Project Manager - Treatment Plant Specialization

COMPANY OVERVIEW: Whitaker Construction, founded in 1953, has over 73 years of experience in the heavy civil and underground utility construction industry. Whitaker, an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company, has become one of the largest contractors in the intermountain area with more than 700 employees and over 80 crews. We perform sanitary sewer, storm drain, culinary water, irrigation, earthwork, roadway construction, dams, landfills, natural gas pipelines, industrial piping, telecommunications projects, and treatment plant construction primarily in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, and Oregon.

JOB SUMMARY: A Treatment Plant Project Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of treatment plant construction projects, including working closely with stakeholders, engineers, and regulatory agencies to develop plans, establish timetables, and determine labor and material costs. They ensure projects are completed on budget, on schedule, and within scope while maintaining compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements. Primary responsibilities include project planning, resource allocation, time management, risk management, budget management, staff leadership, and managing key relationships with subcontractors, consulting engineers, equipment suppliers, and client representatives.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Manages all aspects of treatment plant projects including construction sequencing, budget, and cash management in accordance with project contract, specifications, and regulatory requirements.

• Develops and manages complex project schedules accounting for treatment plant-specific sequencing (foundation→structure→mechanical→controls→testing), equipment delivery dependencies, regulatory inspections, and testing protocols.

• Interprets and applies complex engineering documents including P&IDs (piping/instrumentation diagrams), hydraulic calculations, electrical schematics, and control system specifications.

• Assesses project contracts, design documents, and specifications for completeness. Works with owners and design engineers to resolve specification conflicts and scheduling challenges specific to treatment plant construction phasing.

• Coordinates with environmental agencies, health departments, and regulatory bodies to obtain and maintain permits, approvals, and compliance requirements throughout construction (EPA/state discharge permits, health department standards, operator licensing).

• Manages structural concrete construction including foundations, cast-in-place structures, equipment pads, process tanks, and masonry. Coordinates reinforcing steel, formwork, and structural subcontractors to ensure proper sequencing, quality, and code compliance.

• Procures, schedules delivery, and inspects all treatment plant equipment (pumps, motors, blowers, clarifiers, filters, control systems, SCADA/automation). Ensures timely arrival and specification compliance.

• Manages change orders, submittals, design modifications, equipment changes, and contract deviations through proper documentation and reporting.

• Monitors construction progress through on-site Superintendent to ensure all treatment plant systems are installed, tested, and operational on schedule and budget.

• Allocates and manages labor, equipment, and materials throughout the construction process to maintain project continuity.

• Collaborates with consulting engineers, equipment manufacturers, and subcontractors to ensure proper installation and integration of treatment systems.

• Oversees quality assurance and system commissioning, including startup procedures, performance testing, operator training coordination, and troubleshooting of mechanical/electrical issues.

• Develops and presents monthly cost and revenue forecasts with budget variance analysis, identifying risks related to equipment delays, environmental factors, and regulatory hold-ups.

• Conducts weekly safety reviews and participates in safety meetings. Supports project and owner safety programs with attention to hazardous work and specialized equipment operations.

• Leads project closeout including system handover, final testing documentation, operator training completion, contract finalization, retainage collection, and claim resolution.

• Other duties as assigned by Senior Project Manager or management team.

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• A minimum of 5 years of direct project management experience in treatment plant construction, including wastewater treatment, water treatment, or industrial treatment facilities.

• Demonstrated experience managing structural concrete and building construction at treatment facilities, including foundations, cast-in-place concrete structures, equipment pads, process tanks, masonry, and steel-framed buildings

• Proven experience coordinating structural concrete, reinforcing steel, formwork, and building structure subcontractors on complex treatment plant projects

• Knowledge of treatment plant systems, processes, and equipment (activated sludge, membrane filtration, UV disinfection, chemical dosing systems, SCADA/automation)

• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, hydraulic calculations, electrical schematics, and control system specifications

• Experience with system commissioning, startup procedures, and performance testing

• Strong understanding of environmental regulations, EPA/state discharge permits, health department requirements, and operator licensing standards

• Knowledge of treatment plant-specific construction sequencing and dependencies

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

Project Management Skills:

• Develop and manage complex project schedules with equipment delivery dependencies and regulatory inspection coordination

• Manage equipment procurement, quality assurance, and supply chain for capital-intensive projects

• Identify and mitigate risks related to equipment delays, environmental factors, and regulatory hold-ups

• Control budgets and manage changes in high-equipment-cost projects

• Coordinate specialized trades (mechanical, electrical, controls, civil) working interdependently

Leadership & Communication:

• Translate technical concepts across engineers, regulatory agencies, clients, equipment vendors, and field personnel

• Manage complex, multi-stakeholder project teams

• Make sound decisions under pressure with strong problem-solving ability

• Demonstrate organized leadership in team and independent environments

• Maintain strong work ethic and commitment to project success

Technical Proficiency:

• Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent education/experience)

• Understand complex engineering plans, specifications, and technical drawings

• Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

• Proficient with Viewpoint, Primavera P6, and construction management software

• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Willing to work extended hours including day, night, and weekend shifts

• Able to walk, lift, reach, stoop, stand, grasp, balance, climb, kneel, crouch, and lift up to 50 pounds occasionally

• Able to work in outside environments with weather changes, noise, vibrations, and job hazards