Industrial construction general manager job description
An industrial construction general manager runs the company's projects as one business, with engineering, purchasing, safety, quality and the field reporting up through this role. The GM owns the profit on each plant and warehouse job, keeps owners informed and decides what work the company is licensed and equipped to take.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Median pay, commercial and industrial building contractors · BLS, May 2025
Responsible for overseeing industrial construction projects by directing multiple departments to ensure timely, on-budget, and quality project completion. Plays a key role in tracking KPIs and managing resources efficiently to meet profitability and performance targets.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Lead and coordinate all aspects of industrial construction projects from initiation through closeout.
Direct cross-functional teams including engineering, procurement, safety, and quality control to achieve project objectives.
Monitor project progress, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and safety standards.
Develop and implement process improvements and strategic plans to increase operational efficiency.
Maintain strong relationships with clients, subcontractors, and vendors to support project success.
Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations throughout all phases of construction.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Review and analyze daily project reports and KPIs to identify trends and areas for improvement.
Conduct regular site visits to assess progress and address any operational challenges.
Hold daily briefings with department heads to align on project strategies and timelines.
Oversee scheduling and resource allocation to optimize project efficiency.
Manage client communications and resolve any issues promptly to maintain satisfaction.
Coordinate with financial teams to forecast project costs and manage budget adjustments.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
On-Time Project Completion: 95% of projects delivered on schedule.
Gross Margin: Maintain a minimum gross margin of 25% per project.
Safety Compliance: Achieve a safety incident rate of less than 2% annually.
Client Satisfaction: Secure a client satisfaction rating of >4.8 stars.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum of 7 years of experience in construction management or a similar leadership role.
Strong analytical skills with demonstrated ability to make data-driven decisions.
Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
6. Preferred Experience
Experience working in industrial construction or heavy industry projects.
Proven track record in managing high-budget, multi-disciplinary construction projects.
Familiarity with advanced project management software and KPI tracking tools.
Exposure to continuous improvement initiatives in construction operations.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 25 pounds during site inspections.
Comfortable working outdoors in various weather conditions.
Capability to navigate uneven surfaces and construction sites safely.
Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods during site visits.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Standard work schedule of 40 hours per week with occasional extended hours during project peaks.
Regular travel to multiple industrial construction sites as required.
Occasional evening or weekend work to meet project deadlines.
Office-based work combined with on-site field visits.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Salary range: $110,000 - $140,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications.
Eligibility for performance-based bonuses and profit-sharing opportunities.
Comprehensive benefits package including Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.
Participation in a 401(k) plan with company matching contributions and other fringe benefits.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. We pride ourselves on investing in our team’s professional growth and supporting our employees through clear career paths and continuous training. Our commitment to quality and safety drives everything we do, ensuring that every team member is empowered to make a positive impact on our clients and our community. Join a dynamic team that values dedication, forward-thinking, and a passion for excellence in industrial construction.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
An industrial GM sells and delivers work that includes process piping, pressure equipment and long-lead machinery. Some of that work needs licenses and certificates the company itself must hold.
Oregon licenses boiler work by company and by worker
Oregon licenses pressure equipment work, as one example. A business that installs, repairs or alters boilers or pressure vessels there needs a boiler contractor license from the state. Each employee doing that work needs an employee or agent license, and an installation permit must be secured before the work starts. Check both licenses before you price a job that sets a boiler or vessel. Source: Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 480, ORS 480.630: Licensing of boiler contractors and installation permits.
Repairs to pressure equipment may need an R stamp
The National Board's R certificate covers repairs and alterations to boilers, pressure vessels and other pressure-retaining items. To earn one, a company needs a written quality system that meets the National Board Inspection Code, an agreement with an authorized inspection agency and an onsite review. Ask each state's boiler office whether your scope needs one there, then decide whether to hold one or subcontract that work. Source: National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors: R Certificate of Authorization.
Long-lead equipment sets the finish date
Transformers, switchgear, large pumps and custom vessels can take many months to arrive. Decide early which items the company buys and which the owner furnishes, and who carries the risk if one is late. Put delivery dates in the schedule the owner signs, and have purchasing report on them every week.
