DIRECTOR - CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Full Job Description

THE PORT OF LONG BEACH IS SEEKING A

DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

(This is an at-will position.

Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint of the salary range; however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization.)

Salary Range: $192,025.49 - $268,836.52

ABOUT US

The Port of Long Beach, one of the world's busiest seaports, serves as an international gateway for the reliable, efficient, and sustainable movement of goods and is a leader in environmental stewardship.

Credited with facilitating approximately $300 billion in trade, the Port serves as a vital hub for international commerce and is a major transportation hub.

East Asian trade accounts for the bulk of Long Beach shipments.

Port-related international trade has a significant economic impact, supporting millions of jobs that benefit both the region and the country as a whole.

THE TEAM

The Construction Management Division is one of six specialized divisions within the Engineering Services Bureau and plays a critical role in bringing the Port’s vision to life.

This team leads the delivery of construction projects on behalf of the Port, from large-scale capital improvements to fast-paced on-call task orders.

Construction Management professionals collaborate closely with contractors, consultants, and internal stakeholders to keep projects on schedule and within budget, while upholding the highest standards of quality, safety, and regulatory compliance.

By transforming plans and designs into real-world infrastructure, the division helps keep the Port operating efficiently, sustainably, and competitively on a global scale.

THE ROLE

Under the direction of the Chief Harbor Engineer within the Engineering Services Bureau, the Director of Construction Management provides strategic leadership for one of the Port’s most dynamic and impactful divisions. In this role, the Director oversees the successful delivery of all Port construction projects and ensures that complex infrastructure programs move seamlessly from construction to completion. The Director leads multidisciplinary teams responsible for construction project management, field inspection, materials testing, labor compliance and essential administrative support, setting high standards for quality, safety, accountability, and performance. Through close collaboration with internal partners, contractors, and stakeholders, the Director plays a pivotal role in delivering world-class infrastructure that supports the Port’s operational excellence, long-term growth, and global competitiveness.

CANDIDATE CONNECT (INFORMATION SESSION)

To learn more about this exciting career opportunity and the Port of Long Beach, please join our virtual information session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM PST via Microsoft Teams.

This is a unique opportunity to hear first-hand about the position, speak directly with hiring leaders, ask questions, and learn why the Port of Long Beach is your employer of choice!

Candidates are not required to be on camera. Click here to join the meeting. To join audio-only, call +1 323-451-1087. Phone Conference ID:289 085 500 #.

Please note that the PowerPoint presentationwill not be visible to participants joining the audio-only meeting.

Requirements

HOW YOU GET TO CONTRIBUTE:

• Lead, direct, and oversee the construction management of all large-scale capital improvement and maintenance projects performed by the Port.
• Provide the strategic direction for the Construction Management Division to align its services and mission with the overall mission of the organization.
• Provide management oversight of the construction project management, inspection, materials testing, labor compliance, and related administrative activities for the Port.
• Hire key personnel for Construction Management Division positions; train, coach, and mentor staff; evaluate employees.
• Direct and manage the Construction Management Division, including setting priorities and overseeing staff work schedules.
• Prepare the Division's annual personnel and non-personnel budgets.
• Establish, implement, and enforce the Division's policies and procedures.
• Direct the planning, supervising, and allocation of Construction Management Division resources.
• Direct and oversee the construction phase of large-scale Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) and programs, including the construction of major programs, such as wharf and backland terminal development, dredging and navigation improvements, buildings, railroads, roadways, bridges, and utilities.
• Review project scopes, budgets, schedules, cost estimates, and contract documents.
• Direct the administration of the Port’s Project Labor Agreements.
• Direct and oversee the administration of Construction Management consultant contracts.
• Direct employees who oversee the administration of on-call construction contracts.
• Direct, review, and prepare a variety of written correspondence, reports and procedures, including Board Memoranda and Bureau Notes; attend Board of Harbor Commissioners meetings, prepare and present briefings and presentations for the Board.
• Meet regularly with supervisory staff to provide technical guidance and to help resolve
• personnel, administrative, and construction issues.
• Attend pre- and post-construction meetings.
• Represent the Port and Construction Management Division at engineering professional functions
• Prepare and present technical presentations to professional associations as requested.
• Partner with local, state, and federal agencies to implement key infrastructure programs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:

Educational Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering is required, and qualified applicants must be a registered PE (professional engineer) in the State of California.

Experience Requirements:

• A minimum of 10 years of management experience in private or public sector construction management, along with a minimum of 5 years of direct supervisory experience, is required.
• Strong leadership/management experience, having served in a Senior Leadership role, in a complex, similarly situated organization with comparable challenges and structure, is expected.
• Familiarity with dredging, wharf, building, railroad, bridge, security, roadway, and utility projects, as well as the principles of sustainable development, is expected.
• Must have proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, Outlook, and other related applications.

