Area Construction Manager - NPI (Minerals & Metals)

If you’re like us, you don’t have much time for the way things are.

Ausenco is a global company redefining what’s possible. Our team is based across 22 offices in 9 countries, with projects in over 80 locations worldwide. Combining our deep technical expertise with a 30-year track record, we deliver innovative, value-add consulting studies, project delivery, asset operations and maintenance solutions to the mining & metals, oil & gas, and industrial sectors.

Join our team and be part of an exciting execution-phase project in the North American mining industry. You'll play a key role in critical project phases, from Basic Engineering and Detailed Engineering to Construction, gaining hands-on experience across a variety of commodities. This is your opportunity to make a real impact in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

We are seeking an experienced Area Construction Manager - NPI with extensive experience in the mining and metals industry to lead construction execution for a major capital project.

This is a FIFO site-based leadership position responsible for the safe, efficient and successful delivery of all construction activities across the project site. The Construction Manager will provide overall construction leadership and coordination across multiple disciplines, contractors and work fronts, ensuring that construction is executed in accordance with approved engineering documents, project specifications, schedule, budget, quality requirements and HSE standards.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Project Manager, Project Director, Engineering Manager, Project Controls, HSE, Quality, Procurement, Commissioning and Contractor teams to ensure seamless transition from engineering and procurement into construction and ultimately commissioning and handover.

The role requires a highly experienced construction professional who is comfortable operating in a remote mining environment, managing multiple contractors and work fronts, resolving complex field issues and maintaining strong focus on safety, schedule, productivity and quality.

About The Role

• Provide overall leadership and direction for construction activities across the project site.
• Develop and implement the project construction execution strategy.
• Establish clear construction priorities, objectives, work fronts and execution plans.
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary construction teams.
• Ensure construction activities are aligned with the overall project schedule and execution strategy.
• Establish effective communication and coordination between construction, engineering, procurement, commissioning and project controls.
• Provide strong field leadership and maintain a visible presence across the site.
• Ensure construction activities are planned and executed in a safe, efficient and controlled manner.
• Establish clear accountability across construction management and contractor teams.
• Drive a strong culture of safety, quality, productivity, accountability and teamwork.
• Develop detailed construction plans and execution strategies for each phase of the project.
• Review construction methodologies, sequencing and work packages.
• Ensure construction activities are appropriately planned before work commences.
• Coordinate multiple construction disciplines and contractors working simultaneously across the site.
• Ensure construction work fronts are released in accordance with engineering, procurement and site readiness requirements.
• Identify constraints affecting construction productivity and develop mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate access, laydown, temporary facilities, cranes, heavy equipment and other construction resources.
• Optimize construction sequencing to support the overall project schedule.
• Monitor productivity and resource utilization.
• Ensure construction activities are aligned with approved drawings, specifications and procedures.
• Drive timely completion of construction milestones.
• Provide overall construction direction to EPC, construction and subcontractor organizations.
• Establish clear expectations for contractor performance.
• Monitor contractor performance against scope, schedule, cost, quality and HSE requirements.
• Review contractor construction plans, methodologies, schedules and resource requirements.
• Participate in contractor selection, mobilization and onboarding where required.
• Ensure contractors have adequate manpower, equipment, materials and supervision.
• Conduct regular contractor performance reviews.
• Identify contractor performance issues and implement corrective actions.
• Manage construction interfaces between multiple contractors.
• Resolve disputes and coordination issues at the site level.
• Ensure contractors comply with project procedures, specifications and site requirements.
• Maintain strong but appropriately controlled relationships with contractors.
  
  

Safety is a fundamental responsibility of the Construction Manager.

