Civil Project Manager

About Merritt Contracting

At Merritt Contracting, we build more than just projects — we build careers. Since 1995, our crews have helped us become a local leader in civil and concrete construction across Indiana. The Merritt Way means doing the job safely, delivering quality work, and moving efficiently as a team. We’re always looking for hardworking people who want steady work, respect on the job, and opportunities to grow.

Merritt Contracting is proudly employee-owned through our ESOP.

Position Summary

Merritt Contracting is looking for an experienced Civil Project Manager to take ownership of civil construction projects from pre-construction and project handoff through execution, billing, closeout, and final completion.

This role requires someone who can lead through the field, not just manage from behind a desk. The Project Manager will work closely with Foremen, crews, the Civil Field Manager (CFM), Project Engineers, customers, subcontractors, and suppliers to keep projects safe, productive, on schedule, and within budget.

The right person understands civil construction operations, production rates, labor and equipment planning, project costs, change-order management, scheduling, procurement, and customer expectations. They should be comfortable visiting jobsites regularly, holding field leaders accountable, removing obstacles for crews, and making decisions that keep work moving.

This position requires strong ownership. Success means knowing where your projects stand, anticipating problems before they affect production, communicating clearly with both the field and the customer, and doing what it takes to bring the job across the finish line successfully.

KEY RESULTS AREAS:

Lead personnel through holding accountable, career development, coaching, teaching, training, mentoring, and reviews.

Managing Foremen, Crew, Drivers, etc. on your assigned projects

Own the budget for your jobs through the Foremen (labor, material, and equipment).

Know our contract scope of work, manage change orders along with Project Managers (PM).

Ensure Project Completed on Time & Within Budget

Manage project during/after weather through Foremen and CFM.

Consistently able to attain production rates through Foremen and Crews.

Look for alternative methods to outperform what is budgeted

Review actual vs. estimate

Proactively plan your jobs, with assistance from CFM, and be accountable for the 2-3 week look-ahead and Master Schedule.

Be accountable for setting expectations & the overall quality of the work performed on your jobs by the crews, Including Day to Day scheduling/work of subcontractors/suppliers.

Participate in goal setting

Remove obstacles for Foremen to be able to attain production rates

Maintain Work Forecast

Weekend/After Hours Coverage

Billing on time & payments received (i.e. “Scoreboards”)

Monitor & Report on job productivity

Project Closeout (i.e. make sure as-builts, warranties, punch lists, bonds, etc. completed in a timely fashion)

Stay on Top of C/O’s. (Creation, Customer Communication, Capture Correct $ Amt, Get Paid)

Actively and Effectively communicate with customer and PM on schedule, change orders, RFI’s, etc.

Manage Customer Expectations - Negotiate

What do they need? When do they need it? What do we want?

How are we going to be able to reconcile expectations?

Along with Foreman – determine Means & Methods for meeting the expectation

Do your best to keep customers happy and within budget

Improve, refine and communicate processes to limit waste

ADDITIONAL DUTIES:

Do whatever it takes to manage job and make it successful!!!

Value Engineering Designs

Budgets

Must demand & cultivate safety culture, including adherence to applicable rules & regulations, training, & PPE.

Interact w/ field personnel to drive company safety culture

Interact w/ field personnel to drive waste reducing culture

Interact w/ field personnel to monitor pulse of company morale

Conversion of a successful estimate to the company's job cost system

Information Transfer to Field Crews

Pre-construction/estimating information for new contracts

Keep information current on Procore, get new prints to guys in field

Complete pre-determined quality inspections @ critical points throughout the project

Participating in subsequent subcontractor and supplier negotiations/solicitations

Proactive management of subcontractor and supplier relationships

Professional interface with owners/GC’s, subcontractors and MCI crews on job related issues

Assist PE with end of Month Reports for all projects

Procuring ALL Material & Rental Equipment (including but not limited to the following):

• Concrete
• Stone
• Rebar
• Storm Structures/Pipe
• Sanitary & Water Pipe/Fittings
• Traffic Control

Recruit new subcontractor when needed

Regular jobsite visits

Complete safety inspections as required

Attend job-site meetings

Monitor Overtime/Weekend hours

Along with CFM, complete Performance Reviews of civil field personnel

Physical Demands:

Mobility:

Ability to travel to job sites, walk on uneven terrain, and navigate office and site environments.

Frequent movement around construction sites, which may include walking on uneven surfaces, climbing ladders, and navigating obstacles.

Standing for extended periods while overseeing and inspecting work.

Strength:

Occasional lifting of materials or equipment, typically up to 50 pounds.

Assisting with the setup and teardown of equipment and temporary structures.

Dexterity:

Manual dexterity to handle tools and materials as needed.

Precision in handling documents, using office equipment, tablets, or other digital devices/ technical tools.

Stamina:

Ability to work in various weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, and rain.

Endurance to work long hours, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and possibly holidays, depending on project deadlines.

Vision and Hearing:

Good visual acuity for reading blueprints, inspecting work quality, and spotting potential safety hazards.

Clear hearing to communicate effectively with workers, subcontractors, and supervisors on a noisy construction site.

Balance and Coordination:

Good balance to move safely across construction sites, particularly when navigating scaffolding or other elevated structures.

Coordination to supervise the precise placement and finishing of concrete.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement: Merritt Contracting is an equal opportunity employer and follows all state and federal laws regarding EEO and anti-discrimination. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. If you need accommodation during the application process, please contact our Human Resources department. Your application will be handled confidentially and in compliance with the law.