Contractual Government Construction Contractor Jobs

Project Manager – Lead Federal Construction Projects from Award Through Closeout

Job Overview

Company: ONeill Contractors Inc.

Salary/Pay Rate: $100,000 to $130,000+ per year, based on experience.

Location: Chicago, IL.

Job/Employment Type: Full Time.

Project Scope: Government and Federal Construction.

Mandatory Licenses & Certifications: OSHA 30, EM 385-1-1 40-Hour Safety Training, and U.S.A.C.E./NAVFAC Construction Quality Management for Contractors.

The Opportunity

You will serve as the primary project delivery leader for high-impact federal construction projects, owning the project from award transfer through substantial completion, final acceptance, and financial closeout. This role is responsible for integrating office operations, field execution, subcontractor coordination, financial controls, government compliance, and client communication into one disciplined execution plan.

As Project Manager, you will work in close daily partnership with the Superintendent, who leads field execution, while you own the contract, budget, schedule, change management, client communication, and project documentation. Together, both roles are accountable for delivering safe, high-quality federal projects that reflect ONeill Contractors’ BUILT TO SERVE mission.

How You Will Make an Impact

• Own assigned federal construction projects from award transfer through mobilization, execution, closeout, and financial completion.
• Lead project planning, including bid assumption review, scope alignment, baseline schedule development, subcontracting strategy, logistics, safety, quality, and communication protocols.
• Develop and submit key pre-award and mobilization deliverables, including the Submittal Register, Schedule of Values, Baseline Schedule, Accident Prevention Plan, and Quality Control Plan.
• Manage project budgets, cost forecasts, monthly financial reporting, pay applications, subcontractor billing, and gross profit protection.
• Maintain the project schedule as the single source of truth, including CPM schedules, monthly updates, three-week look-aheads, delay analysis, and recovery plans.
• Lead subcontractor and supplier management, including buyout, contract administration, performance management, payment review, dispute resolution, and closeout.
• Manage change orders, Requests for Equitable Adjustment, pricing, documentation, negotiation support, and change tracking.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for the Contracting Officer, COR, government stakeholders, design partners, subcontractors, and internal leadership.
• Coordinate with the Superintendent to align office planning with field execution, jobsite logistics, subcontractor coordination, safety, quality, and punch list completion.
• Own project documentation, including RFIs, submittals, meeting minutes, daily report review, correspondence, monthly project reports, and closeout records.
• Support quality and safety systems by ensuring the Quality Control Plan and Accident Prevention Plan are complete, compliant, and actively maintained.
• Ensure federal compliance requirements are met, including FAR/DFARS flow-downs, Davis-Bacon certified payrolls, Buy American documentation, small business reporting, and federal records retention.
• Drive project closeout, including as-builts, O&M manuals, warranties, final pay applications, inspections, retention release, and lessons learned.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of project management experience in commercial, government, or federal construction.
• Demonstrated experience managing full project lifecycles from award or preconstruction handoff through closeout.
• Strong understanding of federal construction requirements, documentation standards, schedules, change orders, and compliance expectations.
• Experience managing project budgets, cost forecasts, pay applications, subcontractor billing, and financial reporting.
• Ability to develop, maintain, and manage CPM schedules using Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or equivalent scheduling software.
• Experience working directly with Superintendents, subcontractors, government clients, Contracting Officers, CORs, design teams, and internal leadership.
• Ability to manage RFIs, submittals, meeting minutes, change logs, closeout documents, and project correspondence with accuracy and discipline.
• Strong working knowledge of federal safety and quality requirements, including EM 385-1-1, USACE/NAVFAC quality systems, Accident Prevention Plans, and Quality Control Plans.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office and construction management platforms such as Procore, PlanGrid, Smartsheet, or similar systems.
• Strong communication, leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to anticipate risk, escalate issues with proposed solutions, and maintain accountability for project outcomes.

Mandatory Licenses & Certifications

• OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety Certification.
• EM 385-1-1 40-Hour Safety Training.
• U.S.A.C.E./NAVFAC Construction Quality Management for Contractors certification.
• Current First Aid, CPR, and AED certification.
• Primavera P6 scheduling training or demonstrated proficiency.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Project Management Professional certification preferred.
• Certified Construction Manager credential preferred.
• Experience managing federal projects involving FAR, DFARS, Davis-Bacon, Buy American, certified payrolls, WAWF/iRAPT, PIEE, SAM.gov, and CPARS.
• Experience preparing Requests for Equitable Adjustment, time impact analyses, delay documentation, claims support, and change order negotiations.
• Experience mentoring Assistant Project Managers, Project Engineers, Project Coordinators, or junior project staff.
• HAZWOPER 40-Hour Certification, where required by project scope.
• Experience supporting superior CPARS outcomes through disciplined documentation, communication, and project execution.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary with weekly pay cycles.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• 401(k) retirement savings program with employer matching.
• Generous Paid Time Off, including holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Two paid volunteer days per year through the Employee Volunteer Program.
• Gym memberships and company-wide social events.
• Access to ONeill’s proprietary Center for Excellence for advanced technical, leadership, and federal construction training.

About Us

ONeill Contractors Inc. is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business specializing in federal construction. We are dedicated to delivering high-quality government projects while investing in our people, our communities, and our mission-driven culture.

Through our BUILT TO SERVE mission and employee development programs, we empower our teams to lead with accountability, service, and excellence on every project.

Learn more at www.ONeillContractors.com.

ONeill Contractors Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender expression, sexual orientation, parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or any other status protected by law or regulations. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.