Project Director

Uprite Construction is looking for an experienced Project Director to join our Irvine team. This person will provide leadership across complex commercial construction projects while supporting project teams, client relationships, financial performance, and overall project execution.

We are specifically looking for someone who has built their career working for a commercial general contractor and brings strong cold storage construction experience. The right person should understand the technical and operational challenges that come with temperature controlled facilities and be comfortable leading large projects and teams from preconstruction through completion.

What You’ll Do:

• Provide overall leadership for complex commercial construction projects from preconstruction through closeout

• Oversee Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, Project Engineers, Superintendents, and other project team members

• Lead ground up cold storage, temperature controlled, food and beverage, industrial, and related commercial projects

• Partner with Preconstruction on estimating, constructability, budgeting, procurement strategy, scheduling, and subcontractor selection

• Maintain executive level relationships with clients, architects, consultants, subcontractors, and project partners

• Oversee project financial performance including budgets, forecasts, cost reports, change management, owner billing, and overall profitability

• Review project schedules and work closely with field leadership to identify risks and keep projects moving

• Provide guidance on complex construction challenges involving refrigeration systems, insulated building envelopes, temperature controlled environments, specialized MEP systems, and cold storage operations

• Lead contract negotiations, subcontractor buyout, procurement, and major project decisions

• Identify project risks early and work with teams to develop practical solutions

• Ensure project teams maintain strong communication, documentation, quality, safety, and client service

• Mentor and develop Project Managers and other team members while helping establish clear expectations and accountability

• Support business development efforts, client relationships, pursuits, interviews, and repeat business opportunities

• Work closely with Uprite leadership on staffing, project strategy, operational planning, and company growth

What You'll Bring:

• 10 plus years of progressive commercial construction experience

• Experience working directly for a commercial general contractor is required

• Significant cold storage or temperature controlled construction experience is required

• Strong ground up construction background

• Experience leading large and technically complex commercial or industrial projects

• Proven experience overseeing multiple project teams or major projects simultaneously

• Strong understanding of project financials, forecasting, contracts, buyout, change management, scheduling, and risk management

• Experience working with refrigeration, insulated panels, temperature controlled building systems, food processing, distribution, or similar specialized facilities is highly preferred

• Ability to lead projects from early preconstruction and estimating through construction and final closeout

• Strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, design partners, and project stakeholders

• Proven ability to mentor and develop Project Managers and project teams

• Strong communication, leadership, problem solving, and decision making skills

• Procore, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, and construction scheduling software experience preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field preferred

The Background We’re Targeting

This is not intended for someone whose experience has primarily been on the owner side, developer side, construction management consulting side, or with a specialty subcontractor. We are looking for someone who understands how a commercial general contractor operates and has personally been responsible for delivering projects, managing project financials, leading teams, coordinating subcontractors, and maintaining client relationships.

Cold storage experience is an important part of this position. Candidates should be able to speak specifically about the cold storage projects they have delivered, their personal level of responsibility, project size and value, refrigeration and temperature controlled systems involved, and the challenges they encountered during construction.

Third Party Agency Notice

Uprite Construction Corporation generally does not utilize third party recruiting agencies. Any agency involvement must be initiated and approved through Uprite Talent Acquisition and follow our established internal process. Unsolicited resumes or candidate information submitted outside of this process will not establish an agency relationship or fee obligation.