Construction Specialist 1 (2026 New Grads!)

Job Description
CDM Smith is looking for an excited candidate to join our team in Washington DC! This opportunity is perfect for a new graduate looking to jump into the construction industry at a company that hires for careers, not jobs. This is a dynamic role with a variety of duties based on the project type and timeline that provides technical, field, and site administration. During the pursuit phase, the Construction Specialist will assist in reviewing documents, preparing deliverables, and participating in pre-bid site visits. The Construction Specialist will assist in determining total project costs by evaluating complex proposals and researching labor, material, and equipment costs. They will develop a preliminary schedule for engineering and construction. They will develop General Conditions based on requirements specified in the bidding documents including required staff, temporary facilities, security, and safety measures. In the planning and execution phase, the Construction Specialist will work with the project team, subcontractors, client, owners, and all other interested parties to ensure timely and safe project completion. They will ensure the timely arrival and installation of materials and equipment with field personnel and vendors. They will prepare and review submittals of increasing complexity, issue construction documents and layouts to field crews, answer questions, and complete requests for information (RFI). The Construction Specialist supervises and directs overall project activities of basic to moderate complexity and interprets specifications and drawings for foremen and superintendents. They will conduct inspections to maintain Quality Control (QC) reporting for project sites. Finally, they will work with Health and Safety professionals to evaluate the safety performance metrics of potential subcontractors and vendors as part of the procurement process. During project close-out the Construction Specialist will work with the Project Manager to complete all contract-required deliverables and follow company close-out procedures. Close all subcontract and purchase orders. Develop final record drawings and as-builts. Ensure all close-out submittals are documented and approved. Work with the Team to complete final inspections, punch list and ensure client satisfaction. Depending on project needs and after appropriate training, the Construction Specialist works with the project manager and VDC team to develop project capability needs and VDC plan. They will assist in facilitating solutions through collaboration with the design and project teams via VDC, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and traditional collaboration methods. The Construction Specialist will perform other tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management or related discipline. 0 years. Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands. Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.