Senior Superintendent – Pharmaceutical Construction

Senior Superintendent – Life Sciences / Pharmaceutical Construction

Location: Kansas City, Missouri (On-site only)
Employment Type: Full-time
Compensation: $Competitive
Bonus Eligible: Yes
Relocation Support: Possible for ideal candidate
Travel: Frequent travel required

Role Overview

This role is responsible for leading field operations and full site execution on complex life sciences and pharmaceutical construction projects. The Senior Superintendent will coordinate project teams, subcontractors, safety, scheduling, quality performance and construction sequencing to ensure successful and timely project delivery. This position manages stand-alone projects with high technical requirements and significant budget responsibility.
The role requires strong leadership, deep field execution expertise and the ability to effectively manage multiple stakeholders while maintaining a disciplined, safety-focused project environment.

Key Responsibilities

Construction Leadership & Delivery

• Lead and reinforce a robust safety culture, setting expectations for all personnel and subcontractors.
• Manage day-to-day site operations, subcontractor performance and overall workflow.
• Develop detailed work plans, sequencing strategies and execution logistics.
• Lead daily coordination meetings, weekly trade meetings and project progress discussions.
• Collaborate closely with project management to build, update and execute construction schedules.
• Track project progress and support budget and cost management.
• Oversee procurement needs, material/equipment planning and resource allocation.
• Maintain accurate field documentation, reporting, logs, drawings and compliance records.
• Ensure quality standards through inspections, QA/QC processes and strict adherence to specifications.
• Manage punch list and turnover processes including stakeholder coordination.
• Support project pursuit and pre-planning activities, contributing to methodology development and presentations.
• Participate in change management discussions and scheduling updates.
• Support subcontractor buy-out and vendor coordination.
• Recruit, mentor and develop talent across field operations teams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners.

Additional Responsibilities

• Manage moderately complex stand-alone projects from mobilisation through completion.
• Supervise multiple field leaders on active projects.
• Participate in client engagement, proposal preparation and business development opportunities.
• Identify project risks and implement proactive mitigation strategies.
• Support cross-functional collaboration including logistics, planning and engineering teams.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with construction scheduling tools and project management platforms.
• Deep understanding of construction methods, sequencing and trade coordination.
• Ability to lead large teams and foster a collaborative site environment.
• Competency in Lean construction principles.
• Strong ability to problem solve and make informed decisions in real time.
• Advanced knowledge of layout processes, rigging and crane operations.
• Ability to manage budgets and drive profitability through operational discipline.

Education & Experience

Required

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• 8+ years of commercial construction leadership experience.
• 5+ years in a field supervision role.
• Proven track record delivering complex pharmaceutical, biotech or controlled-environment facilities exceeding $50M in value.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering or related field.

Working Environment

• Frequent standing, climbing, walking and physical activity on active construction sites.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• May require extended travel or temporary site assignment.
• Exposure to varying outdoor and indoor environmental conditions.
• Flexible hours as required to support project milestones.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The employer is committed to a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace, providing equal opportunity to all qualified applicants without discrimination based on protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodation requests for applicants with disabilities will be considered.

Ideal Candidate Attributes

• Demonstrated success overseeing high-complexity, high-specification life sciences or pharmaceutical projects.
• Capable of leading distributed teams and maintaining strong client and subcontractor relationships.
• Comfortable managing long-duration project assignments and frequent travel.