President, Industrial Construction

Kensington International Executive Search • Full-time • Greater Chicago Area, US • 22h ago

President, Union Construction (U.S.)

Overview

Our client is a global leader in engineering and construction, seeking a President of Union Construction. The successful candidate will lead large-scale project execution across the United States. This role oversees a diverse portfolio of complex industrial and infrastructure projects, many exceeding $1B, supporting critical, future-focused assets that underpin modern society.

Role Summary

The President will be accountable for safe, on-time, and on-budget execution of major capital projects in union environments. This leader will need to be adept at leading through direct authority and, equally important, within a highly matrixed organization. The ability to drive performance through influence and cross-functional alignment will be essential.

Key Responsibilities

Lead execution of a national portfolio of large-scale projects (typically $700M–$1B+), ensuring operational excellence across safety, quality, cost, and schedule
Direct and support field operations, including mobilization and management of union workforces exceeding 1,000 personnel
Partner with engineering, commercial, and corporate leadership to align execution strategies with broader business objectives
Build and maintain strong relationships with local, national, and international labor unions
Establish best practices for project delivery, productivity, and labor relations across the portfolio
Provide executive-level reporting on project performance, risks, and mitigation strategies

Qualifications

Proven experience leading execution of large capital projects ($700M–$1B+) in industrial or infrastructure sectors
Deep expertise managing union labor environments at scale, including workforce mobilization and labor relations
Demonstrated ability to lead within a matrixed organization and influence without direct reporting authority
Strong commercial acumen and operational discipline
Track record of delivering complex projects safely and successfully

Leadership Profile

Strategic, yet highly execution-focused
Credible with both field leadership and executive stakeholders
Collaborative and influential, with strong communication skills
Decisive under pressure with a bias toward accountability and results

This is a high-impact leadership role shaping the delivery of critical infrastructure and industrial projects across the U.S., with visibility at the highest levels of a global organization.