Executive Hiring Guide: Construction & Building Industry

Construction and building companies need executives who can manage large-scale projects, navigate labor challenges, and drive safety and efficiency. This guide covers recruiting top construction leaders.

The Construction Executive Landscape

The construction industry faces a generational leadership transition alongside unprecedented infrastructure investment. Sustainability mandates, modular construction, and construction technology are reshaping how projects are delivered.

The industry's aging leadership pipeline creates both urgency and opportunity — companies that invest in executive recruitment now will secure competitive advantages for the next decade.

Key Executive Roles

Critical roles include Chief Operating Officer, VP of Construction, Chief Safety Officer, VP of Preconstruction, Head of Business Development, Chief Sustainability Officer, VP of Field Operations, and Director of Project Controls.

Growing demand for technology-forward construction leaders has created roles like VP of Digital Construction and Head of BIM/VDC that attract talent from adjacent industries.

What to Look for in Candidates

Construction executives must demonstrate project delivery excellence, safety leadership, and client relationship management. Look for leaders with experience managing portfolios exceeding $500M, driving safety metrics improvement, and building high-performance field teams.

The best construction leaders balance operational discipline with strategic vision — they can manage today's projects while positioning the company for tomorrow's market opportunities.

Common Hiring Challenges

Construction executive talent is geographically distributed and often deeply embedded in long-term projects, making transitions complex. Leaders may be reluctant to leave mid-project, creating timing challenges.

The industry's relationship-driven nature means that executives often bring significant client relationships — making non-compete and non-solicitation provisions important negotiation considerations.

Partnering with an Executive Search Firm

Construction executive search requires a firm that understands the project-based nature of the industry and can navigate timing around project milestones.

Mogul's construction practice has placed leaders at firms including Webber, Consigli, PCL Construction, and Andersen, with expertise across commercial, infrastructure, and specialty construction.