CALIFORNIA FAIRS FINANCING AUTHORITY, dba CALIFORNIA CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY 

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER 

Embedded Assignment — OC Fair and Event Center, Costa Mesa, California 

The Opportunity 

The California Construction Authority (CCA) is seeking an experienced, executive-level construction professional to serve as the embedded Construction Manager for the Orange County Fair and Event Center (OCFEC). This is the senior construction program leadership position at the Fairgrounds and the primary point of contact for all capital improvement activity at the facility. 

Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Construction Manager provides strategic leadership and program-level oversight of construction operations at the Fairgrounds, directs project delivery from initiation through closeout across multiple concurrent projects, and is accountable for contract administration, financial control, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and risk management. The position additionally carries regional leadership responsibility, supervising and developing Southern California construction project management staff and standardizing project delivery practices across the region. 

This is a full-time CCA position assigned on-site at the Fairgrounds. Eighty-five percent (85%) of assigned time is dedicated to the Fairgrounds program delivery and on-site leadership; fifteen percent (15%) is dedicated to regional staff supervision and organizational coordination. 

BENEFITS 

CCA provides a competitive benefits package designed to support employees and their families: 

Retirement 

• CalPERS defined-benefit pension, with vesting at five years of service credit. 

• Voluntary 457 deferred compensation plan for additional pre-tax retirement savings 

• Eligibility for employer-paid retiree health and dental contributions based on years of service 

Health and Insurance 

• CalPERS medical coverage with employer contributions 

• Dental and Vision coverage with premiums currently paid at 100% by the employer for employees and dependents 

• Employer-paid group life, accidental death and dismemberment, and long-term disability insurance 

• Employer-paid short-term disability (70% wage replacement, up to 12 weeks) 

• Cash-in-lieu subsidy available to employees with qualifying coverage through another source 

Paid Time Off 

• 12 paid holidays annually, plus 2 personal holidays 

• Vacation accrual beginning at hire 

• Sick leave accruing at approximately 12 days per year, with unlimited accrual and conversion to CalPERS service credit at retirement 

• Paid bereavement leave, paid jury duty, and paid time off to vote 

• Vacation buy-back and catastrophic leave donation programs 

About The California Construction Authority: 

CCA is a joint-powers, local government agency that provides comprehensive public works construction and project management services to California’s network of fairgrounds. CCA is currently active at 30 fairgrounds across the state, managing more than 75 projects with a combined portfolio value exceeding $200 million.  

About The OC FAIR & EVENTS CENTER: 

Located in Orange County, California, OCFEC is a 130-acre, year-round destination in Costa Mesa that serves as an important hub for entertainment, education, agriculture and community events. The property includes approximately 157,000 square feet of event space and is home to the annual OC Fair, Centennial Farm and Heroes Hall Veterans Museum & Education Center. OCFEC hosts approximately 150 events throughout the year, making the site a significant community and economic asset for Orange County 

KEY responsibilities: 

The position’s time is allocated between two assignments: 

Within the Fairgrounds assignment, the Construction Manager: 

• Leads capital improvement projects as assigned from initiation through closeout — scope, budget, schedule, procurement, construction administration, quality assurance, and final acceptance — and directs the project managers, consultants, and contractors delivering them. 

• Serves as the primary point of contact for all CCA managed construction activity at the Fairgrounds, sets program priorities, facilitates executive decision-making and conflict resolution, and delivers briefings to OC Fair and CCA leadership. 

• Prepares and negotiates agreements and bid packages under the Public Contract Code, evaluates and processes change orders, approves payment applications, controls project and program budgets, and resolves claims and disputes. 

• Coordinates plan review, approval, and certification with the Division of the State Architect and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, ensures compliance with the California Building Code and accessibility requirements, and oversees contractor safety compliance on active sites. 

• Delivers program status reporting, maintains the program risk register and audit-ready documentation, and oversees response to Public Records Act requests and oversight agency inquiries. 

Within the regional assignment, the Construction Manager: 

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for the region, including oversight of active CCA projects, regional staff, and business development efforts. 

• Supervises assigned Southern California construction project management staff, including assigning and reviewing work, setting performance expectations, and conducting evaluations. 

