Manager Commercial Operations Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

About the Company

A leading commercial construction contractor specializing in large-scale interior finishes. With decades of experience delivering quality work across healthcare, education, hospitality, and corporate sectors, we pride ourselves on safety, craftsmanship, and developing our people. Join a team where your expertise drives real results..

Position Summary

The Manager, Commercial Drywall and Framing - Department Head is the senior leader responsible for the overall performance, profitability, safety, and quality of DWS Drywall's commercial drywall and framing department. Reporting directly to the Vice President / Owner, this role oversees Commercial Supervisors, Foremen, and field crews across multiple concurrent commercial projects.

The ideal candidate has come up through the trade, understands how commercial jobs truly run in the field, and brings the management skills to plan manpower, control costs, develop supervisors, and represent DWS Drywall to general contractors, architects, and owners. This is a department-head role - it owns the P&L, the people, and the outcome.

Key Responsibilities

Department Leadership

• Own overall department performance: revenue, gross margin, schedule, safety, and quality.

• Lead, coach, and develop Commercial Supervisors, Foremen, and field crews; set clear expectations and hold direct reports accountable.

• Establish and maintain department standards and SOPs for framing, hanging, finishing, and related scopes.

• Partner with ownership to set annual department goals, budgets, and growth plans.

Project & Operations Management

• Oversee multiple concurrent commercial projects, ensuring each is properly manned, sequenced, and supplied.

• Review schedules, manpower loading, and production rates; proactively resolve conflicts across job sites.

• Monitor weekly job cost reports; intervene early on labor, material, or productivity variances.

• Approve material orders, equipment needs, subcontractor usage, and change orders within authority.

• Walk job sites regularly to verify installation quality, safety compliance, and adherence to plans and specifications.

Estimating, Bidding & Pre-Construction

• Partner with estimating on bid strategy, scope reviews, and risk assessment for commercial drywall and framing opportunities.

• Review takeoffs, labor assumptions, and production rates to ensure bids are accurate and competitive.

• Participate in pre-construction meetings with GCs, architects, and owners; identify constructability issues and value-engineering opportunities.

• Ensure a clean handoff from estimating to operations so field leadership starts each job with a clear budget, schedule, and scope.

Client & General Contractor Relationships

• Serve as the senior point of contact for general contractors, construction managers, and key owners on commercial projects.

• Attend OAC/owner meetings, pre-construction meetings, and critical project milestones as needed.

• Resolve escalated field, schedule, and contract issues in a way that protects both the relationship and DWS Drywall's interests.

• Represent DWS Drywall in the local commercial construction community and help build the company's reputation and pipeline.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a safety-first culture and ensure full compliance with OSHA and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

• Verify that supervisors enforce PPE use, fall protection, housekeeping, and task-specific safety plans on every job site.

• Establish and enforce quality standards consistent with contract documents, manufacturer specifications, and industry best practices (AWCI levels of finish, fire-rated assemblies, etc.).

• Lead root-cause reviews of incidents, near-misses, rework, and warranty callbacks and drive lasting corrective actions.

Financial & Business Management

• Own department P&L: revenue, labor, materials, equipment, and overhead allocations.

• Review and approve weekly labor, material, and subcontractor costs against project budgets.

• Forecast revenue, backlog, and manpower on a rolling basis and communicate risks to ownership early.

• Drive continuous improvement in productivity, waste reduction, and project delivery.

People & Workforce Development

• Partner with HR to recruit, hire, and retain supervisors, foremen, and skilled tradespeople.

• Conduct regular performance reviews, coaching conversations, and development planning for direct reports.

• Build a positive, respectful, and accountable culture across the department - office and field.

• Identify and promote rising talent into supervisory and leadership roles.

Qualifications Required

• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in commercial drywall and metal stud framing, including both field and leadership roles.

• At least 5 years leading multiple commercial projects and supervising supervisors/foremen simultaneously.

• Deep working knowledge of commercial drywall scopes: metal stud framing, drywall hanging, finishing (Level 0-5), ACT coordination, fire-rated and acoustical assemblies, shaft walls, and exterior sheathing.

• Strong ability to read and interpret architectural and structural drawings, specifications, RFIs, and submittals.

• Proven ability to manage department-level P&L, manpower planning, and job cost performance.

• Demonstrated success managing relationships with general contractors, construction managers, architects, and owners.

• Working knowledge of OSHA 30 requirements, jobsite safety programs, and quality standards (AWCI levels of finish).

• Proficient with construction management and office software (e.g., Procore, Bluebeam, MS Project, Excel, Outlook).

• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record; able to travel to local job sites daily as needed.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field - or equivalent trade and leadership experience.

• Prior experience as a Department Head, Operations Manager, or General Superintendent with a commercial interior/drywall contractor.

• OSHA 30, First Aid/CPR, and other relevant safety certifications.

• Bilingual English/Spanish communication skills.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This is an on-site role based out of headquarters with regular visits to active commercial job sites. Candidates must be comfortable working in active construction environments - exposure to dust, noise, varying temperatures, and uneven terrain. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required and provided. The role requires the ability to climb ladders and stairs, navigate scaffolding, and stand or walk for extended periods during site visits. Local travel to multiple job sites within the region is expected