Assistant Project Manager

California Waters is one of Orange County’s fastest growing Engineering and Specialty Construction firms specializing in commercial recreational aquatic design and construction. Applicants for this position shall possess a learning mindset and eagerness to grow in a supervisory construction capacity overseeing one of the following trades: aquatics to include water features, mechanical or industrial plumbing systems or other similar trades. The candidate should have a good understanding in survey, earthwork, structure reinforcement, concrete, shotcrete, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, waterproofing and the installation of various architectural finishes.

• • ESSENTIAL DUTIES WILL LIKELY INCLUDE

Within the first 30 days:

• • • • Learns California Water’s internal departments, mission, purpose, current markets, business processes, design standards, build and maintenance processes.
      • Completes Cal Osha 10 Training (if such training has not already been completed).
      • Completes CPR/First Aid Training (if such training has not been completed in the past two years).
      • Partners with the President/Project Management Teams to become familiar with our internal construction processes, work we self-perform versus work we subcontract.
      • Introduces himself/herself and starts to build a relationship with the Subcontractors we typically work with on every project.
      • Learns and abides by our Company’s Quality Control Construction Guidelines.
      • Shadows a Project Manager for the first 30 days on their projects in order to learn our Project Management pre-construction/construction/close-out processes.
      • Meets and develop rapport with: Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, Project Superintendents, Construction Personnel, Accounting, Purchasing, Warehouse, Engineering, Estimating and Service departments.
      • Visits each jobsite on a weekly/monthly basis to inspect the work performed to date, become familiar with the projects, tradesman and their capabilities.
      • Learns to effectively use programs including MS Outlook, Word, Teams, Excel, Fieldwire, Foundationsoft, and adobe.
      • Learns how to enter a budget, change order, and purchase request into Foundationsoft, our Accounting and Project Management system.
      • Learns our internal cost coding process and how to run job cost reports, change order reports per project, and be able to navigate the PM job center.
      • Learns how to set up a new job in Fieldwire, update plans, RFI’s, project schedule, etc.
      • Learns our submittal process and can put together submittal packages for public work projects, private projects both designed and design-build.Learns our RFI process.

By 90 days and ongoing: 

• • • Oversee 2 or more new projects from the pre-construction kick off meeting.
      By 90 days, has successfully began (1) new project and has closed out (1) existing project.
    • Can complete the procurement process in an orderly manner per the processes and standards set by the Company.
    • Can put together a project schedule understanding the scope of work, time frames to complete the work and the critical path of the work to be performed.
    • Can review/mark-up scope of works/exclusions on contracts.
    • Can create a schedule of values.
    • Can identify long lead procurement items and understand how they might affect the construction schedule.
    • Can perform take-offs to include rough-in plumbing, equipment, equipment room mechanical, rebar, white goods, light fixtures, etc.
    • Gather multiple subcontract bids for review/approval on each project.
    • Can set up new subcontract agreements / SPO’s for various trades per the Company’s standard processes.
    • Meets once a month with Leadership to review/discuss last month’s project financials (job costing), WIP, KPI’s, change orders, subcontractor/vendor issues/constraints, RFI’s affecting the project.
    • Begins to “Manage up” and looks at the big picture to identify problems and to identify issues ahead of time and brings to the attention of the President and Project Management team.
    • Performs local job walks at least weekly and spends time in the field, reviews photos and videos of remote jobs daily, communicates with each Project Superintendent on a daily basis.
    • Ensures changes in work and RFI’s are communicated between Project Superintendents and Project Management on a routine basis.
    • Has started building solid relationships with Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, Presidents, Project Superintendents, Field teams, Accounting, Purchasing, Warehouse, Engineering, Estimating and Service departments.
    • Follows up on promises and is seen as a trusted assistant Project Manager, bringing new ideas for process improvements.
    • Asks fewer questions but when faced with a customer needs or questions that have not been dealt with before, finds the needed information.
    • Shows competence in using Foundation and Fieldwire.
    • Ensures monthly billings are submitted accurately to Accounting by project deadlines including billable change orders.

6 months and ongoing:

• • • Learns California Pool Code, California Electrical Code, California Structural Code.
    • Brings new ideas to improve trainings and address weaknesses in Project Management and Project Superintendent’s and Foreman. He/she is humble and displays a can-do attitude to improve skills and knowledge in his team.
    • Fully understands the California Waters construction process, its strengths and weaknesses and has developed a plan to remedy the weaknesses including recruitment and/or subcontracting out certain types of work.
    • Is independent in role, showing an in-depth understanding of how to manage the construction of water features and swimming pools (both public and private works), and successfully navigates proposed client meetings, imparting technical knowledge in a professional manner.
    • Learns California Waters splash pad, swimming pool and spa design standards and calculations for design/build projects.
    • Oversee the closeout of at least 1 project following the California Waters closeout process.
    • Learns the DIR Prevailing Wage project requirements including the apprenticeship standards and is able to communicate with the Accounting staff when different trades are required and when Subcontractors are to commence performing work on a jobsite.
    • Can put together profitable change order requests.

9 -12 months and ongoing:

• Can handle managing multiple projects with monthly billings exceeding $750k per month without compromising quality and profit margins.
• Has implemented strategic plan initiatives to improve construction processes, safety and communication. Documents strategy, sharing it with internal teams, giving action items to key employees and has metrics in place to measure its success.
• Has began working with our Safety Consultant and has developed Safety trainings for tradesmen and internal teams to be conducted on a monthly basis.

EDUCATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management or Business a plus or a combination of experience and education.
• Ability to effectively utilize computer skills working with various programs including MS Outlook, Word, Teams, Excel, Fieldwire, Foundationsoft, Adobe, throughout each construction project.
• Proven ability to read and understand project plans and specifications
  Proven ability to show a sense of urgency and rapidly respond to customer inquiries
• Knowledge of general contracting and sub-contracting processes, terms, methods and scheduling
• Experience in managing a team, creating strategy and holding team members accountable for deliverables.

We offer a casual atmosphere with a driven agenda for quality, where excellence is rewarded with advancement and compensation.

• • • Paid vacation days, sick days and holidays.
    • 401(K) with up to 8% Company match.
    • Medical, dental and vision plans.
    • Company-paid life insurance, and more.

Please apply with your resume for a confidential review and response to qualified candidates. Mandatory background check, drug and physical screening post offer. Thank you for your interest. California Waters is an EOE.