Senior Quality Assurance Manager - Construction

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Quality Assurance Manager to lead quality oversight for a major construction management team at a premier energy account in Houston. In this critical role, you will be the guardian of project quality, ensuring all construction and maintenance activities meet the highest standards of safety, specification, and operational excellence.

You will be embedded within a dynamic, on-site team, acting as the key liaison between contractors, project leadership, and facility operations. If you are a seasoned quality professional with a passion for construction safety and a keen eye for detail, we invite you to apply and help us build a better, safer workplace.

What You'll Do:

• Lead On-Site Quality & Contractor Oversight: Provide direct, daily oversight of construction and maintenance contractors. You will be the primary on-site authority ensuring all work is executed in strict compliance with project specifications, contracts, and rigorous safety standards.
• Drive Quality Assurance & Control (QA/QC): Champion the QA/QC process from start to finish. This includes conducting regular field inspections, verifying work against approved designs, reviewing and validating contractor submittals and test results, and meticulously documenting all findings.
• Manage Non-Conformances & Corrective Actions: Proactively identify, document, and track quality deficiencies. You will lead the follow-up process to ensure corrective actions are implemented effectively and in a timely manner, preventing recurrence and driving continuous improvement.
• Champion HSSE Excellence: Promote a zero-harm safety culture by conducting regular site safety inspections, engaging with contractors on Self-Audit Plans and Job Risk Assessments (JRAs), and actively participating in toolbox talks and incident investigations.
• Oversee High-Risk Activities & Permitting: Manage the permit-to-work system for high-risk activities, including hot work, confined space entry, energy isolation/LOTO, and critical lifts. You will verify that all safety prerequisites are met before work commences.
• Coordinate Complex Operations: Attend and contribute to Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS) meetings to de-conflict activities and minimize operational risks in occupied facilities. You will also support demobilization planning and site handovers, ensuring seamless transitions.
• Facilitate Clear Communication & Collaboration: Serve as the central point of contact, reporting directly to the Project Manager while liaising closely with Facilities Management. You will proactively communicate schedule impacts, access needs, and risk mitigation strategies to ensure construction activities do not disrupt building operations or business continuity.
• Participate in Audits & Quality Planning: Engage in proactive quality planning to identify potential risks and implement preventative controls. Take part in formal audits and quality walkdowns to maintain compliance and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

What You Bring:

• Proven Construction QA/QC Experience: A minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in a quality assurance role within the construction industry, ideally on large-scale or energy-related projects.
• Deep Technical & Regulatory Knowledge: Strong understanding of construction standards, building codes, and regulatory compliance. Experience in verifying contractor qualifications, licenses, and certifications.
• Safety Leadership: Demonstrated commitment to HSSE with experience conducting safety inspections, facilitating safety meetings, and enforcing risk mitigation for high-consequence work.
• Permit-to-Work Expertise: Proficient in issuing, managing, and auditing permits for high-risk activities (LOTO, hot work, confined space, working at heights).
• Exceptional Communication & Coordination Skills: Ability to effectively communicate complex technical information to diverse stakeholders, from contractors to senior management, and coordinate efforts across multiple teams.
• Risk & Problem-Solving Acumen: A proactive mindset for identifying operational risks (especially in SIMOPS environments) and a systematic approach to problem-solving, from identifying deficiencies to implementing lasting corrective measures.
• Technical Proficiency: Comfortable using standard office software and quality management systems for documentation and reporting.

Minimum Qualifications & Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in construction quality assurance, quality control, or a directly related field.
• Leadership: Minimum of 3 years of experience in a leadership or supervisory capacity, guiding teams and influencing contractor performance.

MUST-HAVE Core Competencies:

• Construction Oversight & Contractor Management
• QA/QC Inspection, Auditing, and Corrective Action Management
• HSSE Leadership & Risk Mitigation
• Permit-to-Work System Management (LOTO, Hot Work, Confined Space)
• Cross-Functional Coordination (Project Management, Facilities, Contractors)
• Regulatory & Technical Compliance Verification