Construction Project Manager - Correctional Facilities

Commercial Construction Project Manager — Correctional Facilities

Location: Austin, TX

Travel: Extensive travel throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the Southern U.S.

Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

A well-established commercial General Contractor headquartered in Austin, TX is seeking an experienced Project Manager to oversee correctional facility and prison construction projects throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the surrounding Southern markets.

IMPORTANT: Previous construction experience specifically on correctional facilities, prisons, jails, detention centers, or other secure government facilities is REQUIRED. This is a mandatory qualification — candidates without direct correctional/detention facility construction experience will not be considered.

The ideal candidate has a strong commercial construction background, proven project management experience, and the ability to manage complex, highly regulated projects while coordinating owners, architects, subcontractors, vendors, and field teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage correctional facility and prison construction projects from preconstruction through final completion and closeout.
• Maintain overall responsibility for project budget, schedule, contract compliance, quality, and client satisfaction.
• Coordinate closely with Superintendents and field teams to ensure projects remain on schedule and within budget.
• Manage project submittals, RFIs, change orders, procurement, contracts, pay applications, and project documentation.
• Review project schedules, identify potential delays, and develop proactive recovery strategies when necessary.
• Manage subcontractor and vendor relationships, including scope coordination, buyout, contract administration, and performance.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for owners, architects, engineers, consultants, and government/agency stakeholders.
• Lead project meetings and provide clear updates regarding schedule, financial performance, procurement, risk, and overall project status.
• Prepare and maintain monthly financial forecasts, cost reports, projections, and other project controls.
• Identify and mitigate project risks throughout the construction lifecycle.
• Review plans and specifications and work with the project team to identify constructability issues and potential conflicts.
• Ensure all contractual requirements, documentation, and project deliverables are properly maintained.
• Support the Superintendent and field team in resolving construction issues and maintaining project momentum.
• Lead project closeout, turnover, punch list, and final documentation.

Required Qualifications

• MANDATORY: Previous Project Manager experience specifically managing correctional facilities, prisons, jails, detention centers, or secure government facility construction.
• Candidates without direct correctional/detention facility construction experience will be rejected.
• Proven experience managing commercial construction projects from preconstruction through closeout.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, project financials, scheduling, procurement, and change management.
• Experience managing subcontractors, vendors, owners, architects, engineers, and other project stakeholders.
• Strong financial management and forecasting skills.
• Excellent communication, organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to read and interpret construction plans, specifications, schedules, and contract documents.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the Southern U.S.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to project sites for extended periods.

Travel Requirements

• This is a travel-heavy position. The Project Manager will be based out of the company's Austin, TX headquarters/market but will regularly travel to active project sites throughout Texas, Louisiana, and other Southern states .
• Candidates must be comfortable traveling extensively and spending significant time at project locations based on project needs.

This is not a local Austin-only position. Candidates unwilling to travel extensively will not be considered.

Why This Role

• Established commercial General Contractor headquartered in Austin, TX.
• Opportunity to manage complex correctional and secure government construction projects.
• Projects located throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the Southern U.S.
• Significant ownership and autonomy over project performance.
• Opportunity to work alongside experienced field and project teams.
• Long-term opportunity with a growing construction organization.

APPLY ONLY IF YOU MEET BOTH NON-NEGOTIABLE REQUIREMENTS:

1. You have previous Project Manager experience specifically managing correctional/prison/jail/detention facility construction projects.

2. You are willing and able to travel extensively throughout Texas, Louisiana, and the Southern U.S.

Candidates who do not meet these requirements will not be considered.