Construction Consultant

About the role

The Vertex Companies, LLC (Vertex) is a $180M global consulting firm that integrates strategic advisory, project management, and dispute resolution services for organizations facing complex challenges in a world of risk. We embody our core values of embracing lifelong learning, operating with urgency, maximizing value, and driving collaboration to better outcomes for our clients, colleagues, and communities.

The Construction Consultant will support the analysis, preparation, and evaluation of complex construction claims and dispute matters involving schedule delays, productivity impacts, cost overruns, change orders, and project performance issues. Working alongside senior consultants, subject matter experts, attorneys, owners, contractors, and project stakeholders, this position will perform detailed project reviews, develop technical analyses, prepare client deliverables, and contribute to expert consulting engagements across a broad range of construction projects. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience in construction management, project controls, scheduling, project engineering, or operations with a general contractor, construction manager, owner's project manager, or engineering consulting firm. This role offers a unique opportunity to apply practical construction knowledge to dispute resolution, forensic analysis, and claims consulting.

Responsibilities

Work Product Creation, Project Management, Coordination with Team Members

• Analyze construction project documentation, including contracts, schedules, daily reports, RFIs, submittals, change orders, meeting minutes, cost records, and correspondence.
• Assist in the preparation of technical analyses related to schedule delays, disruption, acceleration, productivity loss, and cost impacts.
• Develop and maintain construction schedule analyses utilizing CPM scheduling methodologies.
• Perform schedule updates, forensic schedule reviews, and delay impact assessments.
• Evaluate project performance against baseline plans, milestones, budgets, and contractual obligations.
• Prepare written reports, exhibits, presentations, and technical memoranda for clients and dispute proceedings.
• Develop project timelines, fact chronologies, and supporting documentation for claims and dispute engagements.
• Assist in quantification and analysis of damages associated with delays, disruptions, inefficiencies, and changed work.
• Produce clear, accurate, and defensible work products suitable for mediation, arbitration, litigation, or negotiation.
• Support expert witness teams through research, analysis, document organization, and exhibit preparation.

Operations

• Manage multiple client engagements simultaneously while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.
• Participate in project meetings, client interviews, site visits, and document review sessions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of consultants, construction professionals, attorneys, accountants, and industry experts.
• Maintain project records and ensure adherence to internal quality control procedures.
• Assist with discovery efforts, data collection, and project information management.
• Support business development activities through proposal preparation, market research, and client relationship management.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, analytical methodologies, and best practices within the claims and disputes practice.
• Communicate findings effectively to clients and project stakeholders.
• Travel periodically for project site visits, client meetings, and engagement support activities.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a Bachelor's degree and 5 years of related experience, a Master's degree and 3 years of related experience, or 8 years of related experience and no degree.
• Experience working on commercial, institutional, infrastructure, industrial, healthcare, life sciences, or large-scale construction projects.
• Understanding of construction project delivery methodologies, including Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, CM-at-Risk, and Integrated Project Delivery.
• Demonstrated ability to review and interpret construction schedules, contracts, and cost documentation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Skills

• Cost tracking, forecasting, earned value concepts, and commercial management practices.
• Construction contracts, change management, and project administration processes.
• Claims preparation, documentation standards, and dispute resolution fundamentals.
• Construction means and methods across multiple project types.

Benefits

• Multiple healthcare and dental plan options.
• Company-paid Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability coverage.
• 401(k) plan with immediate matching and full vesting.
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Robust Employee Assistance Program.
• Suite of exclusive perks that enhance everyday life.
• Generous paid time off program, including vacation, sick time, and paid holidays (with prorated options for eligible part-time employees).
• “Lifetime of Learning” program offering tuition reimbursement and personalized support for employees pursuing advanced education.

Pay

Salary ranges are structured by geographical tier to support meaningful career growth over time. A new hire’s starting compensation is determined by experience, geographical location, scope of the role at the time of hire, and company affordability.

• Geographical Tier AA (Sample Locations: NY Metro, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle): $70,000 – $168,000 USD annually
• Geographical Tier A (Sample Locations: Irvine CA, Middlesex NJ, Tacoma WA, Boston, Alexandria): $65,000 – $155,000 USD annually
• Geographical Tier B (Sample Locations: Baltimore, Chicago, Anchorage, Portland): $59,000 – $142,000 USD annually
• Geographical Tier C (Sample Locations: Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Miami): $54,000 – $129,000 USD annually
• Geographical Tier D (Sample Locations: Mississippi, Mobile AL, Bowling Green KY, Tulsa): $51,000 – $123,000 USD annually

Total compensation includes a base salary and a discretionary variable bonus program, depending on level.