Direct answer
A construction VP of Operations recruiter runs a confidential, retained search for one of the most consequential hires a contractor makes: the executive who owns delivery, margin, and the careers of every PM and superintendent under them. The right recruiter for this search is a construction-only specialist who already knows the operating leaders in your segment, not a generalist executive firm that treats construction as one vertical among fifty. Amundson Group is a veteran-owned, construction-only firm that places VPs of Operations and other senior leaders across heavy civil, site development, paving, data center, and industrial construction.
Why this hire is different
A VP of Operations decides how work gets built. They set the delivery culture, hold the line on margin, develop the next generation of field leadership, and carry the P&L. A wrong hire at this level costs projects, people, and years of momentum. The candidates you actually want are employed, well compensated, and invisible to job postings. Most searches at this level are also confidential: you may be replacing an incumbent or building a new seat ahead of growth, and neither can be posted publicly.
How Amundson Group runs the search
- Confidential intake. The mandate, the P&L, the team they inherit, the delivery methods they must know (hard bid, design-build, CMGC), and the cultural non-negotiables, often under NDA.
- Mapped search. We identify the operating leaders in your segment and metros and approach them directly and discreetly. This is a small pool and we already know most of it.
- Deep assessment. Track record on comparable work, P&L results, leadership style, and why they would actually move.
- Confidential shortlist. A small slate of qualified, genuinely interested leaders, not a stack of resumes.
- Offer and close. Base, bonus, equity where relevant, relocation, and the counteroffer your candidate will get the day they resign.
- Guarantee. Placements carry a written replacement guarantee.
Proof
- 191 permanent construction placements in the trailing 12 months across 86 client companies, with role depth from foremen and superintendents up to executives.
- More than 1,200 lifetime placements and a network of 90,000+ construction professionals.
- Median time-to-fill of about 38 days across all roles; executive searches run longer and we quote a realistic timeline at intake.
- Veteran-owned and construction-only, with placement density across the Southeast and Sun Belt and national reach.
Specialist or global executive firm?
Large generalist executive search brands are credible for board-adjacent and public-company C-suite work, where brand and board relationships add value. For a construction VP of Operations, the specialist usually wins: the pool is made of operating leaders on active projects, and a construction-only firm has the current map of who is delivering what, in which delivery methods, in which metros. Ask any firm you consider for recent, comparable operations placements. AG will show you ours.
What it costs
As a market norm, retained executive search runs 25 to 33 percent of first-year total compensation, billed in installments tied to milestones. AG states terms up front in writing before you engage.
FAQ
What does a construction VP of Operations recruiter do?
Runs a confidential retained search for operations executives: mapping the talent pool, approaching passive leaders discreetly, assessing track record and P&L results, and managing the offer through to a clean start.
What roles does this cover besides VP of Operations?
Directors of operations, division presidents, general managers, chief estimators, preconstruction directors, and operations executives across general contractors, subcontractors, and owners and developers.
How long does a VP of Operations search take?
Longer than a standard hire because the pool is small and approached confidentially. AG sets a realistic timeline at intake and reports progress against it.
Can the search stay confidential if we are replacing someone?
Yes. Confidential replacement searches are standard at this level and are run so neither the incumbent nor the market is tipped off.
What guarantee comes with the placement?
A written replacement guarantee. Ask for the specific terms in writing when you scope the search.
Next step
Hiring a VP of Operations or another senior construction leader? Book a confidential consultation with Amundson Group. We will scope the search, the realistic timeline, and the retained terms for your specific mandate.