Operational Risk Manager Jobs in Dover, DE (NOW HIRING)

Take Your Construction Career to the Next Level! 

Kleinfelder, a Forbes' Top Employer for Engineers in North America, is committed to a people-first culture, technical excellence, and creating opportunities where employees can thrive!

Are you ready to be challenged, make a difference, and experience professional growth in your career? Kleinfelder's Construction Services team is looking for you! From construction management and observation/inspection services to laboratory testing and materials and forensic engineering, our Construction Services market helps to develop and maintain America's infrastructure and supply chain and is a recognized industry leader with more than 25 accredited laboratories.

Step into Your New Role 

Kleinfelder is seeking a highly qualified Operations Leader to manage the Delaware Construction Inspection Department. Our Construction Inspection Department delivers comprehensive construction management and inspection services for complex transportation infrastructure projects, including roadway and bridge construction inspection, utility coordination, contract administration, quality assurance, and compliance monitoring. We are seeking a Construction Inspection Department Manager to lead this dynamic practice and drive its continued growth and operational success.

In this role, you will have full responsibility for the Department's performance, overseeing profit and loss, operational management, business development, and client relationships. You will collaborate closely with marketing teams on proposal development, coordinate with public agencies, contractors, and teaming partners, oversee technical and field delivery, and ensure projects are executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with client standards and regulatory requirements. Equally important, you will build and lead a high-performing inspection team by attracting top talent and fostering a culture centered on quality, accountability, safety, and profitable growth.

The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience developing and managing construction inspection and construction management contracts with State DOTs, local municipalities, contractors, and teaming partners. This individual is a motivated, people-centered leader who fosters collaboration, demonstrates strong emotional intelligence, and communicates effectively with clients, contractors, agency personnel, and internal teams.

The successful candidate will also be a forward-thinking professional who understands evolving transportation construction practices, emerging technologies, and inspection methodologies, while establishing internal standards and best practices that support consistent, high-quality project delivery. This role is responsible for developing and executing long-term growth strategies, including one-, three- and five-year strategic plans that identify target markets, strategic clients, and operational priorities. By providing clear direction and strong leadership, the Construction Inspection Department Manager will guide the group from strategy through execution-ensuring the right personnel are assigned, the right opportunities are pursued, and client satisfaction, compliance, and project performance remain top priorities.

Specific Duties Include:

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the Construction Inspection Department across Delaware, guiding daily operations, staffing forecasts, resource allocation, and workload balancing to ensure strong project execution and financial performance.
• Plan, recruit, develop, and retain the talent necessary to support the department's technical, managerial, and supervisory needs, ensuring the team is positioned for sustained growth and successful project delivery.
• Lead the growth and expansion of the Construction Inspection practice through the pursuit and delivery of services including roadway and bridge construction inspection, utility inspection coordination, construction management, constructability reviews, maintenance of traffic oversight, ADA compliance verification and contractor coordination.
• Build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with existing clients to ensure the delivery of high-quality, compliant, and responsive inspection services and project documentation, while promoting repeat work, client satisfaction, and long-term partnerships.
• Establish, implement, and continuously improve inspection standards, processes, and procedures that promote consistency, quality assurance, safety compliance, risk management, and targeted profitability across construction inspection and construction management projects.
• Conduct regular portfolio and performance reviews of Construction Inspection projects, ensuring accountability for key financial and operational metrics including profitability, accounts receivable (AR), days sales outstanding (DSO), net revenue multiplier (NRM), work-in-progress (WIP), safety performance, and gross and net revenue goals.
• Ensure compliance with State DOT specifications, construction standards, contract requirements, safety regulations, and quality control procedures.
• Support business development efforts by identifying opportunities, participating in industry organizations, preparing proposals, attending client meetings, and maintaining strong relationships with transportation agencies, municipalities, and contractor partners.

Specific Skills / Experience / Education

• 10+ years of transportation construction inspection and construction management experience, or experience in project design and construction oversight, including leadership responsibilities.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or related field required.
• PE licenses are preferred; additional certifications such as CCM, or PMP construction certifications are a plus.
• Strong understanding of transportation construction practices, inspection procedures, contract administration, and DOT specifications.
• Excellent time management, organizational, and decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to lead, mentor, and grow high-performing teams.
• Solid understanding of financial management, budgeting, forecasting, and operational performance metrics.
• Professional demeanor appropriate to represent the company with clients, contractors, agencies, and industry organizations.
• Established professional relationships with key regional transportation clients, contractors, and teaming partners.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, retain, and develop top-tier technical and field personnel.
• Proven ability to successfully deliver results on complex and challenging transportation construction projects.

Following an offer, candidates will be required to satisfactorily complete employment reference checks, verification of professional licensure and/or educational credentials, a motor vehicle report (MVR), and a comprehensive background check.

Move Forward with Kleinfelder:Kleinfelder and its' subsidiaries and affiliates, has been connecting great people to the best work since 1961. We are engineers, scientists, and construction professionals providing solutions that improve our clients' transportation, water, energy, and other private infrastructure. As a responsive, cross-disciplinary team of bright, curious, and innovative problem-solvers, we are dedicated to doing the right thing, every day, on every project from over 110 offices in the US, Canada, and Australia.Connecting great people to the best work is our purpose - together, we deliver. 

Progress with an Employer that Values You 

Kleinfelder, and its' subsidiaries and affiliates, is an inclusive organization free from discrimination. We are a stronger organization when we are a diverse workforce and believe that through diversity, equity, and inclusion comes creativity, innovation, and unity. We are proud to offer the following: 

Benefits:Kleinfelder, and its' subsidiaries and affiliates, offers an excellent compensation and benefits package, including: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, and paid holidays. 

Career Development:We are committed to investing in the professional development of our staff, offering each employee every opportunity to grow, develop, and take control of their career paths. We support these efforts through reimbursements for continuing education as well as many of the expenses associated with trainings and certifications, and opportunities for career development through our internal Mentoring Program. 

Equal Opportunity:Kleinfelder, and its' subsidiaries and affiliates, is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minorities/Women/Disabled/Veterans. (Compliant with the new VEVRAA and Section 503 rules) 

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES 

Please note that Kleinfelder, and its' subsidiaries and affiliates, does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, Kleinfelder, and its' subsidiaries and affiliates, will not consider or agree to payment for any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, Kleinfelder, and its' subsidiaries and affiliates, explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resume, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Kleinfelder.