Assistant Construction Manager

Summary

Willdan is a leading, nationwide provider of comprehensive energy and sustainability solutions. The exciting and growing energy sector provides Willdan employees an opportunity to contribute to the clean energy economy. Willdan Performance Engineering, a division of Willdan Group, inspires and empowers communities by creating transformational environments. Our clients include school districts, universities, city, county, and state governments, private enterprises, and healthcare facilities.

The Assistant Construction Manager supports the Construction Manager in the day-to-day execution of energy retrofit and design-build projects in commercial, institutional, and public facilities, from constructability review and bidding through construction, commissioning, and closeout. The Assistant Construction Manager is accountable for accurate, current project records and logs; for the cost, commitment, and billing tracking behind the Construction Manager's financial reporting; and for following up on open items with subcontractors, engineering, and the client until they are closed. Our ideal candidate has a bachelor's degree in engineering or construction management (or an equivalent combination of education and experience), 2-4 years of experience in field operations and construction means and methods, and a desire to grow into managing projects independently.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

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

• Support the Construction Manager in day-to-day management of assigned energy retrofit and design-build projects (on-site and virtual), including coordination of field activities, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Support project safety: participate in site safety walks and meetings, document observations and corrective actions, and reinforce Willdan, client, and site-specific requirements.
• Gather existing-conditions, site-constraint, and subcontractor input for constructability and cost reviews; assist with bid packages, pre-bid walkthroughs, bidder questions, and bid tabulations.
• Assist with subcontract administration (agreements, change orders, insurance and compliance documents, schedule changes) and follow up on subcontractor deliverables until received.
• Assist in coordinating mechanical, electrical, lighting, controls, and general trade subcontractors; prepare meeting agendas and minutes and maintain the action-item log (owners, due dates, follow-up until each item is closed).
• Assist in maintaining the overall schedule and the three-week look-ahead: collect weekly subcontractor progress, update the look-ahead weekly and the overall schedule monthly, and flag activities at risk.
• Own the RFI and submittal logs: route, track, and close RFIs, submittals, and design changes with subcontractors and engineering; follow up on overdue items.
• Perform field walks to verify installed work conforms to drawings, specifications, and manufacturer requirements; document deficiencies and track corrections to completion.
• Own day-to-day document control: project files and the RFI, submittal, change-order, procurement, and daily-report logs current, accurate, and organized in the construction management software.
• Maintain cost tracking: log commitments and changes, reconcile pay applications and invoices against work in place before approval, and flag variances as they arise, not at month-end.
• Support the monthly cost-versus-budget report, forecast update, and Owner billings and Schedule of Values with accurate, reconciled inputs on schedule.
• Assist in identifying and documenting scope changes, differing site conditions, and delays; maintain the change log and support timely notices and change-order pricing.
• Coordinate site access, laydown and staging, and deliveries; track procurement and long-lead HVAC, lighting, controls, and electrical gear and expedite deliveries to support the schedule.
• Assist in planning work in occupied facilities (phasing, shutdowns, tie-ins, after-hours work, building access) to minimize disruption to customer operations.
• Prepare progress reports and respond to client information requests within agreed timeframes; log client requests, directed changes, and approvals and carry them into schedule and cost tracking.
• Identify and promptly raise schedule, budget, quality, subcontractor performance, and safety issues to the Construction Manager with recommended solutions.
• Support turnover, commissioning, M&V support, and Owner training, and closeout (punch list, as-builts, O&M manuals, training, warranties, attic stock, final invoicing, lien releases).

Job Requirements / Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2-4 years of experience in field operations and construction means and methods; energy retrofit, commercial, or institutional experience preferred.
• Knowledge of the construction process; working knowledge of HVAC, lighting, controls, and electrical systems in commercial and institutional facilities; reads drawings and specifications. ESCO experience a plus.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining accurate RFI, submittal, change-order, procurement, and cost logs and reconciling invoices and pay applications against work in place.
• Recognizes schedule, budget, and quality issues in the field and raises them promptly with cost implications in mind.
• Consistent follow-through: closes out open items, responds promptly to clients, subcontractors, and internal teams, and does not let issues slip through the cracks.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; maintains project documentation across multiple projects and meets deadlines with limited supervision.
• Manages a high volume of information and requests on fast-turnaround programs while keeping records accurate.
• Effective written and verbal communication with clients, subcontractors, vendors, and internal teams.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (particularly Excel), Teams, and Webex; familiarity with Microsoft Project or Primavera P6 and Bluebeam Revu preferred.
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction certification preferred or obtained within 90 days of hire; CMIT, CAPM, or EIT certification a plus.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds and climb a ladder; valid driver's license required.
• Travel is a required component of this role and will be necessary to meet job responsibilities.

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.