Job Description

Head of Construction

📍 Sarasota–Manatee, FL

🏗️ Commercial Retail Development | Land Development | Team Build-Out & Leadership Opportunity

About the Role

Bullpen, on behalf of our client, is seeking an experienced Head of Construction to lead all construction activities for a growing commercial retail development platform across Florida’s west coast, with a primary focus on the Sarasota–Manatee region.

This role will oversee the full lifecycle of sitework and horizontal construction—from land development and permitting through infrastructure installation, utilities, grading, drainage, and paving—while also playing a critical role in building and scaling the internal construction function.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on builder who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys creating structure and process, and has experience assembling and leading construction teams as organizations grow.

Key Responsibilities

Construction & Project Leadership

• Direct and manage all phases of construction for multiple commercial retail development projects.

• Oversee sitework, utilities, drainage, paving, landscaping, and horizontal infrastructure execution.

• Drive schedules, sequencing, and coordination across concurrent projects.

Entitlements, Permitting & Municipal Coordination

• Lead entitlement and permitting efforts in partnership with city, county, and state agencies.

• Manage relationships with municipalities, utility providers, inspectors, and third-party consultants.

Budget, Cost & Risk Management

• Develop and manage project budgets, GMPs, and cost controls.

• Monitor contractor performance, change orders, and risk exposure.

• Ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to quality standards.

Construction Team Build-Out & Leadership

• Design and build the internal construction organization, including identifying key roles, hiring talent, and defining responsibilities as the platform scales.

• Establish clear processes, workflows, reporting standards, and accountability across the team.

• Mentor and develop project managers, superintendents, and support staff.

• Serve as the senior construction leader and primary decision-maker for execution strategy.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations, stormwater management, and safety standards.

• Implement best practices for quality control and risk mitigation across all projects.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in land development, construction management, or related disciplines—preferably within commercial retail, mixed-use, or large-scale site development.

• Proven experience leading horizontal construction and sitework from pre-development through delivery.

• Demonstrated ability to build and scale construction teams within a growing organization.

• Strong understanding of civil site design, permitting, and Florida regulatory environments.

• Track record of managing multiple projects, contractors, and consultants simultaneously.

• Strong financial acumen, leadership presence, and decision-making ability.

Why Join

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity to build and lead the construction function for a growing development platform in one of Florida’s most active markets. You’ll shape how projects are executed, assemble a high-performing team, and play a direct role in scaling the organization while delivering meaningful retail developments that shape local communities.

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