An established structural steel and precast contractor in Southeastern Wisconsin is seeking an experienced Structural Steel Project Manager to lead commercial and industrial steel and precast projects from initial planning through field erection and final closeout.
This role calls for a PM who has worked directly for a structural steel contractor, steel fabricator, or specialty steel erector and understands the full steel project lifecycle, including engineering, detailing, fabrication, procurement, transportation, and erection.
Please Note: Direct structural steel project management experience is required. General commercial construction experience alone will not qualify.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead structural steel and precast projects from kickoff through erection, turnover, and final closeout.
- Build and maintain schedules, budgets, purchasing plans, fabrication milestones, staffing needs, and equipment plans.
- Coordinate detailers, fabricators, superintendents, erectors, crane operators, subcontractors, suppliers, and general contractors.
- Review structural drawings, shop drawings, erection plans, specifications, and contracts to confirm scope and resolve discrepancies.
- Align engineering approvals, detailing, shop production, material releases, deliveries, and erection with project milestones.
- Monitor job costs, labor productivity, billing, forecasts, change orders, and overall profitability.
- Manage RFIs, submittals, purchase orders, pay applications, change documentation, and project records.
- Oversee fabrication progress, shipping schedules, delivery sequencing, crane requirements, and jobsite logistics.
- Ensure field crews have approved drawings, steel components, equipment, and labor when needed.
- Resolve detailing errors, fabrication constraints, transportation delays, and installation conflicts to protect the schedule.
- Plan erection activities with field supervisors, crane operators, general contractors, and other trades for safe, efficient installation.
- Lead project meetings and communicate schedule updates, financial performance, risks, and open decisions.
- Hold subcontractors and suppliers to contractual, quality, safety, and schedule requirements.
- Oversee inspections, punch lists, warranty obligations, handover, and final closeout.
- Build strong relationships with owners, engineers, fabricators, suppliers, erectors, and construction partners.
Requirements
- Minimum of 5 years of project management experience in structural steel construction.
- Required: direct experience managing commercial or industrial structural steel erection projects.
- Required: prior employment with a structural steel contractor, steel fabricator, or specialty steel erection company.
- Experience with precast concrete, miscellaneous metals, or ornamental iron strongly preferred.
- Strong knowledge of steel fabrication, connection detailing, erection sequencing, procurement, transportation, crane operations, and jobsite logistics.
- Ability to interpret structural plans, shop drawings, erection drawings, specifications, and contracts.
- Experience managing budgets, cost forecasts, billing, change orders, purchasing, subcontractors, and financial controls.
- Understanding of the complete steel project lifecycle, from engineering and detailing through fabrication, delivery, and erection.
- Proven ability to coordinate general contractors, structural engineers, fabricators, erectors, and field teams.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and construction management tools such as Procore or Bluebeam.
- Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects while coordinating office, shop, and field activities.
- Understanding of fabrication lead times, material availability, delivery restrictions, crane access, and erection scheduling.
- Must live within commuting distance of Milwaukee or Southeastern Wisconsin, or be able to commute reliably to the project location.
Please Note: Candidates with general commercial construction experience but no direct structural steel project management experience will not qualify.
Benefits
- Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
- Performance-based bonus opportunities.
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Paid time off and company holidays.
- Professional development and continuing education opportunities.
- The chance to lead complex structural steel and precast projects.
- A stable workload with long-term career growth.
- A collaborative, team-oriented environment.