Project Executive

Wharton-Smith, Inc., a highly regarded General Contractor throughout the Southeast, is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Project Executive. We are currently seeking someone who is willing to work in Jacksonville, FL.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Project Executive serves as a senior operational leader responsible for portfolio oversight, strategic growth, operational leadership, and organizational performance across multiple projects and business initiatives. This role provides executive-level leadership and direction to operational teams while driving business development, client relationships, financial performance, risk mitigation, and organizational excellence.

The Project Executive requires a Doer-Seller mentality and plays a critical role in long-term company growth, operational strategy, leadership development, and market expansion. This position serves as a primary executive liaison between company leadership, clients, consultants, regulatory agencies, and project teams while ensuring operational consistency and successful project delivery across the organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide executive oversight and strategic leadership for multiple projects, operational teams, and regional business initiatives.
• Lead operational planning, staffing strategies, financial performance management, and organizational development efforts.
• Develop and maintain executive-level relationships with clients, consultants, industry partners, and regulatory agencies.
• Drive business development, market expansion, and project pursuit strategies through client engagement, industry events, presentations, negotiations, and contract development.
• Oversee portfolio financial performance, including profitability, forecasting, budgeting, and operational risk management.
• Establish and maintain operational standards, best practices, policies, and procedures across project teams.
• Provide executive support for major contract negotiations, claims resolution, procurement strategies, and dispute management.
• Collaborate with Preconstruction and Collaborative Delivery teams to support project pursuits, proposal development, client presentations, procurement strategies, and successful project acquisition.
• Lead mentorship, leadership development, succession planning, and organizational culture initiatives.
• Promote operational excellence, safety leadership, quality assurance, and continuous improvement throughout all levels of operations.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on strategic planning, growth initiatives, and long-term business objectives.
• Represent the company through active engagement with industry organizations, community partners, civic initiatives, and client events to strengthen relationships, support business development, and enhance the company’s presence in the markets it serves.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressive leadership experience in construction operations and project management.
• Proven track record of successfully managing operational leaders, financial performance, strategic growth initiatives, and client development.
• Advanced knowledge of construction operations, project delivery methods, project finance, risk management, and organizational leadership.
• Extensive experience with construction delivery methods, including Design-Bid-Build, Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), Design-Build, and Progressive Design-Build.
• Strong understanding of construction processes, means and methods, and regulatory requirements applicable to project locations.
• Ability to interpret and analyze owner contracts, civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural drawings, technical specifications, and other construction contract documents.
• Extensive knowledge of project financial management, procurement strategies, contract administration, and operational risk mitigation.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, oversee operational performance, and drive successful project outcomes.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational, and decision-making skills with the ability to support long-term business growth and operational objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and critical deadlines in a fast-paced construction environment.
• Experience identifying, evaluating, and resolving complex operational, financial, and contractual challenges.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills with the ability to develop operational leaders and project teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with clients, consultants, subcontractors, regulatory agencies, executive leadership, and project teams.
• Strong presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills with the ability to establish and maintain long-term professional relationships.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate project risks, evaluate potential impacts, and implement effective solutions.
• Client-focused approach with a commitment to delivering exceptional service and maintaining strong client relationships.
• Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, accountability, and leadership presence.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively while maintaining effective communication across multiple departments and leadership levels.
• Proficiency in using standard office technology, including laptops, smartphones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and scanners.
• Ability to perform office-related tasks requiring close vision, focus, and regular verbal communication.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move office materials and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Availability to work a full-time, exempt schedule during standard business hours, with flexibility for extended hours, evenings, and weekends based on project schedules and operational needs.
• Willingness to travel regularly to project job sites and regional offices to support project operations and business objectives.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disability

Wharton-Smith provides equal opportunity to qualified disabled veterans, Pre-JVA special disabled veterans and individuals with disabilities to online application systems by making reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access for submitting to job openings.  (i.e., wheelchair accessibility, website accessibility, etc).

RECRUITER POLICY:

Notice to Staffing Agencies

Wharton-Smith, Inc. will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Wharton-Smith, Inc., including unsolicited resumes sent to a Wharton-Smith, Inc. mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Wharton-Smith, Inc. employees, or to Wharton-Smith, Inc.'s resume database will be considered Wharton-Smith, Inc. property. Wharton-Smith, Inc. will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Wharton-Smith, Inc. will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. Agencies must obtain advance written approval from Wharton-Smith, Inc.'s recruiting function to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully executed contract for service and in response to a specific job opening. Wharton-Smith, Inc. will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such an agreement in place. Agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Wharton-Smith, Inc.'s Human Resources Representative or his/ her designee. No other Wharton-Smith, Inc. employee is authorized to bind Wharton-Smith, Inc. to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Agencies.