At JH Kelly, we’re hiring an Area Project Manager to join our mechanical construction team in Boise, working on a high-profile project under the mentorship of a Senior Project Manager. This isn’t a desk job for pushing paper—it’s a field-first role for a driven, humble leader who thrives on solving problems, building trust with crews, and preparing to take the reins as a lead PM on their next project. If you’re resourceful, detail-driven, and ready to learn “The Kelly Way” while delivering results, this is your chance to grow into a leadership powerhouse.
About Us
Celebrating over a century of excellence, JH Kelly is a fourth-generation, family-owned construction powerhouse with a legacy of tackling complex commercial and heavy industrial projects. With offices in Vancouver, Longview, Seattle, Bellingham, WA, and Milwaukie, OR, we’re an industry leader driven by an award-winning team known for safety, quality, and a tight-knit, dynamic culture. Want to dive into our story? Visit https://www.jhkelly.com/.
Who We’re Looking For
You’re a mid-career professional who earns respect through action, not ego. You’re naturally curious, asking the right questions to get to the root of issues, and you follow through with clarity and grit. You’re trusted by field crews and foremen because you listen, deliver, and lead with humility. With a knack for solving problems independently and a passion for mentorship, you see structure and coaching as tools to accelerate your growth into a lead PM. If you’re ready to be a servant leader who drives results while building strong relationships, you’re the kind of high-integrity team player we need.
What You’ll Do
As our Area Project Manager, you’ll support a Senior Project Manager on a complex mechanical construction project, managing key scopes and workflows while developing the skills to lead your own project. This role is about leadership, execution, and growth.
Pay Range
Salary range: $115,000–$150,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications. (FLSA Exempt)
Here’s what you’ll tackle:
- Safety Leadership
- Champion a jobsite culture where safety is the first and last priority every day.
- Support the development and execution of lift plans, cartage plans, and elevated work strategies.
- Be a visible presence in the field, resolving challenges and removing blockers in real time.
- Collaborate with field teams to ensure safe work practices are consistently upheld.
- Quality, Planning, & Execution
- Translate drawings, specs, and P&IDs into clear, actionable work packages for field execution.
- Coordinate procurement, prefabrication, field installation, and testing scopes to meet project requirements.
- Track and verify installation quality through regular walkdowns and checklists, ensuring precision and compliance.
- Drive high standards in execution to deliver work that meets or exceeds expectations.
- Scheduling & Coordination
- Build and maintain project schedules using Critical Path Method (CPM), pull planning, or Last Planner methodologies.
- Identify and manage task-level dependencies to keep crews productive and on track.
- Support RFI resolution and design coordination when JH Kelly is not the Engineer of Record, ensuring seamless alignment.
- Keep schedules tight and crews moving through proactive planning and communication.
- Financial Management
- Track labor and material costs within assigned scopes, maintaining transparency and discipline.
- Identify change conditions, estimate and prepare change orders, and present them to clients for approval.
- Review contracts, change orders, and invoices for accuracy and financial impact.
- Forecast scope-level performance with precision, ensuring budget adherence and project success.
- Team Leadership & Communication
- Mentor project engineers, field engineers, and interns, sharing best practices and fostering their growth.
- Build strong, trust-based relationships with field supervision, subcontractors, and clients.
- Serve as a steady, reliable point of contact for internal stakeholders and clients, enhancing project cohesion.
- Lead with clarity and humility, creating a collaborative, high-trust project culture.
What You Bring
- Experience: 5+ years in project management or project engineering within mechanical or industrial construction, including 3+ years in a leadership role on complex critical-path scopes.
- Skills: Strong understanding of HVAC and process piping systems; ability to read and interpret P&IDs, shop drawings, isometrics, and installation specs; proficiency in project planning, quality control, and safe work execution; familiarity with Autodesk Construction Cloud, Revizto, Stratus, or equivalent tools.
- Mindset: Independent, action-oriented, and results-driven, with a commitment to learning and leading with integrity.
- Personal Attributes: Relational, humble, and clear communicator, able to earn trust across trades, crews, and leadership.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering, Construction Management, or a related construction field.
- Requirements: Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
Physical Requirements
This role requires frequent transitions between office and construction field settings. In the office, you’ll sit for extended periods, performing repetitive tasks like typing and using a mouse. In the field, you’ll stand and walk for long periods on uneven terrain, climb stairs, kneel, crouch, crawl to inspect tight spaces, and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds. Good vision and hearing are essential for reading plans, inspecting work, and communicating on-site. You’ll work outdoors in various weather conditions, adhere to site-specific dress codes, and wear PPE (hard hats, gloves, safety glasses, steel-toed boots). Flexibility to travel between job sites and work outside regular hours is required. Reasonable accommodations are available to support individuals with disabilities.
Pay Range
Salary range: $115,000–$150,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications. (FLSA Exempt)
Why JH Kelly?
Join a family-oriented team with a century-long legacy of excellence and a passion for building projects that matter. Based in Boise, you’ll work on a high-profile mechanical construction project, learning from a Senior Project Manager while positioning yourself to lead your own project. This role offers mentorship, growth, and the chance to become a key leader in a dynamic, award-winning environment that values trust, accountability, and results.
Ready to Lead and Learn?
If you’re a field-connected leader who solves problems with grit, builds trust through humility, and is eager to grow into a lead PM, we want to hear from you. Apply now and show us how you’ll drive project success and embody “The Kelly Way.”
How to Apply
Submit your resume and a brief cover letter. Tell us how you’ve led scopes, supported field teams, and driven results in the past. Please also confirm your availability to work full-time on-site at our Boise, ID location.
JH Kelly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
