Project Executive

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

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 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.

• 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.
• Support business development, market expansion, and project pursuit strategies, including presentations, negotiations, contract development, and participation in industry conferences, networking events, and professional functions.
• 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 efforts.
• 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.

• 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 success leading operational teams and overseeing financial performance, strategic growth, and client development initiatives.
• Advanced understanding of construction operations, project delivery methods, project finance, risk management, and organizational leadership.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with strong presentation and negotiation abilities.
• Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with clients, consultants, subcontractors, regulatory agencies, executive leadership, and project teams.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong, long-term professional and client relationships.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams and driving operational performance.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational, and decision-making capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines within a fast-paced construction environment.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve complex operational, contractual, and project-related challenges.
• Strong leadership presence with a high level of integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
• Proven experience mentoring, coaching, and developing operational leaders and project teams.
• Advanced knowledge of construction processes, means and methods, and regulatory requirements applicable to project locations.
• Extensive experience with multiple construction delivery methods, including:
  • Design-Bid-Build
  • Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR)
  • Design-Build
• Ability to interpret and analyze civil, mechanical, electrical, and structural drawings, technical specifications, and contract documents.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to anticipate…