Role search
Get an Interim Head of Construction who can own construction preconstruction phase execution.
No postings. No stacks of resumes. No chasing. You choose from a short list of people who have done this before.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you engage someone we present.
Interim Headhunters starts with the work behind this request: An interim Head of Construction occupies a tactical executive seat distinct from a VP. While a VP manages broad portfolios and capital strategy, the Head of Construction executes the build.
This is what we do all day: place interim executives, interim managers and contract professionals.
Need someone now? Call 305-306-4829.
- No upfront fee
- 2 to 3 vetted consultants per assignment
- Matched to your industry
- You choose
- Interim plus permanent search
- Interim Head of Construction
The judgment call
What this hire really comes down to
An interim Head of Construction occupies a tactical executive seat distinct from a VP. While a VP manages broad portfolios and capital strategy, the Head of Construction executes the build. You need an operator who identifies why site progress stopped and whether a general contractor is failing to manage their subcontractors or if the project drawings lack necessary detail. This role resolves the gap between design intent and physical reality.
A successful interim lead manages the specific risks of your current project phase. They do not oversee from a desk. They analyze the structural sequencing and MEP coordination to prevent rework. When the project faces budget pressure, this leader decides what can be modified in value engineering without compromising life safety or structural integrity. They prioritize progress while protecting your equity interest against site-level failures.
What we check
What we check before you see anyone
- We verify the candidate has led the preconstruction phase for specific asset classes like high-rise residential or data centers. We look for proof that they personally defined scope gaps before the start of site work. This prevents the classic mistake of signing a contract that lacks clarity on finishes or site logistics, which often leads to expensive change orders during the late stages of the build.
- We audit their history of contractor management. We require evidence that they enforced general contractor compliance during significant site volatility. We ensure they have the temperament to withhold progress payments when safety or quality benchmarks remain unmet. We do not rely on claims of project completion, instead reviewing the specific metrics of how they handled site-level performance deficiencies and vendor disputes.
- We confirm their technical grasp of building codes and municipal inspections. We look for experience in jurisdictions that mandate complex safety reporting and high-density egress requirements. We check if they successfully negotiated permit extensions or variances in past roles, ensuring they can handle the intense administrative pressure that often accompanies the vertical building process in urban markets.
- We test their reporting ability to equity partners and owners. We identify if they clarify the root cause of schedule delays rather than masking them with optimistic forecasts. We ensure they have the backbone to stop work when safety risks exceed acceptable thresholds or when structural elements deviate from the approved drawings, providing you with transparent, actionable intelligence regarding your asset.
Sourcing
Where we find them
We find these experts within private development firms where they oversee direct construction operations. These individuals are often the primary technical point of contact for ownership during the build. They move to interim work when they finish a major development cycle and seek a temporary assignment that requires deep technical intervention rather than long-term management of staff or office politics.
Our pipeline includes consultants who previously functioned as owners' representatives on large-scale capital projects. These professionals possess the rigor required for independent oversight. They move to interim roles because they prefer solving specific site problems over the administrative burdens associated with permanent executive positions. They bring a neutral perspective to your project, prioritizing your financial and operational success over internal company dynamics or pre-existing relationships with contractors.
Where searches go wrong
Mistakes we see
- Hiring someone with a background only in design or architectural planning. Design expertise does not translate to managing a GC on a muddy site with ongoing labor disputes and complex field coordination needs.
- Expecting a candidate to build a culture or reorganize a team. An interim hire must deliver the project on schedule. They lack the time or mandate to fix long-standing firm personnel issues.
- Neglecting to check their specific experience with the current construction delivery model. Someone who has only managed design-build projects will struggle to manage a hard-bid contract with multiple prime contractors or complex sequencing requirements.
The search
How the Interim Head of Construction search runs
- We map your project requirements to candidates who have delivered similar vertical assets. We exclude those whose experience is limited to horizontal infrastructure or road work. We screen for active knowledge of current building material costs and labor market conditions in your specific region to ensure they can provide accurate project guidance.
- We present candidates based on their ability to solve your current site bottlenecks. You meet individuals who have already identified standard risks in your project type and can discuss their approach to mitigating those risks during the first week, ensuring immediate value add upon commencement of the engagement.
- We facilitate interviews focused on project history. We ask candidates to walk through a specific site failure they encountered and how they forced a resolution with the general contractor. You select the leader who matches your technical and authority needs for the duration of the project.
Questions
How does this role differ from an interim VP of Construction?
A VP typically manages the broader portfolio and strategy. The Head of Construction focuses on site execution and specific project delivery.
What authority does this interim hire hold?
They hold decision authority over general contractor management, change order approval, and site safety protocols. They report directly to ownership or project investors.
Do you charge an upfront fee?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire.
How do you verify their site experience?
We conduct direct references regarding their handling of specific structural or MEP conflicts during active construction. We also review their history of municipal permit and code compliance.
What replacement terms apply?
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
How are recruiting fees agreed?
No upfront fee. You pay only if you engage someone we present. We scope the assignment before quoting; the fee page explains our model.
How soon can we see options?
Availability depends on the assignment and the people who fit it. We qualify interest and commitments rather than promising a shortlist date before the search is scoped.
What if the scope grows?
Discuss new responsibilities before adding them to the engagement. Agree the priorities and record any change to the brief and terms.
Can we extend an engagement?
Discuss what remains unfinished and whether the same responsibility is still needed. Extensions depend on the person's commitments and the agreed engagement terms.
Can the appointment become permanent?
A permanent move can be discussed if both sides want it. Review the future role and the applicable agreement instead of assuming that temporary coverage automatically converts.
How is a confidential search handled?
Tell us what can be disclosed and whom we must not contact. We agree those boundaries before approaching people; do not send sensitive records with an initial brief.
What are the replacement terms?
We offer a candidate replacement guarantee on standard search agreements. The applicable period and exact terms are set out in the signed client recruiting agreement.
What do you not do?
We do not sell job-board reposting as a search or bill hourly for recruiting work. We do not take a retainer unless expressly agreed, and an introduction does not authorize an engagement.
Tell us the seat
No upfront fee. You pay only if you hire. Share the title, the situation and the timing. A person reads it.
Interim Head of Construction by industry and related roles
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The Six-Step Search
What do you get at each step of the search?
We agree what the person must own before contacting anyone. You see how the search is scoped and which backgrounds we pursue. We speak with candidates about the work before presenting them. The Six-Step Search gives you useful written notes and support through interviews, rather than a pile of applications.
- 01
Scope call
We talk through the seat, the business and what has to change.
You get: A one-page role brief you approve before we search.
- 02
Market map
We work out where people who have done this job actually sit.
You get: A short note on the pool and how we plan to reach it.
- 03
Direct outreach
We approach people who are not looking at job boards.
You get: Progress updates so you are never chasing us.
- 04
Screening
We interview every candidate on the work, not the resume.
You get: Written notes on fit, availability and terms for each person.
- 05
Shortlist and interviews
You meet a short list. We handle the scheduling.
You get: Several vetted options and a debrief after each interview.
- 06
Offer and start
You choose. We help settle terms and the start date.
You get: Confirmed terms, a start date and check-ins after day one.
Tell us who you need.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you engage someone we present.
Send us the seat. We will take it from there.
No upfront fee. You pay only if you engage someone we present.