Biotech and Pharmaceutical, Capital Project, Communication Skills, Construction, Construction Management, Construction Support, Consulting, Crane, Electricity, Email Technology, Engineering, Food Production, Food and Beverage Industry, Health Plan, Heat Exchanger, Heavy Equipment/Vehicles, Heavy Lifting, Industrial Management, Laptop PC, Leadership, Maintain Compliance, Manufacturing, Organizational Skills, Piping, Plant Management, Process Manufacturing, Production Systems, Project Engineering, Project/Program Coordination, Project/Program Management, Pumps, Purchase Orders, Risk, Safety Compliance, Safety Training
Job Title: Construction Manager
Location: Summit, IL
Hire Type: Long-Term Contract (Multi-Year, Consecutive Projects)
Target Pay Rate: $70.00 - $85.00/hour (flexible based on experience)
Work Schedule: Onsite, Full-Time
Benefits: PTO, Paid Holidays, BCBS Medical Plans, Dental/Vision Plans, 401(k), & ESOP
Overview:
Seeking a hands-on Construction Manager contractor to support a wide range of small to mid-sized capital and infrastructure projects at a large food/beverage manufacturing facility in Summit, IL. This is a field-driven role with light project management responsibility, supporting active plant construction activities in a high-safety, live production environment. The position supports a growing capital program with sustained project demand expected through 2027 and beyond.
Job Summary:
This role will serve as an on-site Construction Manager responsible for coordinating contractors, overseeing field execution, and supporting project scoping and delivery across multiple concurrent capital projects. Projects vary significantly and include structural, mechanical, electrical, and infrastructure improvements. The Construction Manager will work closely with Engineering Project Managers and plant operations teams to ensure safe, efficient execution.
Must Haves:
- 5+ years of construction management experience in industrial or manufacturing environments (food/beverage industry preferred).
- Strong field-based construction experience (onsite execution required)
- Proven ability to manage multiple contractors and trades simultaneously
- Strong safety mindset with experience enforcing safety compliance in active job sites
- Experience working in live plant or operational manufacturing environments
- Ability to manage multiple small to mid-sized projects at once
- Strong communication and coordination skills with both operations and engineering teams
Job Duties:
- Manage field execution of small to mid-sized capital projects (up to ~$1M)
- Act as on-site construction lead in an active manufacturing environment
- Coordinate and oversee multiple contractors and trades
- Ensure strict adherence to site safety requirements and enforce safety culture
- Oversee high-risk work activities including crane lifts and heavy equipment operations
- Monitor construction progress, quality, and alignment with scope
- Serve as liaison between contractors, engineering, and plant operations
- Provide daily/weekly field updates to project engineering leadership
- Support development and execution of smaller projects ($250K–$500K), including:
- Steel replacement and structural repairs
- Infrastructure improvements
- Electrical upgrades
- Tank repair and relining
- Pump, piping, and heat exchanger replacements
- Underground utility and civil work
- Support project scoping efforts for smaller capital work (engineering performs design)
- Coordinate work activities to minimize disruption to plant operations
- Assist with purchase order coordination under Project Manager direction
Qualifications:
- Experience in food & beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, or similar process manufacturing environments
- Exposure to capital projects in active production facilities
- Experience with infrastructure, maintenance, or reliability-driven construction work
- Experience coordinating crane lifts and heavy industrial equipment installations
- Broad construction knowledge across mechanical, electrical, and civil scopes
- Comfortable working in fast-paced environments with shifting priorities
- Local candidates strongly preferred (no per diem or travel package provided)
- Full-time contractor assignment (not project-based consulting)
- Candidate will be provided company laptop, email, and system access, including PO functionality under PM guidance
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
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Sterling Engineering, Inc.
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
500 to 999 employees
Staffing/Employment Agencies
http://www.sterling-engineering.com