Afflatus

Position: Buried Utilities Project Manager

Location: New Kensington, PA

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Buried Utilities Project Manager with strong expertise in buried utilities, heavy civil construction, preconstruction, estimating, and project development. The role will lead project opportunities from conceptual planning and estimating through execution strategy and handover to operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead preconstruction and project development for buried utility/heavy civil projects.
• Develop conceptual budgets, schedules, execution plans, and construction strategies.
• Review drawings, specifications, site conditions, utility routes, and constructability risks.
• Evaluate trenching, horizontal boring, plowing, conduit installation, earthwork, and utility relocation methods.
• Support estimating, proposals, bids, and client/owner presentations.
• Coordinate with owners, developers, engineers, estimators, subcontractors, and operations teams.
• Assess permitting, easements, right-of-way, utility conflicts, and project risks.
• Support resource planning, sequencing, scheduling, and transition from preconstruction to field execution.
• Identify new market opportunities within buried utilities and heavy civil construction.

Key Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in heavy civil, buried utilities, infrastructure, preconstruction, estimating, or project development.
• Strong practical knowledge of:
• Trenching & excavation
• Horizontal boring
• Plowing & conduit installation
• Utility relocations/conflicts
• Earthwork & site development
• Experience in constructability reviews, means & methods, conceptual budgeting, scheduling, risk analysis, and proposal development.
• Strong understanding of utility permitting, easements, ROW, route planning, and utility coordination.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• PA/OH/WV market experience preferred.

Preferred Tools

HCSS HeavyBid, HCSS HeavyJob, Bluebeam, Advanced Excel, Microsoft Office, and construction scheduling software.

Ideal Candidate

Candidates with a strong combination of Buried Utilities + Heavy Civil + Preconstruction + Project Development are preferred. Candidates focused primarily on traditional project administration or general commercial construction may be less aligned.