Construction Manager

Full Job Description

The City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities are looking for driven and experienced Construction Managers to join our team!

In this pivotal role, you'll ensure that our vital infrastructure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. This position is distinguished by its leadership responsibilities, including the potential to supervise Associate Construction Managers, Construction Inspectors, and Survey crews. You will be instrumental in ensuring strict adherence to contract documents and all Federal, State, and City ordinances and regulations. If you are a proactive leader with a proven track record in construction management and a commitment to public service, we encourage you to apply!

Vacancies may occur within the following departments:

• Public Works
• Tacoma Water
• Environmental Services

Key Responsibilities:

Public Works:

The Public Works Engineering Division is seeking Construction Managers to help deliver complex, high-value capital improvement projects that support the City’s infrastructure and community needs.

Managers work across a wide range of municipal systems—including roadways, bridges, sidewalks, trails, facilities, wastewater, and surface water infrastructure—while partnering closely with Environmental Services, Tacoma Public Utilities, and other City teams to guide projects from construction through completion.

Environmental Services:

The Construction Manager will play an important role in the Capital Delivery Group of the Environmental Services Science and Engineering (ESSE) Division.

The CM will collaborate and coordinate with the group’s project engineers and Inspectors on the team’s construction management of capital improvement projects for the City’s Wastewater, Stormwater, and Solid Waste Utilities (approximately average annual Capital improvement budget of $30 Million).ESSE offers a large diversity of construction projects, including wastewater treatment plant facilities, pump stations, storm water facilities, collection system replacements, green stormwater infrastructure, and various building upgrades.

Tacoma Water:

Tacoma Water is seeking a skilled and motivated Construction Manager to support a diverse portfolio of complex Capital Improvement Projects and private development initiatives.

These efforts are critical to ensuring the long-term safety, reliability, and performance of the region’s potable water infrastructure.

This position provides the opportunity to work across a broad service area, including Tacoma, Pierce and King Counties, Federal Way, and Puyallup, while supporting key system interconnections with Auburn, Bonney Lake, Black Diamond, and Covington.

The Construction Manager is responsible for overseeing water system construction activities, including supply and distribution pipelines, water quality facilities, and other critical infrastructure serving residential, commercial, and medical customers.

This role ensures that all construction practices adhere to American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards for potable water main installation, as well as applicable state and local regulations and internal policies.

This position plays a key role in maintaining a high-performing and dependable water distribution system that supports public health, fire protection, and water quality preservation.

The Construction Manager will provide oversight on a wide range of construction and installation projects, including water and electrical systems, streets, and related facilities, ensuring that projects are delivered within scope, on schedule, and within budget.

Responsibilities also include managing and coordinating all aspects of contract administration for City projects, including but not limited to prevailing wage compliance, review and approval of subcontracting requests, and tracking and documentation of working days.

The Construction Manager serves as a central point of coordination and communication between internal teams, contractors, developers, and customers, ensuring alignment, responsiveness, and successful project delivery.

Responsibilities Include:

• Provide construction management on a variety of construction and installation projects and ensuring that projects are constructed within the scope of the project, on schedule, and within budget
• Supervise capital construction inspection staff, and coordinate all project construction related needs.
• Ensure that City projects are constructed in conformance with contract documents, Federal, State and City ordinances and regulations
• Assist in the evaluation of the bid proposals and provide recommendation for award
• Prepare agenda and conduct Pre-Construction Meetings and weekly progress meetings
• Responsible for facilitating the review of Shop Drawings/Submittals including the contractor's Construction Schedule and subsequent look ahead schedules
• Responsible for all construction related correspondence in accordance with department policies
• Responsible for tracking, coordinating, negotiating changes to the vendor contract(s) and creating/estimating contract Change Orders
• Responsible for project communications between Contractor, Inspector, Engineer and other project specific stakeholders
• Oversee and coordinate all aspects of Contract Administration requirements on City projects, including but not limited to Prevailing Wage documentation, Request to Sublet Work, Retainage, and Statement of Working Days
• Review monthly progress payments submitted by the Inspector and ensure that progress payments are paid within 30 days of the City established payment cutoff date
• Provide oversight of construction budget and schedule including risk review and forecasting
• Prepare for, coordinate, and participate in all federal, state, and City audits.
• Assist in the training of inspection and administrative staff in Construction Management
• Assist in the defense of claims for damages, claims/lawsuits filed against the City

