Summer Associate (Summer 2027)

About the role

At Clark, we build leaders—individuals who take ownership, rise to challenges, and deliver the Clark standard of excellence. The Summer Associate Program is your opportunity to build a comprehensive understanding of the construction industry and our business. As a summer associate, you will be fully embedded with a team on a jobsite or in a department, gaining hands-on experience across project management, field management, project development, and business operations. You will become an integrated member of the Clark community through training and development opportunities, social events, jobsite tours, and formal training sessions led by Clark experts.

Program cornerstones

• Capstone Project: A team-based project that challenges you to develop innovative solutions for real-time business opportunities. You will present your findings directly to company leadership, gaining visibility and the chance to make a tangible impact.
• Passport Experience: A curated series of experiences designed to guide your summer journey. The Passport showcases the full breadth of Clark’s business, helps you establish meaningful connections across the company, and ensures you gain essential industry knowledge.

This immersive, full-time program runs for 8–10 weeks and begins in late May or early June.

Responsibilities

• Project Management:
  • Review gross billings, track change orders, and subcontractor requisitions
  • Manage the submittals, RFI, and material tracking process
  • Become a trusted advisor to subcontractors to plan for a successful field installation
• Field Management:
  • Monitor tradeworkers with emphasis on the quality of work and safety
  • Assist with schedule management and site logistics
  • Resolve unforeseen challenges within installation, schedule, and trade partner coordination
• Project Development:
  • Review initial contract documents, solicit, and provide preliminary evaluations of subcontractor bids
  • Perform quantity takeoffs, prepare the overall bid proposal, and quantify labor and material prices required for projects
  • Collaborate to execute subcontractor agreements, review the scope of work, and manage relationships with subcontractors
• Business Operations: Explore the essential functions that keep the company running smoothly, gaining a holistic view of the Clark organization.

Qualifications

• Pursuing an undergraduate degree or equivalent, or a graduate degree
• Interest and passion for the construction industry

What a successful candidate looks like

We look for individuals who embody these core principles:

• Enthusiasm & Drive: Be punctual and dedicated, arrive early for meetings and events, be a proactive team player, take initiative, represent the company professionally, and build trust with your team, clients, and stakeholders.
• Delivery & Performance: Reliably meet role expectations and commitments, follow Clark’s standard procedures, take on new responsibilities, dig into details, bring solutions to problems, take ownership, be accountable, and demonstrate responsiveness with a sense of urgency.
• Learning & Growth: Immerse yourself in Clark’s culture, fulfill Clark Corporate University learning requirements, be engaged and self-directed in your learning, continuously build technical expertise and business acumen.

The physical side of the role

This is an active, hands-on role. Expect to be on your feet frequently, navigating active job sites with uneven terrain, stairs, ladders, and hoists. The work is physically demanding and requires a full range of motion, including bending, kneeling, and reaching. You’ll need to be comfortable frequently lifting and carrying materials up to 25 pounds, and occasionally up to 50 pounds. The role requires effective communication and visual acuity for reading plans and inspecting work. It also includes desk time in the office for computer work, document review, and meetings.

Your work environment

You’ll spend a significant amount of time on active construction sites, adapting to all kinds of weather, moderate to loud noise levels, and working in elevated or confined areas with moving mechanical equipment and the fast pace of a project in progress. You will also spend time in a typical office setting with moderate noise levels. Safety is the top priority; you must follow Clark Construction’s safety policies and procedures and all applicable laws at all locations.

Our high-performing culture

This is a demanding, high-performance environment. We seek candidates energized by challenge, who thrive under pressure, and are prepared to do what it takes to achieve exceptional results. Success requires significant commitment, including flexibility to work extended hours, especially during critical project phases or client deadlines.

Drug-free workplace

Clark promotes a drug-free workplace. A pre-employment fitness-for-duty screening is required, and random fitness-for-duty tests of employees are conducted quarterly.

Pay

The hourly rate for this role is $23–$29 per hour, determined by factors such as geographic location, education, experience, and market considerations.