Superintendent - Pharmaceutical Construction in Bethesda, Maryland at Coakley & Williams Construction Inc.

The Superintendent is responsible for overseeing all on-site construction activities, ensuring projects are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with quality standards, contract requirements, and applicable regulatory expectations. This position serves as the primary field leader and works closely with project management teams, owners, engineers, architects, subcontractors, and facility stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
The ideal candidate brings experience managing pharmaceutical, biotechnology, laboratory, cleanroom, GMP-regulated, or other mission-critical projects where quality, documentation, commissioning, and operational continuity are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily on-site construction operations from mobilization through project closeout.
• Promote and enforce company safety policies and all applicable local, state, and federal safety regulations.
• Coordinate subcontractors, field personnel, material deliveries, equipment, inspections, and site logistics.
• Partner with the Project Manager to establish project goals, execution plans, staffing requirements, and project strategies.
• Develop, review, and maintain project schedules in collaboration with project teams and schedulers.
• Monitor short-term schedules, manpower, productivity, materials, and subcontractor performance to maintain project milestones.
• Review drawings, specifications, BIM models, submittals, RFIs, and contract documents to identify constructability and coordination issues.
• Lead field coordination for pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, cleanrooms, laboratories, research facilities, sterile processing environments, and other technically complex spaces.
• Coordinate installation activities involving HVAC, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, process piping, clean utilities, controls, and building automation systems.
• Support project teams in maintaining compliance with GMP, FDA-regulated, ISO-classified cleanroom, and other controlled-environment construction requirements where applicable.
• Develop a complete understanding of subcontractor scopes of work and proactively identify gaps, overlaps, and potential change order exposure.
• Verify subcontractors are working from current drawings, specifications, approved submittals, and supplemental project information.
• Implement and maintain the company's quality control program and ensure workmanship meets project standards.
• Lead preconstruction, preparatory, safety, and coordination meetings before major phases of work begin.
• Coordinate permits, inspections, testing, commissioning, validation support activities, punch list completion, and project closeout.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, including as-built drawings and field records.
• Manage general conditions budgets and field labor costs.
• Communicate effectively with owners, facility personnel, architects, engineers, construction managers, inspectors, commissioning agents, subcontractors, and internal project teams.
• Support project pursuits, interviews, presentations, preconstruction services, and proposal efforts as needed.
• Mentor Assistant Superintendents, Field Engineers, Project Engineers, and other project team members.
• Utilize construction technology, scheduling software, digital project controls, and project management platforms to support project execution.

Basic Qualifications

• At least five years of experience managing construction projects valued at more than $20 million.
• Demonstrated experience leading field operations for commercial, public sector, education, pharmaceutical, life sciences, biotechnology, laboratory, cleanroom, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, or similarly complex construction projects.
• Experience overseeing projects in occupied, regulated, mission-critical, GMP-compliant, or highly technical environments preferred.
• Proven record of supporting client satisfaction, project profitability, safety, quality, and schedule performance.
• OSHA 30-Hour Certification, First Aid Certification, and CPR Certification.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, Procore, Bluebeam, Primavera scheduling software, and Building Information Modeling (BIM).
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, contracts, schedules, commissioning plans, and related project documents.
• Experience coordinating complex MEP systems, commissioning activities, and quality assurance processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Experience constructing pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, biotechnology facilities, research laboratories, cleanrooms, aseptic processing spaces, cGMP environments, or regulated healthcare facilities.
• Familiarity with FDA-regulated environments, GMP guidelines, commissioning, qualification, validation support, and contamination-control practices.
• Experience working across commercial, public sector, education, life sciences, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing construction markets.
• Experience participating in preconstruction services, project pursuits, client interviews, and proposal presentations.
• Experience mentoring Assistant Superintendents, Field Engineers, Project Engineers, or other project team members.

Why Join Coakley & Williams Construction?

For nearly six decades, Coakley & Williams Construction has delivered complex projects across commercial, healthcare, life sciences, multifamily, higher education, senior living, government, and specialty markets. Our teams are empowered to lead projects, solve challenging construction problems, build lasting client relationships, and advance their careers through professional development and mentorship opportunities.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values collaboration, safety, innovation, integrity, and respect.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Coakley & Williams Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and making employment decisions based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Apply Today
If you have experience leading pharmaceutical, life sciences, cleanroom, laboratory, healthcare, mission-critical, or complex commercial construction projects and are looking to join a collaborative, employee-focused organization, we encourage you to apply.

Wage Transparency

In accordance with the MarylandWage Transparency Law, the base salary range for this position is: $100,000 - $160,000 yr.

Coakley & Williams Construction offers a comprehensive total compensation and benefits package that includes health, dental and vision coverage, employer-matched 401(k), paid time off and holidays, performance-based bonuses, wellness program, and other voluntary benefits and leave types. The determination of salary is based on the candidates individual professional experience, qualifications, education, skills, and training.