Apprentice Project Manager Jobs in Birmingham, AL

About Us:

Clayco is a full-service, turnkey real estate development, master planning, architecture, engineering, and construction firm that safely delivers clients across North America the highest quality solutions on time, on budget, and above and beyond expectations.With $8.1 billion in revenue for 2025, Clayco specializes in the “art and science of building,” providing fast-track, efficient solutions for mission critical, industrial, life sciences, power & energy, aviation, commercial, institutional, residential, and sports & entertainment related building projects.

About Clayco Systems and Equipment Innovations
As part of our integrated service offerings, Clayco's Systems and Equipment Innovations (SEI) offers a turnkey solution to execute complex building systems and process systems. Clayco SEI provides preconstruction, design, purchasing, and installation of mechanical, electrical, process, and industrial piping scopes of work.

The Role We Want You For

The Senior Process Piping Superintendent is SEI's field leader for complex industrial piping construction, responsible for directing multiple concurrent projects while delivering exceptional safety, quality, productivity, and schedule performance. This role combines extensive technical expertise in industrial process piping systems with proven leadership to ensure projects are executed efficiently from planning through completion.Working closely with project management, engineering, quality, and field teams, the Senior Process Piping Superintendent develops executable work plans, drives labor productivity, oversees field operations, and mentors the next generation of field leaders. This individual serves as a trusted technical resource while maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship, safety, and operational excellence across every project.

The Specifics of the Role

• Lead multiple concurrent industrial process piping projects across various work fronts and project sites.
  
• Direct all field installation activities including fabrication tie-ins, piping supports, welding, testing, and system turnover.
  
• Ensure all work is performed safely and in accordance with contract documents, specifications, applicable codes, and company standards.
  
• Supervise foremen, welders, pipefitters, rigging crews, and subcontractors to achieve project objectives.
  
• Develop and maintain detailed construction schedules in coordination with project management and client milestones.
  
• Break work into measurable work packages that align labor resources, equipment, and material availability.
  
• Participate in baseline schedule development while proactively identifying critical path impacts and field constraints.
  
• Monitor installed quantities and work-in-place (WIP) to measure project progress and production performance.
  
• Track labor productivity through earned-versus-actual hour analysis and implement corrective actions when necessary.
  
• Identify opportunities to improve fabrication efficiency, material flow, field installation, and overall project execution.
  
• Partner with project management and estimating teams to develop detailed change order scopes and supporting documentation.
  
• Validate field conditions, quantify scope changes, and support pricing through labor analysis and material takeoffs.
  
• Ensure all change work is properly documented, executed, and captured for revenue recovery.
  
• Maintain strict adherence to OSHA regulations, company safety programs, and SEI's commitment to a zero-incident culture.
  
• Partner with QA/QC personnel to maintain weld quality, inspection readiness, documentation, and code compliance.
  
• Serve as the field authority for welding procedures, fit-up standards, hydrostatic testing, nondestructive examination (NDE), and inspection requirements.
  
• Mentor foremen, superintendents, apprentices, and skilled craft professionals to develop future field leadership.
  
• Foster a culture focused on accountability, craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
  
• Identify high-potential employees and actively support workforce development and succession planning.
  
• Communicate effectively with clients, project leadership, engineering teams, subcontractors, and field personnel to ensure alignment throughout project execution.
  

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role is measured by the ability to consistently deliver safe, high-quality industrial piping projects while developing strong field teams and driving operational excellence. The Senior Process Piping Superintendent is expected to:

• Successfully deliver multiple concurrent piping projects while consistently achieving schedule milestones and production targets.
  
• Improve crew productivity and labor efficiency through proactive planning, measurable production tracking, and effective field leadership.
  
• Deliver high-quality piping installations and welding execution with minimal rework while maintaining compliance with applicable codes, specifications, and quality standards.
  
• Identify, document, and execute change order opportunities that protect project revenue and support accurate project forecasting.
  
• Build and develop high-performing field teams by mentoring foremen, superintendents, apprentices, and skilled craft professionals.
  
• Promote a culture centered on safety, accountability, craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and operational excellence across every project.
  
• Maintain strong collaboration with project management, engineering, quality, and client teams to ensure successful project execution from planning through completion.
  

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; technical education or Construction Management coursework preferred.
  
• 12–20+ years of progressive experience in industrial process piping construction within industrial, power, petrochemical, semiconductor, or heavy industrial environments.
  
• Minimum of 5 years of experience serving as a Piping Superintendent or equivalent field leadership role overseeing large crews and complex project scopes.
  
• OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Certification required.
  
• Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) certification through the American Welding Society (AWS) preferred.
  
• Strong working knowledge of ASME B31.1 and/or ASME B31.3 piping codes.
  
• Experience coordinating hydrostatic testing, nondestructive examination (NDE), weld documentation, and quality compliance.
  
• NCCER certification or equivalent craft training preferred.
  
• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, isometric drawings, fabrication spool drawings, and construction specifications.
  
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and field decision-making skills.
  
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining schedule, quality, and production objectives.
  

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – travel and/or temporary relocation may be required.
  
• No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco and SEI do.
  
• We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile industrial projects.
  
• The pace is fast!
  
• This position requires frequent work in active industrial environments, including refineries, manufacturing facilities, power plants, and heavy construction sites.
  
• Candidates must be able to walk jobsites daily, climb ladders, work at elevation, and safely navigate active construction environments.
  
• This position is classified as a safety-sensitive role in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. Candidates selected for this position will be subject to a comprehensive background check, including mandatory drug testing.
  

Why Clayco?

• 2025 Best Places to Work – St.?Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal.
  
• 2025 ENR Top 400 – Top Data Center Contractor (Top 3).
  
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Design-Build Firms – Design-Build Contractor (Top 5).
  
• 2025 ENR Top 100 Green Contractors – Green Contractor (Top 3).
  

Benefits

• Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
  
• Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning and development programs, and more!
  

Compensation

• The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.