Director of Self-Perform Operations

Owen Ames Kimball
Owen Ames Kimball

Operations · Full-time

Grand Rapids, MI, USA

Posted on Oct 13, 2026

Job Title: Director of Self-Perform Operations

Location: Grand Rapids, MI

Classification: Full-Time

Why Build Your Career at Owen-Ames‑Kimball

At Owen-Ames-Kimball, you are not just taking a job. You are joining a team that has spent more than 130 years proving that great buildings are built by great people. We trust our employees to do meaningful work, encourage them to grow, and support them with leaders who value integrity as much as results. We are people who value people, and with an average tenure of 12 years, that is something we live every day.

O-A-K is launching a self-perform carpentry and general trades division based in West Michigan. Our crews will take on rough/finish carpentry, doors, frames, and hardware, Division 10 specialties, selective demolition, and general conditions work. This is a ground-floor opportunity: you will help build the crews, the standards, and the culture from day one.

About this opportunity

Owen-Ames-Kimball Co. is hiring a Director of Self-Perform Operations, a professional who is an entrepreneurial construction leader to build and lead our self-perform division from the ground up. In this role, you will have full ownership of the division's growth, performance, and profitability while establishing the people, processes, and operational standards that drive long-term success.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, you will partner closely with Preconstruction, Operations, and Field Leadership to identify opportunities, secure work, and deliver exceptional results. This is a unique opportunity for a proven builder and leader to create and scale a self-perform business that becomes a trusted, profitable partner across O-A-K's portfolio of projects.

What you’ll do

  • Lead all aspects of the self-perform division, including strategic planning, staffing, operations, and financial performance.
  • Own and manage the division P&L, annual budgets, revenue goals, and profitability targets.
  • Recruit, hire, develop, and mentor key team members, including superintendents, project managers/estimators, foremen, and craft professionals.
  • Schedule and deploy crews across multiple active jobsites to maximize productivity and maintain targeted labor utilization.
  • Establish and enforce standards for safety, quality, productivity, and jobsite housekeeping.
  • Monitor division performance and provide regular updates to executive leadership on revenue, labor productivity, utilization, backlog, and safety metrics.
  • Partner with the Preconstruction team to identify self-perform opportunities, develop scopes of work, and review pricing strategies prior to submission.
  • Lead procurement efforts and support transparent project delivery practices that build trust with owners and project stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with Safety, Human Resources, Accounting, and Equipment teams to ensure the division has the resources and support needed to succeed.
  • Represent O-A-K in client meetings, project interviews, and interactions with trade partners and industry stakeholders.

What we’re looking for

  • 10+ years of experience in commercial construction field operations.
  • 5+ years of experience leading a self-perform division, specialty trade contractor, carpentry contractor, or similar construction business unit with P&L responsibility.
  • Proven success building, managing, and scheduling multiple crews across concurrent construction projects.
  • Strong understanding of labor tracking, workforce planning, productivity management, and job cost reporting.
  • Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to recruit, develop, and retain high-performing teams.
  • Experience delivering projects in K-12, higher education, healthcare, or similarly complex occupied environments.
  • Knowledge of ICRA requirements, occupied-building construction practices, and client-facing project delivery.
  • Familiarity with prevailing wage requirements and certified payroll administration on public-sector projects.
  • OSHA 30 certification required; OSHA 500 certification preferred.
  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management or a related field preferred; equivalent field leadership experience will be considered.
  • A results-driven, entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build processes, scale operations, and drive profitable growth.

The O-A-K Advantage

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, including but not limited to salary, 401(k) profit sharing, paid time off, health insurance. You’ll work with a close‑knit, supportive team in a low‑turnover culture where people genuinely enjoy what they do. Our size and values mean your contributions are recognized, your work makes a real impact in the communities we serve, and no two days are the same thanks to a variety of engaging, cross‑departmental tasks. Founded in Grand Rapids in 1891, O‑A‑K is a stable, respected company delivering construction projects annually across Michigan, Colorado, and Florida.

Owen-Ames-KimballCo. complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations. O-A-K does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law.

Candidates that accept an offer of employment must undergo and pass pre-employment testing including a drug and background screen.

Notice to External Search Firms: Owen-Ames-KimballCo. does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. O-A-K Talent Acquisition engages with search firms directly for hiring needs.

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