• Provides technical guidance, mentorship, and professional development to regional project managers and resolves escalated regional project issues. 

• Coordinates regional workload and assignments and standardizes project management practices and CCA procedures across regional projects. 

A complete duty statement listing each essential and marginal function, with the percentage of time assigned to every duty group, is available on request and will be provided to the selected candidate at appointment. 

Minimum Qualifications 

Applicants must meet all of the following to be considered. Qualifications will be verified through the application, supplemental questionnaire, and reference and background review. 

Education 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in architecture, engineering, construction management, or a closely related field. 

Experience 

• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible construction management experience, including at least five (5) years managing large, complex capital improvement or public works projects, and at least three (3) years of supervisory or lead responsibility over professional project management staff. 

Substitution 

• Additional qualifying construction management experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis, to a maximum of four (4) years. Current registration as a Professional Engineer or licensure as an Architect in California may substitute for the education requirement. 

License 

• Valid California driver’s license and satisfactory driving record, to be maintained throughout employment. Driving is an essential function of this position: the incumbent must travel on short notice between the OC Fair and Event Center, regional project sites throughout Southern California, and agency offices. 

Desirable Qualifications 

The following are preferred and will be used to differentiate among qualified candidates. They are not required to apply. 

• Significant experience leading large, complex, multi-stakeholder capital programs in a public-sector or similarly regulated environment. 

• Experience managing public works projects with coordination through the Division of the State Architect (DSA) and the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM). 

• Prior experience in an embedded, on-site, or client-dedicated construction management role supporting a public agency or an event or venue facility. 

• Registration as a Professional Engineer or licensure as an Architect in California; or certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), or DBIA professional. 

• Experience supervising, mentoring, and evaluating professional construction management staff across multiple concurrent projects. 

• Proficiency in construction management software, project scheduling tools, and financial management systems, including Microsoft Word and Excel. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

Knowledge of: 

• Construction law applicable to public works, including the California Building Code, the California Public Contract Code, and federal, state, and local regulatory requirements. 

• Principles of construction program management, including multi-project oversight, capital improvement planning, scheduling, cost control, risk management, and contract administration from design development through closeout. 

• Architectural and engineering principles, design and construction processes, and methods for conducting facility assessments, site analyses, and capital needs planning. 

• Principles and practices of organizational leadership, personnel management, and staff development, including performance oversight and team coordination in a multi-project environment. 

• Public agency procurement requirements, including competitive bidding, public contracting procedures, change order processes, and regulatory approval workflows. 

• Construction management software, project scheduling tools, and financial management systems. 

Skill in: 

• Providing executive-level construction program leadership, including strategic planning, policy direction, and organizational oversight across complex, multi-stakeholder programs. 

• Advanced written and verbal communication, including executive-level reports, briefings, presentations, and correspondence for senior leadership, client agencies, and external stakeholders. 

• Supervising, mentoring, and developing professional staff, setting performance expectations, providing constructive feedback, and fostering accountability. 

• Negotiating and administering complex construction contracts, including bid package preparation and review, change order evaluation, and compliance with public contracting requirements. 

• Building and managing productive relationships with client agency leadership, contractors, consultants, and regulatory bodies, with demonstrated ability to resolve conflict and facilitate consensus. 

Ability to: 

• Exercise independent judgment and decision-making authority in high-pressure, time-sensitive conditions, balancing competing priorities across multiple projects while maintaining program-level accountability. 

• Interpret plans, specifications, and contract documents and identify nonconforming work and schedule or cost exposure. 

• Maintain confidentiality of bid, claim, litigation, and personnel information. 

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 

Physical and Environmental Demands 

The following demands must be met to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation. A complete physical and environmental demands analysis is contained in the position’s duty statement and is available on request. 

• Sitting at an office or construction trailer workstation for up to 5 hours per day; keyboard and mouse operation for up to 5 hours per day. 

• Traversing active construction sites on uneven ground, gravel, dirt, and partially completed surfaces for up to 4 hours per day. 

• Ascending and descending ladders, temporary stairs, and scaffolding to heights of approximately 30 feet, and maintaining balance on elevated and partially completed surfaces. 

