Director of Construction; Custom Builder

Job Description

Peter Johnson Builders

Director of Construction (Custom Home Builder)

"This is an on-site/field-based position in Charlottesville, Virginia. Candidates must be able to commute to project sites in the Charlottesville area daily."

Peter Johnson Builders | Charlottesville, Virginia | Full time, in person

Peter Johnson Builders is seeking an experienced Director of Operations to lead our construction team and oversee the successful delivery of high-end custom homes and remodels throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

As a second-generation builder established around 1980, we take pride in thoughtful construction, lasting relationships, and exceptional craftsmanship. Our projects typically range from $300,000 to $5 million, and our clients count on us for clear communication, careful financial management, and dependable execution.

Reporting directly to the Owner, you will lead our Project Coordinators and Superintendents and work closely with our CFO. This is a hands-on leadership position with regular involvement in the office and on project sites. You will have a meaningful role in developing our people, improving our systems, and shaping how PJB operates as we grow.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing the team:
  Establish clear priorities, coach staff, provide training, manage workloads, and hold people accountable with professionalism and respect.
• Overseeing project delivery:
  Guide projects from the estimating handoff through closeout, coordinating schedules, staffing, subcontractors, selections, procurement, and inspections.
• Managing project financial performance:
  Review budgets, committed costs, and cost-to-complete forecasts; identify risks early and implement corrective action.
• Controlling scope and change orders:
  Ensure changes are documented, accurately priced, communicated, and approved promptly.
• Coordinating billing and payment follow-through:
  Ensure accurate, timely billing packages and work with the CFO, clients, and architects to resolve questions and outstanding payments.
• Strengthening client relationships:
  Support consistent project communication and take ownership of resolving challenging situations.
• Maintaining quality and safety:
  Visit projects regularly, support field leadership, and oversee workmanship, site standards, punch lists, and closeout.
• Improving operations:
  Maintain reliable information in Buildertrend, report project performance to the Owner, and implement practical systems and automation that improve efficiency.

We are looking for someone with:

• Proven experience managing multiple high-end residential construction projects and leading construction teams.
• Strong knowledge of construction methods, sequencing, plans, subcontractor coordination, and quality standards.
• A solid understanding of job costing, project margins, change orders, and fixed-price and cost-plus billing.
• Clear communication skills and sound judgment when working with homeowners, architects, employees, and trade partners.
• Strong organizational skills, personal accountability, and a consistent record of following through.
• Experience with construction management software and spreadsheets. Buildertrend experience is strongly preferred; familiarity with Bluebeam and Microsoft Project is valuable.

You will be joining an established local company where your leadership will directly influence our team's success, our clients' experience, and the quality of the homes we build.

Compensation:

• $130,000 - $150,000 per year, based on experience.
• Medical 100%
• PTO
• Company Vehicle
• 401k