DESIRABLE:

• A master's degree in engineering (preferably in Civil Engineering) or an advanced degree in coursework is desirable.
• Possession of the following professional certifications is favorable: Certified Construction Manager (CCM), Program or Project Management Professional (PgMP or PMP), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), or Envision Sustainability Professional (ENV SP).
• Knowledge of maritime, construction, government, and engineering terminology is a plus.
• Experience in contracting with and managing consultants is preferred.
• Experience in project management and/or technical design is desirable.
• Experience with program management software, such as Primavera Unifier, is desired.
• Prior Port, public transportation agency, or municipality experience is desired

You will need strong negotiation skills, political savvy, excellent client/customer relation skills, and exceptional public speaking/presentation skills to thrive.

You must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various employees, vendor representatives, officials, and Port management.

Additional Information

The final filing date for this recruitment is Friday, February 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.

To be considered for this opportunity, please submit your cover letter and resume as a single PDF with your application. Incomplete applications (without a cover letter and resume) will not be considered.

Individuals who are most qualified for the position will be invited to participate in the selection process, which may include a work-related assessment to further evaluate their qualifications.

First and second-round panel interviews are tentatively scheduled for the week of March 9, 2026 (virtual) and the week of March 16th, 2026 (in-person).

Candidates should ensure they are available on both dates. The successful candidate will be appointed shortly thereafter.

References will be completed for finalist candidates; an employment offer is contingent on conducting a comprehensive background check.

The Port reserves the right to extend the closing date without notice in order to accept additional applications. Those individuals determined to be most qualified for the position will be invited to participate in the selection process.

If you require accommodation because of a disability in order to participate in any phase of the application/selection process, please contact (562) 283-7500 or email Careers@polb.com.

The Port of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act.

You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer.

If the Port of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report.

Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act or https://www.longbeach.gov/hr/about-us/talent-acquisition/the-fair-chance-act/

THE BENEFITS:

The Port of Long Beach has established an annual salary range of $192,025.49 - $268,836.52 (Appointment to this position is expected to be at or below the midpoint of the salary range; however, the final amount will be carefully determined based on the candidate's knowledge, skills, qualifications, and an evaluation of internal equity within the organization).

An attractive package of executive-level benefits is also included, with the opportunity to work in one of the most diverse and dynamic areas of the United States.

The Port’s generous benefits package includes:

• Auto Allowance – $550.00 per month
• Executive Leave – 40 hours per year.
• Retirement – CalPERS 2% @ 62, coordinated with Social Security. Current member contributions are 8.00% for CalPERS and 6.2% for Social Security, paid by the employee.
• Pay for Performance – Pay for Performance is awarded based on employee performance as demonstrated through achievement of individual goals, demonstration of required competencies, and available budget funds.
• Deferred Compensation – The City contributes up to 5% of the base salary for all qualified members contributing to the 457(b) plan.
• Group Health Insurance – Medical and dental options (HMO and PPO). Free vision coverage.
• Life Insurance – City-paid life insurance policy of $20,000 plus executive insurance benefit equal to three times annual salary up to a maximum of $500,000.
• Disability Insurance – City-paid short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Vacation – Vacation is accrued at 3.7 hours per pay period to begin, which is equivalent to two weeks on an annual basis. Vacation can be used after six months of service.
• Sick Leave – Accrued at 8 hours per month. Accruals may be converted upon retirement into cash credits toward health and/or dental insurance premiums or retirement service credits.
• Paid Parental Leave – After six (6) months of City employment, the City pays up to 30 consecutive days (160 hours) for eligible employees to take paid time to bond with the child upon birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of 17.
• Holidays – 11 scheduled holidays per calendar year and four (4) personal holidays.
• Bereavement Leave – 5 days for the death or critical illness of an immediate family member.
• Education Reimbursement – Tuition reimbursement allows employees to obtain additional education or training.
• Annual Physical – Eligible to receive an annual physical examination at the city's expense through the city-provided program.
• Public Student Loan Forgiveness – As the Harbor Department of the City of Long Beach, a governmental agency, the Port of Long Beach is a qualifying employer for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

529 college savings plan – The ScholarShare529 plan is an account that allows employees to invest specifically for future education expenses through the Long Beach City Employees Federal Credit Union.

Funds can be used from your 529 savings plan to send your grandkids, kids, or even yourself to any accredited public or private U.S.

college or university, or two-year technical or vocational institution.

The Port of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

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