Assistant Project Manager - Construction & Facilities

At Ben E. Keith Company, our legacy is strong—and our future is even stronger.

For more than a century, we’ve been leaders in fine food and premium beverage distribution, known for delivering excellence and building lasting partnerships. Today, our Food Division spans multiple states, and our Beverage Division brings top beverage brands to communities across Texas.

But what truly sets us apart is our commitment to people. We invest in our employees, empower growth, and create opportunities to make an impact—because when our people succeed, so do our customers and our business. Since 1906, that’s been our promise.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Construction & Facilities department serves as the in-house owner's representative for all company construction and facility capital projects. The Assistant Project Manager (APM) manages small to mid-size projects independently from the bid process through closeout, supports senior team members on larger capital projects, and maintains the department's project documentation and file structure.

This is an owner-side role. The APM is responsible for protecting the company's interests in scope, cost, schedule, and quality across general contractors, architects, engineers, and vendors, and for ensuring that completed work conforms to company construction standards and specifications.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Planning & Development

• Define project scope, objectives, budget, and schedule; identify constraints, challenges, and opportunities early in the project lifecycle.
• Prepare detailed cost estimates and evaluate value engineering alternatives that reduce cost without compromising quality or company standards.
• Assess project risks — budget, schedule, design, and existing site conditions — and develop plans to avoid, transfer, mitigate, or accept them.
• Coordinate with architects and engineers to develop conceptual designs that conform to company construction guidelines and specifications.

Procurement & Bidding

• Draft RFPs and RFQs that define the scope of work and the applicable company construction standards.
• Manage the competitive bid process end to end: bidder solicitation, response to bidder questions, bid leveling and comparison, and award recommendation.
• Evaluate proposals on qualifications, experience, proposed schedule, and completeness of scope — not price alone.
• Support vendor approval and setup for payment, including insurance certificates and tax documentation.

Design & Technical Review

• Review drawings and specifications for constructability, code compliance, and conformance to company standards.
• Review and respond to RFIs from general contractors, subcontractors, and design teams; route items to the architect or engineer of record and track each to closure.
• Review submittals and shop drawings for compliance with the contract documents.
• Review contractor schedules for sequencing logic, activity duration, and milestone alignment.
• Produce drawing markups, takeoffs, and coordination documents in Bluebeam Revu.

Project Execution & Field Oversight

• Run project meetings; record and distribute minutes and drive follow-up items to completion.
• Monitor construction progress against the approved schedule and report status to internal leadership.
• Track permitting and inspection milestones through project completion.
• Perform closeout punch walks with contractors and design teams; compile deficiency lists and verify timely correction.
• Conduct annual facility inspections at assigned divisions, documenting maintenance issues and defects with recommended corrective action in a written report.

Financial Management

• Track project costs against the internal estimate and approved budget through the life of the project.
• Review, code, and route invoices, pay applications, and change orders for approval and payment.
• Submit and reconcile expense reports.

Documentation & Record Management

• Maintain the department's project file structure and document control standards.
• Manage project archives — drawings, contracts, warranties, closeout documents, and O&M manuals — for accuracy, organization, and retrieval.
• Keep project lists, logs, and construction management software current and accessible to the team.

Communication & Coordination

• Serve as a day-to-day point of contact between divisional personnel, company leadership, contractors, and design consultants.
• Support division requests related to construction and general facility maintenance.
• Communicate project status, risks, and decisions clearly and proactively to all stakeholders.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• [3]+ years of experience in construction in any of the following: construction design, project management, estimating, project engineering, superintendence, or owner's representation.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, specifications, and contract documents.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to hold contractors accountable professionally.
• Demonstrated organization and time management across multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.
• Self-motivated and able to carry assigned projects with limited daily oversight.
• Sound problem-solving judgment and the ability to resolve field issues as they arise.
• Valid driver's license and the ability to travel to project sites and divisions.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in specifically Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field.
• Working knowledge of commercial construction means, methods, materials, sequencing, and best practices.
• Experience working in Bluebeam Revu, AutoCAD, or Adobe Acrobat.
• Familiarity with applicable building codes, safety regulations, and the permitting process.
• Experience with distribution, warehouse, cold storage, or refrigerated facility construction.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Corporate office environment with regular travel to active construction sites and operating distribution facilities.
• Site conditions may include uneven terrain, elevated work areas, refrigerated and freezer environments, and active warehouse traffic.
• Must be able to walk job sites, climb ladders and stairs, and wear required personal protective equipment.
• Travel:  Approximately [10-20]% — periodic travel to divisions and active project sites.
• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.

We offer employees the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in collaborative, results-driven environments supported by competitive benefits, including:

• Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
• 401(k) with Company Match + 100% Company-Paid Profit Sharing
• Paid Time Off & Holidays
• Wellness, EAP & Educational Assistance

At Ben E. Keith, we value a diverse and inclusive workforce where different perspectives drive better decisions and innovation. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, considering all qualified applicants, including minorities, females, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.