Requirements

An equivalent combination to:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent AND one of the following:
  • 10 years in construction management serving in the capacity as a project engineer or construction manager or 12 years as a construction inspector with increasingly responsible construction management experience; OR
  • Associates Degree in Construction Management (or equivalent) with 8 years' experience in construction management or equivalent serving in the capacity as a project engineer, construction manager or 10 years as a construction inspector; OR
  • Bachelor of Science in Construction Management or equivalent and 6 years of experience in construction management

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Certified Construction Manager through Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) or equivalent, Professional Engineering license from Washington State, or certification from the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA) is desirable but not required.

Valid Washington State driver's license at time of appointment and maintenance thereafter.

Qualifications

• Construction specifications and plans.
• Regulations related to municipality construction projects
• Basic principles and practices of engineering.
• Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures.
• State and local codes as applied to safety and protection of public rights-of-way.
• Record-keeping techniques.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Learn to interpret, apply and explain codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Oral and written communications skills.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.
• Operate a motor vehicle.
• Computer software equivalent to MSWord, MS Excel, MS Access, and a scheduling/estimating program.
• Basic math including geometry and trigonometry.

Additional Information

A Commitment to Equity & Diversity

At the City of Tacoma, we're on a mission to make our workforce as diverse and inclusive as the community we serve. We actively seek out candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

Join our team at the City of Tacoma and help us build a more vibrant, inclusive, and equitable community for all.

If you have a less traditional background, we want to hear about your transferrable skills and experience. We value a variety of perspectives and are excited to see what you bring to the table.

The Community

Tacoma is centrally located just 32 miles south of the city of Seattle and 31 miles north of the state capital, Olympia.

The City of Tacoma is also home to the Port of Tacoma, which is among the largest container ports in the United States.

Like most cities in the northwest, Tacoma is surrounded by beautiful nature, offering residents many opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Largely suburban in nature with a small, but dense, urban core, Tacoma is home to numerous institutes of higher learning that attract students from across the country.

The University of Washington Tacoma, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, a satellite campus of the Evergreen State College, three community/technical colleges, and several trade and business schools are within Tacoma's geographic area.

Downtown's Cultural District is the site of the Washington State History Museum, Museum of Glass, the Tacoma Art Museum, and America's Car Museum.

With its affordable housing and distinctive neighborhoods and business districts, the city has been recognized numerous times as a best city to live in the nation. To see a few of the great things Tacoma has to offer, view this YouTube Video!

View this exciting video to learn more about the City of Tacoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5MWl8KFvl

Apply
All interested individuals should apply online and attach a detailed resume that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position. Cover letter is optional.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will have their responses to the supplemental questions scored. Applicants must receive a passing score to be placed on the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration. Applicants whose experience and training most closely reflect the needs of the department may be invited to participate in an interview.

Appointment is subject to passing a background check and a pre-employment medical exam and drug screen. This position is covered by a Labor Agreement between the City of Tacoma and the Local 17. New employees must successfully complete a nine-month probationary period prior to obtaining permanent status in this classification.

Get Assistance

For assistance with the application process or questions regarding this job announcement please contact the Human Resources office at (253) 591-5400 by 4:00 p.m. of the closing date of the job announcement.

For technical difficulties using the Neogov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. This will allow us to assist you before the job announcement closes.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay Details:

Hourly Rate: $55.85 - $71.28

Annual Salary: $116,168.00 - $148,262.40

Employee Benefits | City of Tacoma