schedules in coordination with field leadership.
• Coordinate closely with Project Superintendents on manpower, sequencing, equipment, subcontractors, deliveries, and overall field execution.
• Manage subcontractor and vendor procurement, buyout, scope review, contracts, and performance.
• Review plans, specifications, contracts, bid documents, and project requirements to ensure complete understanding of project scope.
• Manage RFIs, submittals, change orders, claims, correspondence, and other project documentation.
• Track quantities, production, labor, equipment, materials, and project costs throughout construction.
• Coordinate material and equipment procurement to maintain project schedules.
• Manage owner and subcontractor billing, change management, forecasting, and project reporting.
• Participate in owner, municipality, design-team, preconstruction, progress, and subcontractor meetings.
• Maintain strong communication with owners, engineers, inspectors, governmental agencies, subcontractors, and internal project teams.
• Identify potential schedule, cost, constructability, or operational issues early and develop solutions before they impact the project.
• Ensure project teams remain aligned with contract requirements, quality expectations, safety standards, and project milestones.
• Support permitting, inspections, utility coordination, traffic control/MOT, and other requirements associated with public infrastructure construction.
• Lead projects through punch list, final documentation, turnover, and closeout.

Preferred Background

The ideal candidate will bring a strong background managing horizontal construction and heavy civil projects for a general contractor or civil contractor.

Experience involving any combination of the following would be especially relevant:

• Heavy highway / roadway construction
• Interstate or turnpike improvements
• Roadway widening and reconstruction
• Bridges and transportation infrastructure
• Municipal capital improvement projects
• FDOT or similar DOT work
• Underground utilities
• Water / wastewater infrastructure
• Stormwater and drainage
• Earthwork and excavation
• Site development
• Concrete and paving
• Traffic control / Maintenance of Traffic
• Public works and municipal construction

Candidates should have demonstrated experience managing the financial, contractual, scheduling, and operational sides of construction, rather than functioning solely in a field or engineering capacity.

Qualifications

• Prior Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Assistant Project Manager, Project Engineer, or similar experience within heavy civil construction.
• Strong understanding of civil construction means, methods, sequencing, and project execution.
• Experience managing subcontractors, vendors, field teams, schedules, budgets, and project documentation.
• Ability to read and interpret civil plans, specifications, contracts, and construction documents.
• Experience with RFIs, submittals, change orders, claims, procurement, billing, forecasting, and cost control.
• Strong communication, organization, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with owners, engineers, municipalities, inspectors, subcontractors, and internal leadership.
• Florida heavy civil, FDOT, municipal, county, roadway, or public-infrastructure experience is highly preferred.
• Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related education is preferred but relevant industry experience will also be strongly considered.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is not an opportunity with a contractor trying to establish itself in the Florida market. The company has been building throughout the region for decades and has developed deep relationships across both the public and private sectors.

The organization offers the stability and resources of an established contractor while maintaining a hands-on, relationship-driven culture where strong Project Managers have direct visibility with leadership and the ability to make an impact.

With a diverse operation spanning both vertical and horizontal construction, a strong backlog of public and private work, and continued investment in its civil and infrastructure capabilities, the company can offer the right person long-term project stability, significant responsibility, exposure to major capital improvement projects, and continued career growth.

For someone with a strong roadway, heavy civil, infrastructure, or public-works background who is looking for a long-term home with a respected Florida contractor, this is an opportunity worth exploring.