The owner's inspector holds the next step
Many plant owners attach an inspection and test plan with hold points, where work stops until their inspector signs off. Weld tests, pressure tests and concrete tests all show up there. Staff quality control so each hold point is ready before the crew reaches it, and the field isn't left waiting on paperwork.
How much industrial construction general managers make
The closest BLS group for industrial construction general managers is general and operations managers. General and operations managers who work for commercial and industrial builders earned a median of $148,700 a year ($71.49 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s above the $105,770 median for general and operations managers in all industries. About 32,560 of the 3,503,020 general and operations managers in that survey work for commercial and industrial building contractors.
The template pairs salary with bonuses and profit sharing. Its range falls below the BLS median, a figure that counts general and operations managers at builders of every size.
Commercial and industrial building contractors
$148,700$148,700 median Middle half $99,830–$207,480 10th–90th $64,930–$300,370
All industries
$105,770$105,770 median Middle half $72,320–$167,280 10th–90th $50,090–$253,390
$0k$50k$100k$150k$200k$250k$300k$350k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Commercial and industrial building contractors
$64,930
$99,830
$148,700
$207,480
$300,370
All industries
$50,090
$72,320
$105,770
$167,280
$253,390
BLS reports industrial and commercial building contractors together. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Has run the profit on industrial or heavy projects across several departments
Reads owner specs and knows which licenses and certificates a scope needs
Builds purchasing plans around long-lead equipment
Holds department heads to clear weekly numbers
Keeps plant owners informed without overpromising
Teach these on the job
Your estimating, ERP and scheduling tools
Each owner's inspection and test plans
State boiler and pressure piping rules where you work
Your quality manual and inspection agency agreement
Your supplier list and buying terms
A GM here reviews job cost and committed cost in the ERP, the procurement log for long-lead items, and the quality team's inspection records. Ask candidates which project management and KPI tracking tools they've used, since the template prefers that experience.
Industrial construction general manager interview questions
Two of the 6 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Client reporting
A client's project manager complains that your daily reports are late and inaccurate. What do you do?
A strong answer: Reviews the reports, finds why, sets a format and deadline with the supervisors, checks the first week personally and reports back to the client.
Behavioral · Process improvement
Tell me about a process improvement you led on industrial projects, such as daily reporting or material handling.
A strong answer: Names the problem, the change, how crews and staff adopted it, and a measured result such as hours saved.
Read the template's numbers as a guide to the kind of goal this role owns. Set your own from closed jobs, and track gross margin job by job instead of only for the year.
On-Time Project Completion
Measure each job's finish against its contract date, moved only by extensions the owner granted in writing. Record the reason for every late job.
Gross Margin
Take contract revenue less direct job costs on each closed job, then compare it with the margin in the bid to see where it was won or lost.
Safety Compliance
Track recordable incidents against hours worked across the GM's projects, plus near-miss reports and audit findings, so the trend shows before an injury does.
Client Satisfaction
Collect a rating and written comments from each owner at closeout, and follow up within the week on any score below your goal.
No. The template wants a construction management, civil engineering or related degree, not an engineer's license. An engineering background helps when reading owner specs, equipment data sheets and test plans. If the company plans to offer design as part of its work, check your state's engineering licensing rules first. The GM needs to know when a job crosses that line.
How much does an industrial construction general manager make?
General and operations managers who work for commercial and industrial builders earned a median of $148,700 a year ($71.49 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $99,830 and $207,480 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and bonus terms.
Who signs purchase orders for major equipment?
Set approval limits in writing. Project managers or purchasing can sign routine orders, and the GM signs anything above the limit or anything with a long lead time, liquidated damages or a new supplier. The GM also checks that the order matches the owner's data sheets and that delivery dates match the schedule.
What should a GM check before taking work inside an operating plant?
Check the owner's insurance and safety requirements, site access and badging rules, and whether the work needs a license or certificate the company holds. Confirm you have supervisors and crafts free for the dates, and read the owner's payment and change order terms. Then decide whether the job fits the year's plan or only fills a gap.
How do the template's site lines show up in a GM's week?
The template's lifting, weather, uneven ground and standing lines ship as written. In practice, the GM walks steel decks with the owner's engineer, stands through a pressure test or a turnover walk, and carries drawings, a laptop or a camera. Site walks happen in rain or sun. Name those tasks in the job ad.
