General Superintendent

About Suffolk

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. Suffolk is an end-to-end business that provides value throughout the entire project lifecycle by leveraging its core construction management services with vertical service lines that include real estate capital investment, design, self-perform construction services, technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies), and innovation research/development.

Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $5.0 billion in annual revenue, 2,600 employees, and main offices in Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. Suffolk manages some of the most complex, sophisticated projects in the country, serving clients in every major industry sector, including healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, transportation/aviation, government, mission critical and commercial. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

The Role

The General Superintendent provides overall leadership for field operations and execution for the assigned project(s). 

• Monitor assigned projects for conformance with the construction schedule, expected quality levels, and adherence to the company’s Standard Operating Procedures
• Work with clients and architects throughout the project, responsible for developing relationships that generate client satisfaction
• Recruit qualified talent; mentor, coach, and train them to perform and ensure effective matching of talent to project scope. This includes Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, Field Engineers, Career Start Project Engineers and Co-ops
• Provide leadership, advice, and assistance to field staff regarding materials, sequencing, scheduling, personnel and methods of construction
• Serve as an advocate for Field Operations
• Actively participate in the development of business by supporting the Business Development Department
• Pre-construction/Estimating:
  • Participate in Sales Presentations and pre-construction services
  • Review projects for constructability, develop a plan for construction
  • Prepare a summary baseline schedule by providing the logic and durations of major work activities to the scheduler
  • Confirm baseline schedule achieves the delivery requirements of the project
  • Create site access and staging/sequencing plans and conduct technical reviews
  • Provide input on budgets and determine field staff requirements
  • Attend the Project Turnover meeting
  • Provide the Project Team input on scope reviews and Exhibit “B”s

• Construction; Responsible for implementing all Suffolk policies and procedures including:
  • Field Staff Assignments and performance evaluations
  • Weekly site visits to evaluate conditions including safety and general presentation
  • Ensure that field personnel are performing to established standards
  • Oversee the development of the baseline schedule and monitor all project schedules for compliance
  • Provide leadership in the monthly update and narrative process
  • Confirm that workmanship and materials conform to plans and specifications
  • Review project schedules during weekly visit, highlighting potential challenges
  • Provide leadership in responding creatively to challenges to bring projects in on schedule and under budget where feasible
  • Ensure timely completion of punch lists
  • Participate in the one-year warranty walkthrough, ensures timely completion of all issues and that appropriate records are kept

• Client Relationships and Meeting Management:
  • Attend all scheduled meetings necessary to monitor and manage projects
  • Attend owner meetings as necessary and Project Team (PM/PE) meetings at least twice monthly
  • Maintain continuous client contact to gauge performance perceptions
  • Communicate relevant information to project teams
  • Foster and maintain effective working relationships with team members

• Training:
  • Coordinate field training in job specific and safety training
  • Ensure that field staff are trained according to Suffolk guidelines
  • Participate in design and delivery of Suffolk-specific training

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Construction Management and experience relative to size/scope of projects
• Minimum of 15 years of general contracting experience
• Each project has specific characteristics regarding size, complexity, sector etc, which dictate the precise years of experience and industry knowledge necessary for success, above and beyond generic construction knowledge and experience
• Applicable area licenses
• The ability to constantly multi-task and handle competing priorities between Suffolk business needs, organizational issues, and sound customer relations
• Business judgment to negotiate the critical balance between budget and construction processes
• Excellent organizational skills to manage the many details necessary for successful construction
• Judgment to know when to appropriately escalate issues up the chain of command
• A strong sense of urgency and initiative, and the ability to quickly study complex issues
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to confidently and decisively take action
• Excellent diplomatic and communication skills, able to interact effectively with senior management, and the ability to handle and resolve conflict effectively in a firm but fair manner
• Candidate must possess Suffolk’s Core Values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work, Professionalism, and Caring

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stands; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law.  This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.  Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.