Graduate Project Manager Jobs in Birmingham, AL (NOW HIRING)

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, and process scopes of work.

The Role We Want You For
The Preconstruction Integration Manager serves as the critical link between SEI’s Sales, Preconstruction, Operations, and Procurement teams, ensuring each function operates as part of a unified project delivery process. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining the processes, workflows, and coordination necessary to successfully transition projects from pursuit through execution.As SEI’s procurement and integration leader, the Preconstruction Integration Manager oversees subcontract negotiations, vendor relationships, purchase order management, and cross-functional handoffs while driving process consistency across the organization. Working closely with leadership and project teams, this position ensures procurement strategies, operational readiness, and communication remain aligned throughout every stage of the project lifecycle.

The Specifics of the Role

• Lead subcontract and vendor negotiations, including commercial terms, scope alignment, pricing, schedules of value, and contract execution.
  
• Manage the purchase order process for SEI projects, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely execution.
  
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key subcontractors and vendors to support current projects and future business opportunities.
  
• Define and manage procurement engagement timelines to ensure early involvement and minimize scope gaps or commercial risk.
  
• Maintain executed contract documentation while tracking outstanding commercial issues and coordinating their resolution.
  
• Manage subcontractor and supplier prequalification, including collection of financial, safety, and risk documentation in partnership with the Clayco Risk Department.
  
• Coordinate licensing and permitting requirements with the Sales team to support work across multiple states and jurisdictions.
  
• Participate in Sales-to-Preconstruction handoff meetings, ensuring required documentation and deliverables are complete before estimating begins.
  
• Coordinate the transition from Preconstruction to Operations by validating work packages, job numbers, approvals, and execution readiness.
  
• Participate in Go/No-Go reviews, project kickoff meetings, capacity planning discussions, and other cross-functional coordination meetings.
  
• Identify workflow gaps, approval bottlenecks, and coordination issues while partnering with leadership to implement effective solutions.
  
• Serve as the primary coordination resource between Sales, Preconstruction, Operations, Procurement, and external project partners.
  
• Develop and document standardized procurement processes, templates, timelines, escalation procedures, and decision gates to support SEI’s continued growth.
  
• Support ongoing development of handoff documentation and Department of Responsibility (DOR) processes to ensure procurement activities are integrated throughout the project lifecycle.
  
• Promote consistent utilization of procurement and project management tools, including BuildingConnected and other vendor management platforms.
  
• Maintain accountability for the role’s responsibilities within SEI RACI matrices and organizational workflows.
  
• Track process improvements, lessons learned, and workflow enhancements to continuously strengthen SEI’s procurement and preconstruction operating model.
  
• Prepare procurement status updates, coordination reports, and commercial risk summaries for SEI leadership.
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent graduate degree preferred.
  
• 3–7 years of experience in construction, engineering, or industrial project environments with direct involvement in procurement, subcontracting, or project coordination.
  
• Demonstrated experience negotiating subcontracts, managing purchase orders, and administering vendor agreements.
  
• Strong understanding of commercial terms, contract documentation, and procurement best practices.
  
• Experience collaborating across Sales, Preconstruction, Operations, and project teams to drive alignment and successful project execution.
  
• Proven ability to develop, document, and implement scalable business processes.
  
• Excellent organizational, written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
  
• Strong relationship management skills with internal stakeholders, vendors, and subcontractors.
  
• Experience utilizing procurement and project management software; familiarity with BuildingConnected or similar platforms is preferred.
  
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail in a fast-paced project environment.
  

Some Things You Should Know

• Our clients and projects are nationwide – travel will 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 projects.
  
• The pace is fast!
  
• 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.