Highlights
This is a highly visible, senior leadership role with direct P&L accountability across all active projects, oversight of the Project Manager and Project Engineer team, and a seat at the leadership table as the company scales into a larger regional player. This is an ideal opportunity for a proven excavation/underground construction leader who is ready to step out of the day-to-day PM chair and into a role building, mentoring, and leading a team of project managers — while still staying close enough to the work to guide it.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Cicero, IN |
| Industry | Staffing/Employment Agencies |
| Company Size | 2,500 to 4,999 employees |
| Year Founded | 2002 |
| Website | http://www.vaco.com/ |
Description
Vice President of Project Management – Excavation & Underground Site Work
Vaco has partnered with a growing excavation and construction company in Carmel, IN to hire a Vice President of Project Management to build and lead its project management function as the company scales.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Our client is a fast-growing civil site work contractor based in Central Indiana, specializing in underground infrastructure — sanitary sewer, water, and site utility construction — for municipal, public, and private clients across the region and beyond. Now in its seventh year, the company has grown roughly 30% year-over-year, with revenue climbing from $32M in 2025 to a projected $40M in 2026 and a backlog already exceeding $40M for 2027. As a merit-shop contractor that self-performs approximately 95% of its work, the company has built a reputation for getting dirt moved and pipe laid the right way — and is now investing in senior leadership to match its growth trajectory.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Our client is seeking an experienced Vice President of Project Management to lead and grow the project management function across the company’s excavation and underground site work portfolio. This is a highly visible, senior leadership role with direct P&L accountability across all active projects, oversight of the Project Manager and Project Engineer team, and a seat at the leadership table as the company scales into a larger regional player. You’ll report directly to the COO and partner closely with the General Superintendent, estimating, and field leadership to set the standard for how projects are planned, staffed, and executed.
This is an ideal opportunity for a proven excavation/underground construction leader who is ready to step out of the day-to-day PM chair and into a role building, mentoring, and leading a team of project managers — while still staying close enough to the work to guide it.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Team Leadership & Development
- Build, lead, mentor, and develop a team of Project Managers and Project Engineers, setting clear expectations and growth paths.
- Establish and champion project management standards, processes, and best practices across all excavation and site work projects.
- Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance reviews, and coaching sessions to strengthen the bench of project management talent.
- Recruit, onboard, and develop future project management talent as the company continues to scale.
- Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and collaboration across the project management team.
Project Oversight & Execution
- Own portfolio-level cost, schedule, scope, and stakeholder outcomes across all assigned excavation site work projects.
- Provide senior oversight of project kickoff, buyout, subcontracts, and procurement across the project team.
- Monitor job cost, productivity, and cash flow at a portfolio level, and direct recovery plans when projects trend off-track.
- Ensure QA/QC, safety, and closeout documentation standards are met across every project.
- Conduct regular site visits across the portfolio to oversee project execution and support field and PM teams.
Client & Stakeholder Management
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with owners, owner representatives, architects, engineers, trade contractors, and vendors at a senior level.
- Serve as an escalation point and senior representative for the company on high-profile or complex projects.
- Represent the company at key project meetings, trade organizations, and industry events.
Strategic Coordination & Communication
- Partner closely with the COO and General Superintendent on staffing, resource planning, and company growth strategy.
- Review project documents, plans, and specifications, and guide resolution of complex field challenges.
- Collaborate with estimating to ensure smooth project handoff and buy-in on scope, budget, and schedule.
Compliance & Quality
- Ensure all projects conform to quality standards and regulatory compliance requirements.
- Drive adoption of standard operating procedures and cost, time, and quality standards across the department.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We’re looking for a proven excavation/underground construction leader who is ready to build and lead a team — someone who has walked in the Project Manager’s shoes, has the track record to prove it, and now wants to develop others and shape how the department runs. The leadership team is hands-on, direct, and values honest, two-way communication over politics. Candidates should be energized by that kind of environment.
- 7+ years of experience in excavation, underground utility, or civil site work construction project management is required.
- Prior people management or team leadership experience is required, along with a genuine desire to build, mentor, and lead a team of project managers.
- Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management preferred; equivalent experience will also be considered.
- Deep project management fundamentals — civil/underground site work experience (sanitary, water, sewer, infrastructure) strongly preferred.
- A track record of ownership, follow-through, and developing others, with the ability to balance strategic oversight and hands-on involvement when needed.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust across owners, trade partners, and internal teams at all levels.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-accountability culture with direct, candid feedback.
- Strong organizational and leadership skills, with general technology/computer proficiency.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & LOGISTICS:
Location: Based out of Central Indiana, with regular travel to active job sites
Work Style: In-office and on-site — this role is not eligible for remote work
Travel: Local day trips (2–3 hours) across the project portfolio, no overnight travel required
Project Footprint: Primarily Central Indiana/Greater Indianapolis, with projects in Northwest Indiana, Rochester, and Columbus, IN
By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.
EEO Notice
Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact
HR@vaco.com
.Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.
Representation Notice
By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.
For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring’s discussions with its Client, Highspring’s understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).
Privacy Notice
Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” or “Vaco by Highspring”) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.
- California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
- Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
- Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
- Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
- Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.
Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring’s use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client’s use of AI products in hiring.
Pay Transparency Notice
Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:
- the individual’s skill sets, experience and training;
- licensure and certification requirements;
- office location and other geographic considerations;
- other business and organizational needs.
With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.
About Company
Vaco provides expert consulting, permanent placement, executive search and strategic staffing for companies around the world, in the areas of accounting, finance, technology, healthcare, operations, administration and more. As a premier talent solutions firm, Vaco connects people to their dream jobs and helps leading companies find talent to grow their business. Since its founding in 2002, Vaco has grown to more than 35 offices across the globe, 700+ employees, more than 3,000 consultants and $450M in revenue. Vaco has been named to Inc. magazine’s list of the fastest-growing private companies for past 11 years and is dedicated to developing long-term relationships, life-long careers and creative client solutions.