Field Operations Manager

Position Summary

The Field Operations Manager provides portfolio-level leadership for Rice Lake West construction operations across Colorado. The role plans and coordinates field personnel, materials, equipment, commodities, and technical field support so project Superintendents can safely and successfully execute their individual projects. The position supports multiple active and upcoming project locations, anticipates constraints, aligns resources with project priorities, and promotes consistent field practices from early planning through startup and closeout.

This position works in partnership with Project Managers, Superintendents, Field Engineers, Safety, Quality, Equipment, Procurement, and executive leadership. Project Superintendents retain day-to-day control of their assigned sites; the Field Operations Manager provides cross-project planning, coaching, escalation support, resource balancing, and operational oversight.

Essential Responsibilities

Portfolio and Resource Planning

• Develop and maintain a forward-looking field resource plan across multiple Colorado projects, including staffing levels, key field leadership assignments, equipment, materials, commodities, and specialty support.
• Evaluate project schedules, work plans, procurement status, and upcoming milestones to identify labor, equipment, access, sequencing, and material constraints before they affect production.
• Recommend allocation or reassignment of Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Foremen, craft personnel, survey support, and shared equipment based on risk, schedule, workload, and project priorities.
• Coordinate mobilization, demobilization, and transitions between projects while preserving continuity, project knowledge, and accountability.
• Support workforce forecasting, recruiting priorities, succession planning, and development of field leadership capacity for the Colorado market.

Field Execution and Constructability

• Lead or facilitate constructability reviews, field planning sessions, site logistics planning, and major work-package reviews for complex water and wastewater facilities.
• Provide practical guidance for underground utilities, deep excavation, shoring and dewatering, excavation for structures, structural concrete, process piping, equipment installation, tie-ins, bypasses, shutdowns, and work within operating facilities.
• Review means and methods, sequencing, temporary works, access, lifting needs, survey control, and interface points to improve safety, quality, productivity, and schedule certainty.
• Assist project teams with development and review of work plans, method-of-procedure documents, site logistics plans, shutdown plans, lift plans, look-ahead schedules, and recovery plans.
• Visit project sites routinely to observe execution, coach field leadership, confirm readiness for upcoming work, and help remove operational barriers.

Project Lifecycle Support

• Participate in preconstruction and project startup activities, including scope review, schedule development, staffing plans, equipment plans, procurement strategy, site logistics, and risk identification.
• Support consistent planning for testing, commissioning, startup, owner training, punch-list completion, demobilization, and final closeout.
• Help project teams coordinate vendor and subcontractor field activities, including equipment deliveries, installation readiness, startup support, and resolution of field conflicts.
• Capture and distribute lessons learned, productivity information, and successful field practices to improve future estimating, planning, and execution.

Leadership and Performance

• Coach, mentor, and support Superintendents and other field leaders while reinforcing clear responsibility for safety, quality, schedule, cost, documentation, and team performance.
• Establish consistent expectations for short-interval planning, daily coordination, field reporting, material readiness, equipment utilization, housekeeping, and completion tracking.
• Facilitate cross-project coordination meetings and communicate resource needs, emerging risks, and recommended actions to operations leadership.
• Partner with Safety and Quality personnel to reinforce company requirements, regulatory compliance, inspections, corrective actions, and continuous improvement.
• Promote Rice Lake West's core values of loyalty, safety, integrity, quality, value, relationships, and employees in decisions and daily leadership behavior.

Qualifications

Required

• Extensive progressive field construction experience, including leadership of complex civil, industrial, water, wastewater, or related infrastructure work.
• Demonstrated success planning and supporting multiple concurrent projects or a major project with numerous work fronts and field teams.
• Strong working knowledge of underground utility construction, excavation and temporary earth support, structural concrete, process piping, and mechanical equipment installation.
• Experience coordinating manpower, construction equipment, materials, commodities, subcontractors, and vendor support against project schedules.
• Ability to read and interpret plans, specifications, schedules, submittals, RFIs, shop drawings, and contract requirements.
• Working knowledge of construction safety requirements and a demonstrated commitment to safe field execution.
• Strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and organizational skills.
• Ability to travel regularly among project locations throughout Colorado and attend project needs outside normal business hours when conditions require.

Preferred

• Experience with large-scale municipal water and wastewater treatment projects, including work in active operating facilities.
• Knowledge of commissioning, startup, performance testing, owner training, punch-list management, and project closeout.
• Field survey and construction layout knowledge, including control, elevations, coordinates, and verification of installed work.
• Experience serving as a General Superintendent, Area Superintendent, Field Operations Manager, or comparable multi-project field leader.
• Bachelor's degree in construction management, civil engineering, or a related field; equivalent field experience will be considered.
• OSHA 30-hour training, competent-person credentials, and other relevant safety or technical certifications.

Success Measures

• Project teams have the field leadership, labor, equipment, materials, and technical support needed before work is scheduled to begin.
• Resource conflicts and constructability risks are identified early, elevated clearly, and resolved with minimal disruption to project commitments.
• Superintendents demonstrate consistent planning, communication, accountability, and execution across the Colorado portfolio.
• Projects achieve strong safety, quality, schedule, productivity, startup, and closeout performance.
• Field employees are developed, retained, and prepared for increasing responsibility as the Colorado operation grows.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

This position works in both office and active construction-site environments. Regular travel between project locations is required. The employee must be able to navigate uneven terrain, stairs, ladders, excavations, and active industrial facilities; wear required personal protective equipment; and work outdoors in changing weather conditions. The role may require extended standing or walking and occasional lifting consistent with field observation and construction operations. Reasonable accommodations may be made for qualified individuals.

Employment Statement

This job description summarizes the position's primary responsibilities and qualifications. It is not intended to list every duty or requirement. Responsibilities may change based on business needs, project conditions, and organizational priorities. Rice Lake West Construction is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to legally protected status.

Our Culture

The culture at Water Resources Group focuses on safety, integrity, and quality. Employees are the company's greatest asset, and every effort is made to cultivate a good work-life balance and family-focused atmosphere.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Water Resources Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and employment selection decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. WRG does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by country, regional, or local law.

Applicants with disabilities will be accommodated if you are unable to apply online.

No unsolicited resumes or phone inquiries from agencies, thank you.