Looking for a construction management recruiter in California? SBR Jobs is a direct-hire executive search firm that has recruited exclusively for the California construction industry since 1997. We place superintendents, project managers, project executives, estimators, preconstruction managers, VPs of construction and land, and construction CFOs with general contractors, design-build firms, homebuilders, owner-developers, and construction managers. Northern California is our home market and we run searches statewide.
We are not a staffing agency. Every search is a retained-quality, direct-hire engagement run by recruiters who have worked this market for more than 25 years, and every placement is a permanent hire, not a temp or contract worker.
What a construction-specialized recruiter does differently
A generalist staffing firm posts your job and forwards the resumes that come back. The problem: the best superintendents and project managers in California are not applying to anything. They are running work, and they only move for the right project pipeline, the right leadership, and the right number.
SBR recruits those people directly. Our method is A.R.R.: Attract, Recruit, Retain.
- Attract. We know who is running ground-up multifamily in the East Bay, who is closing land deals in the Central Valley, and who is burned out on hard-bid work and ready for an owner-side seat. Outreach is personal and specific, at scale.
- Recruit. Candidates are screened on the work itself: project types, delivery methods, software, licenses, and the numbers behind their projects. We score culture fit alongside skills, because a technically perfect hire who clashes with your field culture fails in year one.
- Retain. We stay with the placement after the start date, and we report to you weekly during the search so you always know exactly where things stand.
Roles we place
| Field & Operations | Preconstruction & Office | Executive & Land |
|---|---|---|
| Superintendent | Estimator / Chief Estimator | VP of Construction |
| General Superintendent | Preconstruction Manager | Project Executive |
| Construction Manager | Purchasing Manager | VP / Director of Land Acquisition |
| Project Manager / Senior PM | Project Engineer | VP / Director of Land Development |
| Area Construction Manager | Controller | Construction CFO |
Project experience across our placements covers ground-up, tenant improvement, multifamily, affordable, wrap product, commercial, healthcare, K-12, infrastructure, and residential land development, on design-build, CM/GC, hard-bid, and owner-developer delivery.
Who we work with
General contractors, design-build firms, production and custom homebuilders, owner-developers, construction management firms, and land development companies. Sacramento and Northern California are our deepest market: the Bay Area, East Bay, Central Valley, Stockton, Modesto, and the Sacramento region. We also run searches across Southern California and, for construction management roles, nationally.
How a search runs
- Intake. We take the brief and map the real candidate population before anyone gets a pitch. If the market says your budget or spec is off, we bring you that data in week one, not month three.
- Outreach. Direct, personalized recruiting of passive candidates. No job board waiting game.
- Weekly reporting. Every week you see who was contacted, who responded, who declined and why. The market’s answer is part of what you are paying for.
- Shortlist and close. Screened, culture-scored candidates, comp guidance from our annual California Construction Salary Guide, and offer support through the start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a construction recruiter cost in California?
Most searches run on contingency, a percentage of first-year salary, due only when your hire starts. Engaged options are available for confidential or hard-to-fill executive searches. Call for specifics on your role.
How long does it take to fill a superintendent or project manager role?
Most SBR searches present a qualified shortlist inside two to three weeks, because we are recruiting from a network built over 25 years rather than starting from a job posting. Total time to accepted offer typically runs four to eight weeks depending on the role’s seniority and the interview process on your side.
Do you handle temp or contract staffing?
No. SBR is executive search and direct hire only. If you need temporary labor, we are the wrong firm, and we will tell you that on the first call.
Do you work with candidates confidentially?
Yes. Most of the people we place are employed and not publicly looking. Searches are run blind until a candidate is cleared and told the company name, which protects both sides.
What should I look for in a construction recruiting firm?
Three things: whether the recruiters actually know construction (ask them the difference between wrap product and podium, or hard-bid and negotiated work), whether they recruit passive candidates or just re-post your job, and whether they report progress transparently during the search. A firm that can’t answer the first question can’t screen your candidates.
Hiring a superintendent, PM, estimator, or construction executive? Call Angel Ahumada at 424-352-6241 or use our contact page. Tell us the role and the project pipeline, and we’ll tell you what the market will say before you spend a dollar. SBR Jobs, 2100 21st Street, Sacramento. Attract, Recruit, Retain.
