Project Executive - Water/Wastewater

Job Description

Job Description

J.Riley Recruitment is seeking an experienced Project Executive to provide senior-level leadership across complex heavy civil and infrastructure projects in the Richmond, VA market.

This position will oversee project teams and overall project performance, with accountability for financial results, schedule, safety, quality, client satisfaction, and team development. The Project Executive will provide strategic oversight while empowering Project Managers, Superintendents, and project teams to successfully execute the work.

The ideal candidate is more than an experienced construction manager. We are looking for a leader who develops people, builds strong relationships, creates accountability, and remains focused on the collective success of the project and team.

Duties

• Provide executive oversight of complex heavy civil and infrastructure projects, ensuring alignment with contractual requirements, budgets, schedules, safety standards, quality expectations, and client objectives.
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Project Managers, Superintendents, and project teams while establishing clear expectations and accountability for performance.
• Maintain oversight of project financial performance, including forecasting, cost control, cash flow, change management, risk identification, and profitability.
• Build productive relationships with owners, public-sector clients, subcontractors, vendors, design partners, and internal stakeholders.
• Champion a strong culture of safety and quality while ensuring teams maintain disciplined project controls and consistently execute work to established standards.
• Provide leadership throughout project planning, procurement, contract administration, subcontractor management, scheduling, and major project decisions.
• Identify operational, contractual, financial, schedule, and personnel risks early and work with project teams to develop effective mitigation strategies.
• Support Project Managers and Superintendents in resolving complex project challenges while maintaining accountability at the appropriate level.
• Partner with senior leadership on staffing, resource allocation, succession planning, and the continued development of project leadership.
• Travel to assigned projects and jobsites as required while maintaining a strategic, portfolio-level leadership role.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive construction experience with significant responsibility leading complex projects for a General Contractor.
• Strong heavy civil, infrastructure, water/wastewater, industrial civil, or comparable complex civil construction experience.
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex, multimillion-dollar construction projects and/or multiple-project portfolios.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, mentor, and develop Project Managers, Superintendents, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong knowledge of project financials, forecasting, cost controls, contracts, procurement, scheduling, change management, safety, quality control, and risk management.
• Strong communication, negotiation, decision-making, problem-solving, and relationship-management capabilities.
• Ability to effectively work with stakeholders at every level, from owners and senior leadership to project teams, subcontractors, vendors, and field personnel.
• Ability to travel as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Significant experience with water and wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and related water infrastructure.
• Experience delivering government, public works, or federally funded construction projects.
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated leadership style centered on accountability, humility, collaboration, coaching, and team development.

Why Join Our Client

Our client is an established contractor delivering challenging heavy civil and infrastructure projects for public-sector clients. This position offers the opportunity to lead complex work while having a meaningful impact on project teams, client relationships, and overall operational performance.

The organization values leaders who remain engaged, make sound decisions, develop the people around them, and take ownership of results. Success in this role is not measured solely by financial performance. It also means building strong teams and delivering safe, high-quality projects that strengthen long-term client relationships.

About J.Riley Recruitment

J.Riley Recruitment is THE Veteran-Owned Business connecting Military Veterans and Top Professionals with the Best Companies. Since our founding in 2020, J.Riley Recruitment has leveraged over a decade of Talent Acquisition expertise to deliver exceptional results. Our network extends coast to coast, empowering organizations nationwide to overcome challenges and achieve success.

Built on a foundation of integrity, discipline, and precision, we bring the same operational excellence and adaptability to recruitment that defines top-tier organizations. By understanding our clients' unique challenges and aligning with their goals, we deliver high-performing talent that drives long-term success.