Operations Automation Analysis — Steed Construction

Project Manager (commercial construction)

16/24 automatable duties (67%)

Lead a team over a fast-paced, large wood framed, high-level finish and compliance project. High level of customer service.

Human-Centered Leading project teams requires interpersonal judgment, motivation, and real-time decision-making that cannot be effectively automated. Your project manager's leadership and customer service skills are the foundation of successful project delivery.

Verify execution of all aspects of the Prime Contract with applicable Exhibits and Attachments. Obtain a full understanding of all terms and conditions within the Prime Contract. Responsibility to lead and execute the work of the project, including all subcontracts and purchase orders, within the parameters and requirements of these terms and conditions.

AI-Assisted An AI assistant can extract key terms, deadlines, and obligations from the Prime Contract and surface them for review. However, the project manager must verify contractual compliance—the consequences of misinterpretation are too significant for full automation.

Directs in all negotiations and preparations of project subcontracts. Full and complete scope authoring, eliminating scope gaps and risks. Responsible to report buyout status and isolate and manage uncommitted costs. Lead 30-Day Buyout meeting.

Guided Automation Scope writing templates, buyout status dashboards, and risk-gap detection can be automated. A guided workflow can flag missing scope items and track uncommitted costs in real time, while the PM reviews and approves the final scope documents.

Proficient understanding of construction accounting principles and practices. Strategically prepare the project budget according to anticipated buyout. Maintain the budget throughout the project. Organize budget adjustments as needed.

Guided Automation Budget preparation and tracking tools can automate cost categorization, variance alerts, and adjustment logging. The PM oversees strategic decisions and approves budget shifts, ensuring financial control without manual spreadsheet work.

Complete full and accurate total project cost projections monthly. Prepares and sends project progress and financial reports to the Director of Operations monthly. Employ strategies to control and minimize costs to maintain accurate total cost projections.

Immediate Opportunity Monthly cost projections and financial reports can be fully automated by pulling data from your accounting and project management systems. A scheduled report generator can compile cost data, variance analysis, and projections, saving hours of manual consolidation each month.

Develops a full master/baseline project schedule, either new or by updating the preliminary preconstruction schedule, utilizing the company scheduling software. Identify important milestones and the critical path. Perform and lead the project team in regular master schedule updates and analysis against the baseline (minimum monthly). Evaluate strategies for expediting the work or schedule slip recovery.

Advanced Automation AI-assisted scheduling can analyze historical project data to suggest optimal sequences, flag critical path risks, and recommend recovery strategies. Building this requires integration with your scheduling software and a model trained on your project history—a strategic investment for companies managing multiple concurrent projects.

Evaluate the superintendent's weekly look ahead schedule with the most recent master schedule update. Communicate and lead the project team to find solutions for discrepancies to maintain or improve upon critical path progress leading to on time or early contract completion.

AI-Assisted An automated discrepancy detection system can compare weekly look-aheads against the master schedule and flag deviations. The superintendent and PM still need to collaborate on solutions, but automation removes the manual comparison work and ensures nothing is missed.

Responsible for the procurement and delivery of all materials and equipment either directly or through subcontractors and suppliers within the project's budget constraints and consistent with the project schedule.

Guided Automation Procurement tracking can be automated—lead time alerts, delivery status dashboards, and budget consumption tracking. The PM reviews and approves procurement decisions, while automated notifications ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Proficiency in all project software. Responsible for project setup, management, and closeout.

Immediate Opportunity Project software setup, document management, and closeout checklists can be automated with standardized templates and workflows. A guided setup wizard and automated closeout tracker can reduce administrative overhead significantly.

Leader in quality control and documentation practices. Verification that field checks of delivered materials and work in place are being performed. Effective communication with the superintendent and subcontractors for quality corrections.

Guided Automation Quality control documentation and field check tracking can be digitized with automated inspection checklists, photo documentation workflows, and correction tracking. The PM leads quality efforts, while automation ensures consistent documentation and follow-through.

Know safety rules and regulations and perform site inspections when on the project site. See something say something. Lead by example. Obtain and maintain OSHA 30 at a minimum.

Human-Centered Safety leadership, site inspections, and leading by example are fundamentally human responsibilities. Physical presence on site, personal judgment of unsafe conditions, and safety culture cannot be automated.

Project leader in risk management plans. Identify the project's risks and options with solutions to mitigate them and what the potential impacts to the project are or could be. Effective communication in problem solving.

AI-Assisted An AI risk management assistant can help identify risks by analyzing project data, suggesting mitigation strategies, and maintaining a risk register. The PM retains full responsibility for risk decisions, but the assistant ensures no risks are overlooked.

Become familiar with and implement local law and requirements such as NOI and NOT SWPPP management, noise ordinance, site accessibility, etc.

Guided Automation A compliance checklist tool can automatically surface relevant local requirements based on project location, track permit status, and send renewal reminders. The PM reviews and approves compliance actions, while automation handles the research and tracking.