• Lifting and carrying plan sets, equipment, and materials up to 25 pounds unassisted; up to 50 pounds occasionally with assistance or mechanical aid. 

• Reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, and twisting to inspect work in progress, including below-grade excavations, overhead assemblies, and restricted spaces. 

• Vision sufficient to read plans, specifications, and small-print contract documents, and to inspect work at distance and elevation; hearing sufficient to perceive verbal warnings, alarms, and equipment movement in construction noise environments. 

• Wearing hard hat, high-visibility vest, safety glasses, hearing protection, and steel-toe footwear on active construction sites. 

• Exposure to dust including respirable crystalline silica, fumes, vibration, noise at or above 85 dBA, moving heavy equipment, open excavations, and outdoor weather including heat, cold, wind, and rain. 

• Operating a vehicle for up to approximately 10 hours per week between the Fairgrounds, regional project sites, and agency offices. 

• Evening, weekend, and night work during event periods, facility shutdowns, and time-critical construction operations. 

Conditions of Employment 

• Appointment is subject to successful completion and a reference verification, conducted after a conditional offer of employment. 

• Verification of identity and authorization to work in the United States is required within three business days of hire, as required by federal law. 

• This position is designated as a filer under the agency’s Conflict of Interest Code and requires filing a Form 700 Statement of Economic Interests within 30 days of assuming office, annually thereafter, and upon leaving office. 

• Selection Process 

• Applications will be screened for relevant education, experience, and qualifications. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement. 

• Candidates whose backgrounds best match the needs of the position will be invited to participate in [a panel interview / a written or practical exercise / an executive interview]. 

• Finalists may be required to participate in additional interviews conducted on-site  and to provide professional references. 

• A conditional offer of employment will be extended to the successful candidate, followed by a background investigation and reference verification. 

How to Apply 

Applicants should submit:

• Current Resume
• Three Professional References
• Statement of Qualifications 

The Statement of Qualifications must be no more than three pages and should describe the applicant’s experience in the following areas: 

• Providing overall leadership and accountability for a geographic region, including oversight of active construction projects, supervision and development of staff, client relationship management, and business development efforts.  

• Leading multiple complex capital improvement or public works projects from planning and procurement through construction and closeout.  

• Managing project budgets, schedules, contracts, change orders, claims, regulatory compliance, risk, and executive-level reporting.  

• Serving as the primary construction representative for a public agency, institutional client, or similarly complex organization and developing productive relationships with executives, clients, consultants, contractors, and regulatory agencies.  

• Supervising and mentoring professional project management staff, coordinating workloads, resolving escalated project issues, and establishing consistent project delivery practices.  

Applicants should provide specific examples that identify the size and complexity of the programs or projects managed, their individual responsibilities, the number and types of staff supervised, and the results achieved. 

Position is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. 

📍 Project Location: OC Fair & Events Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 

For additional information or to submit your qualifications: 

📧 careers@ccauthority.org
📞 (916) 263-6100 

Required Notices 

• This position is at-will and serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority and is subject to a probationary period of 3 months. 

• Employees of the California Construction Authority do not participate in Social Security. No Social Security (OASDI) taxes are withheld from wages, and employment with the Authority does not earn Social Security credits or count toward Social Security retirement, survivor, or disability benefits. Medicare taxes are withheld as required by federal law. 

 In place of Social Security, this participates in CalPERS retirement. Classic and PEPRA member formulas and contribution rates are described in the benefits summary available from Human Resources. Prior to beginning employment, the selected candidate will be required to sign Form SSA-1945, Statement Concerning Your Employment in a Job Not Covered by Social Security, acknowledging receipt of this information. Candidates with questions about how non-covered employment affects their individual Social Security record are encouraged to contact the Social Security Administration directly.  

Equal Employment Opportunity 

The California Construction Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, national origin, ancestry, age (40 and over), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision-making, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. 

Reasonable Accommodation 

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the Authority provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities, both in the selection process and in the performance of the essential functions of the position. Applicants who require accommodation in any part of the application, testing, or interview process should contact Human Resources at [email address] or [telephone number] as early as possible so arrangements can be made. Requesting accommodation will not affect consideration of an application.