Director of Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

Job Description

Job Description

Salary:

Morris-Shea Bridge Company, Inc. is seeking a Director of Continuous Improvement &Operational Excellence to help drive long-term operational performance, profitability, client satisfaction, and organizational learning throughout the company.

This position will be based in Irondale, Alabama and will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer. This position will work closely with Project Managers, Superintendents, Operations Managers, Estimators, Accounting Personnel, and Executive Management to identify opportunities for improvement throughout all phases of our projects. The purpose of this role is not to audit, police, or second-guess project teams. Rather, the Director will serve as a resource and facilitator whose responsibility is to understand why projects perform the way they do, identify lessons learned, and ensure that knowledge gained from completed projects is transferred to future work.

This is a permanent, strategic leadership position that will continue to evolve as the company grows. The successful candidate will help build systems and processes that improve project performance, increase estimating accuracy, strengthen client relationships, and support long-term profitability.

Position Objectives
The Director of Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence will be responsible for helping Morris-Shea answer critical questions such as:
Why did a project outperform expectations?
Why did a project underperform expectations?
What assumptions made during estimating proved correct?
What assumptions proved inaccurate?
What field challenges were encountered and why?
What opportunities exist to improve productivity, quality, safety, scheduling, and
communication?
What feedback do clients have regarding our performance?
How can lessons learned from one project improve future projects?

The ultimate goal of this position is to transform project experience into actionable knowledge that improves future estimating, planning, execution, client satisfaction, and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Project Performance Analysis
Review completed and ongoing projects to understand actual performance compared to original estimates and budgets.
Work closely with Project Managers, Operations Managers, Superintendents, and Accounting personnel to identify drivers of project success and project challenges.
Analyze labor productivity, equipment utilization, production rates, material consumption, schedule performance, and project profitability.
Identify trends that impact project performance across multiple projects and business units.
Develop recommendations for improving future project execution and estimating accuracy.
Create reports and presentations summarizing findings for executive management.

Field Operations Engagement
Regularly travel to project sites throughout the United States.
Build strong working relationships with Superintendents, Foremen, Project Managers, and field personnel.
Observe construction operations firsthand to better understand production challenges and opportunities.
Document best practices and identify opportunities for operational improvements.
Work collaboratively with project teams to develop practical solutions that improve future performance.
Ensure that lessons learned from one project are communicated throughout the organization.

Estimating and Preconstruction Support
Work closely with estimating personnel to compare as-bid assumptions with actual project outcomes.
Assist in developing more accurate production rates, cost models, and risk assessments.
Identify recurring estimating assumptions that should be adjusted based on field performance.
Support development of internal historical cost databases and performance benchmarks.
Help improve future bid competitiveness and profitability through better use of project data.

Client Feedback and Relationship Development
Meet with clients during and after project completion to gather feedback regarding Morris-Shea's performance.
Identify areas where Morris-Shea exceeded client expectations.
Identify opportunities for improvement from the client's perspective.
Develop and maintain relationships with key clients and industry partners.
Communicate client feedback to project teams and executive management.
Assist in strengthening client relationships and increasing repeat business opportunities.

Process Improvement and Organizational Learning
Develop systems for capturing lessons learned from completed projects.
Establish processes for sharing knowledge throughout the company.
Identify opportunities to improve communication, reporting, planning, and execution.
Work with management to implement practical process improvements.
Support initiatives related to quality control, safety, project management, and operational excellence.
Assist with development of performance metrics and key performance indicators.

Executive Support
Provide periodic reports to the COO and CEO regarding operational trends and improvement opportunities.
Assist executive management in identifying strategic initiatives that improve profitability and organizational effectiveness.
Participate in management meetings and strategic planning sessions.
Serve as a trusted advisor to executive management regarding operational performance and continuous improvement opportunities.

Organizational Relationships
This position is intended to be highly collaborative. The Director is not responsible for direct supervision of Project Managers, Superintendents, or Accounting personnel and is not intended to function as an auditor. However, because the effectiveness of this role depends on access to accurate and timely information, the Director is expected to elevate concerns to the COO and CEO whenever necessary information is unavailable or requests for information are not being adequately supported. Executive management will provide the support necessary to ensure the position can successfully fulfill its responsibilities.

Required Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Business, Finance, or related field.
Minimum 10 years of experience in heavy civil construction, industrial construction, or related industries.
Strong understanding of project management, estimating, field operations, and construction accounting.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Willingness and ability to travel extensively to project sites.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience as a Project Manager, Project Controls Manager, Construction Manager, Estimator, or similar leadership role.
Experience with project controls, job costing, and financial analysis.
Experience developing performance metrics and reporting systems.
Experience working directly with clients and owners.

Desired Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is naturally curious and enjoys understanding why things happen. This individual must be comfortable working with field personnel, project management teams, accounting professionals, executives, and clients.

The successful candidate will possess:
Strong interpersonal skills.
Credibility with field personnel and management alike.
High emotional intelligence.
Excellent listening skills.
Strong business acumen.
Analytical thinking.
Practical construction knowledge.
A passion for continuous improvement.
The ability to identify opportunities without assigning blame.
A genuine desire to help others succeed.

Future Growth Opportunity
This position is intended to become an integral part of Morris-Shea's long-term leadership team. As the company continues to grow, the responsibilities of this role may expand to include broader operational, strategic, business intelligence, client development, and organizational leadership functions. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to significantly influence the future direction, profitability, and operational excellence of Morris-Shea Bridge Company.