General Manager, Civil Operations

Reports to CEO, Biigtigong Dbenjgan Location Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, Ontario (approximately 15 minutes east of Marathon, Ontario)

Role type: Senior operational leadership – heavy civil construction

Position Mandate: Mkwa Contracting is seeking an experienced heavy-civil construction leader to provide overall operational leadership for Mkwa and Cress Contracting. This is not a traditional project management role and it is not intended to be a desk-based corporate general manager position. The successful candidate must be equally comfortable reviewing project performance and financial results with senior management, challenging a bid or equipment request, planning manpower and equipment across upcoming work, and being present in the field with foremen and crews. The General Manager, Civil Operations will be accountable for safe, efficient and profitable execution of the company’s work and for ensuring that Mkwa and Cress has the people, equipment, systems and leadership capacity needed to pursue and deliver future opportunities.

The Opportunity: Mkwa and Cress are First Nation-owned companies operating on the traditional territory of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg in Northwestern Ontario. Their work and potential opportunities include heavy civil construction, mining, road and infrastructure projects, including snow removal and winter maintenance contracts, opportunities associated with MTO, the Hemlo mine and the future Generation Mining project. Because Mkwa and Cress are smaller organizations than many large civil contractors, this role requires breadth. The successful candidate will lead the operation while remaining sufficiently hands-on to support project teams, review estimates, assess field execution, help solve technical and operational problems, and provide continuity when gaps arise.

Candidate Profile: The ideal candidate is a seasoned heavy-civil construction professional who has progressed through field and project leadership roles and developed strong commercial and business judgment. They do not need to come from a large corporate general-manager role; a high-performing senior field leader, Construction Manager, Operations Manager or similar leader with the ability and ambition to take broader business responsibility may be an excellent fit.

Key Accountabilities:

• Operational Leadership & Project Execution: Provide overall leadership and direction for Mkwa and Cress civil construction operations and active oversight of project managers, foremen and field personnel, establishing clear accountability for safety, quality, schedule, productivity and financial performance. Ensure construction plans, schedules, manpower, equipment, materials and subcontractor requirements are properly developed and coordinated before and during execution, including seasonal planning and readiness for snow removal and winter maintenance contracts. Regularly review project progress, productivity, risks, opportunities and forecasted outcomes and intervene early where corrective action is required. Maintain strong field visibility and credibility, with the ability to review site conditions, construction methods, drawings, specifications and operational challenges. Promote consistent project startup, execution, reporting and closeout practices across the organization.
• Manpower, Scheduling & Resource Utilization: Lead workforce and resource planning across current and upcoming projects, including short- and medium-term manpower forecasting and seasonal staffing requirements for snow removal and winter maintenance. Maximize productive and billable utilization of employees and equipment while avoiding unnecessary labour carrying costs and idle assets. Ensure staffing plans reflect project schedules, skill requirements, expected workload and realistic production. Identify recruitment, training and succession needs early enough to support upcoming work rather than reacting after projects begin. Support and provide senior operational oversight to the team responsible for equipment allocation and project logistics, helping ensure resources are coordinated efficiently across multiple work fronts. Support the development and use of appropriate look-ahead schedules, working with project and field personnel to identify labour, equipment, material and subcontractor constraints before they affect project execution.
• Estimating, Bidding & Commercial Oversight: Provide senior-level oversight and review of significant estimates, tenders and proposals before submission. Use construction experience, technical education and commercial judgment to confirm that bids are complete, competitive and aligned with Mkwa and Cress’s actual operational capabilities. Review and challenge assumptions involving labour productivity, manpower, equipment requirements and rates, materials, subcontractors, schedule, site conditions, risk, overhead and expected margin.