• Provide visible and proactive safety leadership across the project site.
• Promote a zero-harm culture throughout construction.
• Ensure all construction activities comply with project HSE requirements and applicable legislation.
• Participate in daily safety meetings, toolbox talks and site inspections.
• Conduct regular leadership safety walks.
• Ensure construction risks are identified and controlled before work begins.
• Review high-risk construction activities and ensure appropriate controls are implemented.
• Ensure permit-to-work, isolation, lifting, working-at-height, confined-space and other critical safety processes are followed.
• Investigate significant incidents and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Stop work when unsafe conditions are identified.
• Ensure contractors maintain appropriate safety performance.
• Promote proactive hazard identification and reporting.
• Work closely with Project Controls to maintain construction schedules.
• Monitor construction progress against baseline and recovery schedules.
• Identify activities affecting the critical path.
• Develop recovery plans for delayed or underperforming work fronts.
• Monitor contractor progress and productivity.
• Ensure accurate reporting of physical progress.
• Coordinate construction sequencing with engineering and procurement.
• Identify upcoming constraints and ensure they are addressed before impacting the schedule.
• Participate in daily, weekly and monthly schedule reviews.
• Ensure construction milestones are achieved in accordance with the project execution plan.
• Monitor construction productivity and resource utilization.
• Identify opportunities to improve construction efficiency.
• Review contractor manpower and equipment requirements.
• Identify potential cost impacts resulting from construction changes, delays or productivity issues.
• Work with Project Controls and Commercial teams to manage construction costs.
• Monitor contractor variations and potential claims.
• Ensure additional work is properly documented and authorized.
• Minimize construction rework, waste and inefficiencies.
• Ensure construction decisions consider schedule and cost implications.
• Act as the primary construction interface with the engineering team.
• Ensure construction teams have current and approved engineering documentation.
• Review engineering deliverables for constructability.
• Identify design issues that may affect construction.
• Coordinate RFIs, technical queries and field engineering issues.
• Ensure engineering responses are received in a timely manner.
• Participate in constructability reviews and design coordination meetings.
• Support field changes and engineering modifications.
• Ensure approved changes are properly communicated to construction teams.
• Identify potential design conflicts before they impact site activities.
• Maintain close coordination with the Engineering Manager and discipline leads.
• Coordinate construction requirements with procurement and logistics teams.
• Ensure materials and equipment are available when required for construction.
• Identify potential material shortages or delivery delays.
• Coordinate laydown areas and material storage.
• Ensure materials are properly inspected, stored and protected.
• Coordinate heavy lifts, equipment installation and specialized construction activities.
• Support resolution of vendor-related technical and installation issues.
• Monitor availability of construction equipment and temporary facilities.
• Ensure construction activities comply with project quality requirements.
• Work closely with the Quality Manager and QC teams.
• Ensure contractors implement approved Inspection and Test Plans.
• Monitor quality of workmanship and installation.
• Ensure non-conformances are identified, documented and resolved.
• Drive reduction of construction rework.
• Participate in quality inspections and audits.
• Ensure construction documentation is properly maintained.
• Verify that completed work is ready for inspection, testing and commissioning.
• Support turnover and quality documentation requirements.
• Ensure construction work fronts are fully ready before mobilizing resources.
• Confirm engineering drawings and specifications are approved and available.
• Verify materials and equipment are available.
• Confirm required permits and approvals are in place.
• Ensure construction access and temporary facilities are ready.
• Confirm contractor manpower and equipment requirements.
• Review construction methodologies and risk assessments.
• Ensure all required safety controls are established.
• Coordinate construction readiness reviews.
• Maintain a construction readiness register and track outstanding constraints.
• Lead the resolution of complex field engineering issues.
• Coordinate technical queries between construction and engineering.
• Review proposed field modifications.
• Ensure changes are technically reviewed and approved before implementation.
• Coordinate with vendors where equipment installation issues arise.
• Ensure field conditions are properly documented.
• Maintain accurate records of changes for as-built documentation.
• Ensure technical issues do not unnecessarily delay construction.
  
  

The Construction Manager will play a critical role in preparing the project for commissioning.