Ability to effectively negotiate owner and subcontractor change orders and manage the resulting costs and profit impacts. Ability to quantify change order scopes, estimate costs, and review owner and subcontractor change order requests and employ strategies to resolve disputes and claims.

AI-Assisted Change order analysis can be assisted by AI—quantifying scope changes, comparing against budget, and generating cost impact reports. The PM leads negotiations and makes final decisions, but automation provides the data needed for informed negotiation.

Effective skills in Schedule of Value (SOV) creation strategies and the monthly client payment applications. Review subcontractor payment applications with the superintendent for accuracy. Follow all processes and procedures for conflict resolutions and timely approvals under the direction of the PM. Maintain positive project cash flow.

Guided Automation SOV creation and payment application processing can be automated—pulling hours, materials, and progress data to generate draft applications. The PM reviews and approves before submission, while automated cash flow tracking provides real-time visibility.

Accounts Payable misc. invoice approval. Accurate cost coding. May delegate and supervise.

Immediate Opportunity Invoice approval routing and cost coding can be fully automated with rules-based workflows. Invoices are automatically coded to the correct project cost code and routed for approval, eliminating manual data entry and coding errors.

Leads owner and other coordination meetings. (OAC, Pre-Con, Etc.). May delegate and supervise.

Human-Centered Leading coordination meetings requires real-time communication, relationship management, and adaptive facilitation that cannot be automated. The PM's presence and leadership in these meetings are essential to project success.

Coordinates all final close out procedures for the project including as-built drawings, close out O&M's and subcontractor warranties. Verify all costs and commitments are paid with all risks closed. Lead closeout meeting.

Guided Automation Closeout procedures can be automated with a digital closeout checklist that tracks as-built submissions, warranty collection, and final cost verification. The PM leads the closeout meeting and verifies completion, while automation ensures nothing is missed.

Interacts with all company departments to ensure company policy and procedures are carried out and corporate objectives achieved.

Human-Centered Cross-departmental coordination and policy enforcement require human judgment, relationship-building, and adaptive communication that automation cannot replace.

Lead in preconstruction operational strategy meetings with the project team.

Human-Centered Preconstruction strategy requires collaborative problem-solving, creative planning, and team alignment that are inherently human activities. The PM's experience and leadership drive these sessions.

Exhibit professional communication skills to effectively maintain and increase relationships with vendors, owners, architects, local and state officials. Implement Good Neighbor Policy.

Human-Centered Building and maintaining professional relationships requires trust, empathy, and nuanced communication that cannot be automated. The PM's interpersonal skills are a core business asset.

Effectiveness in managing the warranty process including expediting resolution to claims.

Guided Automation Warranty tracking can be automated—logging claims, tracking resolution timelines, and sending status updates. The PM manages the resolution process and customer communication, while automation ensures timely follow-through.

Comprehensive knowledge and ability to perform all responsibilities and duties of the assistant project manager and project engineer. Responsible for the completeness, accuracy, and execution of these duties whether delegated or not.

Human-Centered Supervisory responsibility for delegated tasks requires human oversight and judgment. While individual tasks can be automated, the PM's accountability for completeness and accuracy is inherently a human responsibility.

Familiarity with construction site operations including safety protocols and environmental considerations.

Field Work On-site construction operations require physical presence and real-time situational awareness. Safety protocols and environmental monitoring must be performed in person—automation can support but cannot replace site-based observation.

Company Description

Steed Construction, Inc. is a commercial general contractor with over 36 years of experience, serving multiple states from its offices in Eagle, Idaho, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The company specializes in negotiated, design/bid/build, and design/build projects, including office, light industrial, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, warehouse distribution, multi-family, and medical/dental facilities. Guided by a mission of Quality, Integrity, and Value, Steed Construction is committed to meeting client-specific requirements with flexibility and creativity.

Role Description

Qualified candidates are responsible for overall planning, management, and execution of the work for assigned construction projects. The PM works under a Director of Operations or Senior Project Manager (if applicable). Must have proficiency in all company systems, financials, project risk mitigation, negotiation tactics, contract language, and decision-making theory. Maximizes project profitability, oversees quality and safety standards, and meets or exceeds owner expectations.

Senior Living or Multi-Family experience a major plus!

Key Responsibilities

Lead a team over large wood framed, high-level finish and compliance projects
Verify Prime Contract execution and manage subcontracts and purchase orders
Negotiate and prepare project subcontracts with full scope authoring
Prepare and maintain project budgets with construction accounting
Complete monthly cost projections and financial reports
Develop master project schedules and track critical path
Procure materials and equipment within budget and schedule
Lead quality control, safety compliance, and risk management
Negotiate change orders and manage SOV/payment applications
Coordinate closeout procedures and warranty management

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: $120,000 – $140,000/year. Full benefits including 401(k) with 4% match, health insurance, PTO, dental, vision, HSA, life insurance, and opportunities for advancement.