Overview
At Morgan, we don’t just build projects, we build careers and futures! Join us as a PROJECT ADMINISTRATION MANAGER and play a pivotal role in our dynamic world of heavy civil construction!
The Role:
Morgan is looking for a people leader to lead and support our Project Administration team. This is a management role, not a senior administrator role. You will be accountable for the performance, development, and deployment of the Project Administrators who support our projects, and you will deliver results through that team rather than by doing the work yourself.
Success in this role is measured by how well the team performs, how quickly new administrators become effective, and how well our Project Managers and Superintendents are supported. It is not measured by the volume of work you personally process. You will set clear standards, delegate with accountability, coach your team through problems, and stay composed and consistent when priorities compete.
What Success Looks Like in the First 12 Months:
- Every active project has a named, trained administrator and a documented backup. No project runs without admin coverage.
- A standardized onboarding and training program is in place, and new administrators work independently within [60] days of starting.
- Timecard, LEMS, and billing-support submissions from projects meet defined accuracy targets and every payroll and client billing deadline. Recurring errors are traced to their root cause and fixed at the source.
- A competency matrix covers every administrator and core skill, and cross-training plans are closing the gaps.
- Every team member has clear expectations, regular one-on-ones, and a development plan.
- A team member has been identified and is being developed as your backup.
Position Details:
- In-Office based position, with project site visits as required
- Monday – Friday 8am-5pm, with an hour for lunch
- Extended hours or site travel may be required during project start-ups, audits, and peak periods.
- Generous Vacation, personal and sick day entitlements
Key Responsibilities:
Leading the Team
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- Lead, coach, and hold accountable a team of Project Administrators. Set clear expectations, give regular feedback, remove barriers, and address performance issues promptly and fairly.
- Delegate deliberately: assign ownership, set standards and deadlines, and follow up. Build the team's capability rather than taking on its workload.
- Own performance management for the team: goal setting, performance reviews, development plans, and corrective action, including Performance Improvement Plans with HR where required.
- Build bench strength through competency matrices, cross-training plans, development pathways, and succession planning so the team is not dependent on any one person, including you.
- Foster a collaborative, service-oriented team culture.
Workforce Planning and Deployment
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- Own the Project Administrator staffing plan and schedule, balancing workload across projects of varying size and complexity. Forecast administration needs against the project pipeline, start-ups, and demobilizations.
- Keep Construction Managers and Operations leadership informed of administration staffing requirements, coverage gaps, and resource allocation.
- Lead the recruitment, selection, onboarding, and integration of new Project Administrators with HR.
- Assign administrators to projects based on scope, complexity, client requirements, and site conditions.
Standards, Process, and Performance
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- Develop and maintain standard administration procedures, templates, and training.
- Draw on the site-specific expertise of experienced administrators to deliver hands-on training, so knowledge is shared across the team rather than held by individuals.
- Set and report team KPIs to Operations leadership each month (for example: timecard accuracy and timeliness, LEMS turnaround, billing deadlines met, and time-to-competency for new hires), with recommendations for improvement.
- Audit project administration files regularly for compliance with company procedures and client contract requirements, including Indigenous participation and local-hire reporting where applicable.
- Find and implement process improvements, and make the most of our systems (Spira and Eclipse).
- Use Microsoft Copilot and other technology to automate routine administrative work and improve efficiency.
Stakeholder Support
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- Partner with Project Managers and Superintendents to understand project requirements, billing deadlines, scope changes, logistics needs, and support priorities.
- Act as the escalation point for administration issues. Resolve concerns with internal and external clients calmly and professionally.
- Coordinate with Payroll, Accounting, HR, HSE, and Procurement so that project administration runs smoothly from start-up to close-out.
Experience / Qualification Requirements:
- 5+ years of administration experience in construction, mining, oil and gas, or a similar project-based industry, including at least 3 years directly managing a team (hiring, performance management, and developing direct reports).
- A proven record of building a team's capability. You can give specific examples of delegating, developing people, and improving team output.
- Composure and sound judgment under pressure. You handle competing priorities, difficult conversations, and escalations professionally and consistently.
- Strong planning and organizational skills. You manage through priorities, systems, and people, not personal effort alone.
- Strong working knowledge of construction project administration, including payroll administration, client billing requirements, LEMS, cost coding, and travel and logistics coordination, sufficient to guide and check the team's work.
- Strong analytical skills and advanced Microsoft Excel skills. You use data to track team performance and spot trends.
- Post-secondary diploma or degree in business, administration, or accounting, or an equivalent mix of education and experience.
- Willing to travel to project sites as required.
Assets:
- Experience with Spira or Eclipse Accounting.
- Experience using Microsoft Copilot or similar tools to drive efficiency.
- Formal leadership training or certification.
About Morgan:
Over the past 40+ years, Morgan has completed over 5400 heavy civil projects. With a growing workforce of more than 1000 skilled professionals, our team is made up of experts in their fields, we move the earth - and we love it!
Our company is committed to the excellence of our work, workplace safety and building trust with our clients. We believe in our people and that they are the backbone of our success. Join us as a Morganite and be a part of our commitment to our values and pillars of excellence!
Why Choose Morgan Construction?
- Competitive Compensation
- Comprehensive Benefits including extended health, dental, and life insurance
- Stability and Growth: Opportunities for career development and training.
Use of AI Technology:
AI technology is used to assist with screening / assessing applications.
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