• Coordinate construction completion activities with the commissioning team.
• Establish mechanical completion priorities.
• Coordinate system and subsystem turnover.
• Ensure construction punch lists are developed and closed.
• Participate in system walkdowns.
• Ensure outstanding construction work is properly tracked.
• Coordinate turnover documentation.
• Support pre-commissioning activities.
• Resolve construction issues identified during commissioning.
• Ensure systems are safely and properly released to commissioning.
• Support final project completion and handover.
• Provide accurate daily and weekly construction reports.
• Report construction progress, productivity, manpower and equipment utilization.
• Identify key construction risks and constraints.
• Report schedule deviations and recovery actions.
• Provide updates on contractor performance.
• Track construction milestones.
• Report safety, quality and environmental performance.
• Provide clear escalation of issues requiring Project Manager or Project Director intervention.
• Participate in project management and client progress meetings.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the Project Manager, Project Director and senior management.
• Coordinate effectively with engineering, procurement, commissioning, HSE, quality and project controls.
• Maintain professional relationships with contractors and subcontractors.
• Represent the project professionally with the client.
• Coordinate with operations and site stakeholders.
• Support resolution of site interface issues.
• Ensure communication is timely, clear and appropriate to the urgency of the issue.
  
  

About You

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Engineering, Construction Management, Civil/Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• 8-15+ years of construction experience, preferably within mining, minerals processing, metals or heavy industrial projects.
• Significant experience in a Construction Manager, Senior Construction Manager, Area Construction Manager or equivalent leadership position.
• Proven experience managing large-scale construction projects.
• Extensive experience managing multidisciplinary construction activities.
• Strong experience managing EPC, EPCM and/or major construction contractors.
• Demonstrated experience through construction, mechanical completion and commissioning.
• Strong understanding of construction planning, sequencing, productivity and project controls.
• Experience working on remote mining or industrial sites.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large site-based teams.
• Strong understanding of construction HSE and quality requirements.
• Willingness and ability to work on a FIFO rotation.
• Experience with major greenfield mining projects.
• Experience with brownfield expansions and shutdowns.
• Experience in remote and challenging environments.
• Experience with large-scale processing facilities and mine infrastructure.
• Experience managing construction projects involving multiple EPC/EPCM contractors.
• Visible and hands-on leadership style.
• Ability to command respect across construction teams.
• Strong understanding of the realities of remote construction.
• Ability to maintain productivity and morale during challenging project phases.
• Strong personal commitment to safety.
• Ability to influence contractors and employees to maintain high safety standards.
• Willingness to stop work when required.
• Ability to make timely decisions in a fast-moving construction environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize competing construction issues.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Ability to communicate with tradespeople, superintendents, engineers, contractors, senior management and clients.
• Strong meeting and coordination skills.
• Understanding of construction contracts, variations and claims.
• Strong awareness of cost and productivity.
• Ability to identify commercial and schedule implications of field decisions.
• Ability to build strong multidisciplinary teams.
• Collaborative approach to engineering, construction and commissioning interfaces.
• Ability to work effectively with multiple contractors and stakeholders.
  
  

We’re committed to a fair and human hiring process. All applications are reviewed by a member of our team and are not automatically screened or rejected by AI.

Why Ausenco?

We Support Individual Growth And Aim To Allow You To Work In a Way That Plays To Your Strengths. Beyond a Competitive Remuneration Package We Offer

Career advancement - Embark on a journey of continuous growth through technical training, mentorship initiatives, and networking opportunities.

Work Life Balance – Experience the best of both worlds with our hybrid work model, allowing you to balance office days with working from home; and progressive parental leave benefits to foster family needs and professional life.

Holistic approach to wellness – Take a proactive approach to your overall wellbeing. Access to confidential counselling, information services and a benefits program that supports your health & wellness.

Accessible leadership team – Work with highly reputable industry leaders who value your contribution.

Our people don’t settle for the status quo. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and want to help set a new standard in sustainability, we’ll help you find your place. This means working with you to develop a unique career path and skillset to match your ambition.

We’re proud of the work we do, and we do it within a culture that is open, honest, and cooperative. We have a history of attracting visionary people who embrace challenges and deliver creative solutions for every project, and your voice is an important part of the conversation.

As a global company we embrace and encourage diversity in its fullest sense – gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, experience, nationality, colour, language, religion, location, disability, education, skills, working styles and time availability. Our work environments are based on mutual trust and respect for the rights and opportunities of every individual.

Salary range: $130,000 - $180,000 annually

Expected Salary: Variation in salary is determined by factors such as qualifications, relevant years of experience, and prevailing market conditions for the specific role.

Join us and work a better way.

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