Director of Construction - Southern California

Summary

The Director of Construction will lead and oversee all phases of regional construction operations with a focus on Design-Build best practices, NAESCO standards for energy efficiency projects, and AIA guidelines for construction administration and project delivery. This role demands a leader who champions safety, innovation, accountability, and collaboration to ensure projects exceed client expectations while fostering a culture of trust and continuous improvement.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for all regional construction activities.
• Build, mentor, and develop high-performing construction teams while promoting an inclusive, collaborative, and safety-driven culture.
• Work with Human Resources to recruit, onboard, and retain qualified construction personnel aligned with Design-Build best practices.
• Ensure professional growth opportunities for staff through training, mentorship, and exposure to innovative construction technologies and methods.
• Lead and coordinate construction activities through all phases — from early engineering input to project close-out — ensuring alignment with AIA guidelines for construction administration.
• Collaborate closely with the preconstruction team to validate design assumptions, confirm accurate cost estimates, and establish constructible and efficient project schedules.
• Ensure seamless transitions from design development through procurement and field mobilization, minimizing rework and delays.
• Guide subcontractor selection, contract negotiation, and oversight to ensure the best value and performance in alignment with NAESCO project requirements for energy savings and verification.
• Establish and ensure consistent use of Project Management software to track schedules, budgets, progress, and documentation across all projects.
• Direct standard invoicing, approval, and cost control processes to ensure transparency, compliance, and fiscal responsibility.
• Lead the preparation of budgets, forecasts, and project financial reporting; manage expenses to maintain profitability and mitigate risk.
• Track project performance against cost and schedule baselines; identify risks early and implement corrective actions proactively.
• Champion a safety-first culture, ensuring strict adherence to OSHA requirements, company policies, and jobsite safety protocols.
• Implement and enforce quality control and assurance programs that align with AIA standards and Design-Build performance expectations.
• Ensure field compliance with division engineering standards, policies, and procedures.
• Drive accountability across all project teams and subcontractors for maintaining the highest levels of safety, quality, and compliance.
• Develop and implement plans to secure all necessary permits, working collaboratively with contractors, design teams, and local/state agencies.
• Maintain strong, professional relationships with local utilities, vendors, contractors, and government authorities to streamline approvals and resolve issues.
• Represent the company with professionalism in all client and community interactions, ensuring that stakeholder interests are respected and addressed.
• Identify engineering and construction opportunities for improvement, championing innovative approaches such as prefabrication, modular construction, Lean methods, and advanced project controls.
• Promote adoption of emerging technologies that streamline workflows, reduce costs, and improve sustainability outcomes.
• Encourage a culture of problem-solving and knowledge sharing across teams to strengthen organizational learning and resilience.
• Maintain open communication with clients to ensure satisfaction with project progress, quality, and outcomes.
• Build and sustain long-term client relationships to foster repeat business opportunities and referrals.
• Support business development efforts by contributing construction expertise during project pursuit and proposal phases.
  
  

Job Requirements / Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or Architecture (advanced degree preferred).
• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience in Design-Build or performance contracting.
• In-depth knowledge of AIA construction administration standards, NAESCO energy performance contracting principles, and OSHA safety compliance.
• Proven ability to deliver large-scale, multi-stakeholder projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of safety and quality.
• Demonstrated success in building collaborative, high-performing, and inclusive teams.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and tasks to ensure timely delivery of high-quality deliverables.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders while delivering excellent customer service in a highly dynamic growth environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast paced, evolving, entrepreneurial work environment.
• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time (post-pandemic: this is flexible at the current time). Travel may include various means of transportation including automobile, public transportation, rail, and airplane.
• Valid Driver’s license is required.
  
  

EEO Non-Discrimination and ADA Reasonable Accommodation Statement

Willdan is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship status, national origin, ancestry, religion, military service or veteran status, disability, medical condition, childbirth and related medical conditions, genetic testing, reproductive status or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws and ordinances. Willdan does not discriminate on the basis of physical or mental disability where the essential functions of the job can be reasonably accommodated. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us.

Willdan Performance Engineering participates in E-Verify.