Senior Project Manager - CA

The Opportunity

The Senior Project Manager (Sr. PM) is the commercial and administrative leader for assigned California projects and is accountable for successful planning, execution, financial management, schedule performance, contract administration, risk management, and project closeout. The Sr. PM will lead complex telecommunications, fiber optic, underground utility, directional drilling, aerial, civil, and public works projects while partnering closely with Construction Managers and operational leadership to ensure field teams are properly planned, resourced, supported, and financially managed throughout the project lifecycle.

This role reports to the Senior Director of Operational Support and requires a leader who communicates early and proactively, exercises strong financial stewardship, protects GRC’s contractual interests, builds trusted customer relationships, and removes obstacles that prevent successful execution.

Responsibilities

• Own the overall commercial and financial performance of assigned projects, including budgets, forecasts, WIP, cash flow, profitability, billing support, cost control, labor productivity, and equipment utilization.
• Lead preconstruction and mobilization, including kickoff meetings, contract/drawing/specification/permit reviews, Project Execution Plans, staffing and resource planning, long-lead procurement, subcontract readiness, and risk identification.
• Develop the overall project execution strategy, baseline schedules, milestones, critical-path monitoring, production tracking, recovery plans, and resource coordination with Operations.
• Administer owner and subcontract requirements; manage RFxs, RFIs, submittals, change orders, contract deliverables, correspondence, documentation, and closeout while protecting GRC’s contractual interests.
• Serve as the primary commercial contact for customers and lead project progress communications; coordinate with utility owners, inspectors, permitting agencies, government agencies, Tribal agencies, subcontractors, and internal support teams.
• Identify and manage project risks, maintain mitigation and recovery plans, document extra work, escalate contractual or operational risks, and support dispute resolution when required.
• Coordinate purchasing, purchase orders, vendor performance, long-lead equipment, inventory planning, material availability, and equipment needs with Procurement and Fleet.
• Maintain accurate and current project records; review daily reports; prepare executive reporting; support as-built and turnover documentation; and ensure reporting accuracy and timeliness.
• Promote a company-wide safety culture by incorporating safety into project planning, supporting Construction Managers, participating in incident investigations and corrective actions, and verifying compliance with OSHA, Cal/OSHA, customer, and company requirements.
• Mentor Project Engineers and other project team members, support Construction Managers, conduct performance discussions, promote collaboration between Operations and Project Controls, and develop future leaders.
• Lead project closeout, including final invoicing, punch-list completion, contract closeout, turnover documentation, lessons learned, and customer acceptance.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated project management experience in telecommunications construction, underground utilities, fiber optics, directional drilling, aerial construction, civil construction, or comparable public works construction.
• Strong working knowledge of contract administration, project scheduling, estimating, procurement, budgeting, forecasting, cost control, construction financial management, and project management systems.
• Working knowledge of California public works requirements, Caltrans requirements, OSHA/Cal-OSHA regulations, permitting, and construction compliance.
• Proven ability to manage project budgets, schedules, change orders, customer commitments, subcontractors, documentation, and project risks across the full project lifecycle.
• Strong leadership, accountability, communication, organization, negotiation, problem-solving, and customer relationship skills.
• Ability to partner effectively with Construction Managers and cross-functional teams including Finance, Safety, Procurement, Fleet, Estimating, Contracts, and Operations.
• A valid driver’s license and ability to travel throughout the California Market as project needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading multiple or complex fiber, utility, or public works projects in California.
• Experience with baseline and recovery scheduling, critical-path management, WIP/forecasting, and executive project reporting.
• Experience working with utility owners, inspectors, permitting agencies, government or Tribal agencies, and telecommunications customers.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured through safe execution, gross margin and budget performance, forecast and WIP accuracy, schedule performance, change-order recovery, billing timeliness, customer…