Director of Construction Management

Role Overview:

CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) Search has been exclusively retained by a well-established and highly respected construction organization to identify an onsite Director of Construction Management to join its leadership team.

For decades, this employee-owned construction firm has built a strong reputation for delivering complex projects across a variety of markets. With expertise spanning construction, design-build services, preconstruction planning, budgeting, and project execution, the organization provides comprehensive solutions from concept through completion. Known for its commitment to quality, client service, and operational excellence, the company has successfully delivered numerous high-profile projects and continues to expand its market presence.

This newly created leadership role will be responsible for building and growing the organization's Construction Management Services practice, with a focus on pursuing and securing Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) and Construction Manager as Agent (CMA) opportunities in the water and wastewater, healthcare, and education sectors. Reporting directly to ownership, this individual will play a key role in shaping strategy, driving business development, and establishing a scalable foundation for long-term growth.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute a business development strategy for the Construction Management Services practice, with a primary focus on CMAR opportunities.
• Build relationships with owners, municipalities, school districts, healthcare organizations, architects, engineers, and design partners within target markets.
• Identify, evaluate, and prioritize CMAR and CMA opportunities, particularly within water and wastewater infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
• Lead pursuit strategy, proposal development, fee negotiations, shortlist interviews, and client presentations in partnership with ownership.
• Represent the organization through client meetings, industry events, association conferences, and direct outreach to key decision-makers and influencers.
• Leverage the company's self-perform capabilities, preconstruction expertise, financial strength, and project portfolio as competitive advantages.
• Establish best practices, tools, and processes for CMAR/CMA pursuits, preconstruction engagement, client communication, and project transition to operations.
• Collaborate closely with ownership, preconstruction, project management, and field leadership to ensure successful execution of awarded projects.

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree preferred but not required. Equivalent experience, market credibility, and a proven track record of winning work will be strongly considered.
• Proven experience pursuing, winning, and/or leading CMAR and CMA projects.
• Strong business development skills with the ability to create opportunities, build trusted relationships, and secure work in relationship-driven markets.
• Experience with water and wastewater treatment facilities, healthcare, education, municipal, or other public-sector projects is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of CMAR fee proposals, preconstruction services, budgeting, estimating, reimbursable structures, interview processes, and owner selection criteria.
• Comfortable serving as a visible market presence through networking, direct outreach, relationship-building, and industry involvement.
• Ability to establish credibility with owners, architects, engineers, and public-sector stakeholders.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build and scale a growing service line within an established organization.