Mining Assistant Project Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION Assistant Project Manager Project Leadership — Developing Job Title Assistant Project Manager Department Project Leadership — Developing Reports To Project Manager. On large projects with no assigned Project Manager for a phase, reports to the Senior Project Manager. FLSA Status Exempt Supervises Project Engineer(s) assigned to the delegated scope. Travel Assignment-based; typically assigned full-time to a project site. May require temporary relocation or extended stay. Typical Scope A defined area, discipline, phase or service line within a larger project; or one small standalone project, typically under [$2M], with Project Manager oversight. Position Summary Runs a defined portion of a project under the Project Manager, or a small standalone project with Project Manager oversight. The Assistant Project Manager carries real ownership of delegated scope — its cost, its subcontracts, its procurement and its documentation — but does not hold the contract, the schedule of record, or the authority to change the deal. The role exists to develop Project Managers by giving them accountability before authority, and the scope delegated to an Assistant Project Manager must be written down at project kickoff, not assumed. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Delegated Scope Ownership Own the cost, progress and documentation of the scope formally delegated by the Project Manager at kickoff. The delegation is written and specific — area, discipline, phase or dollar value — and is reviewed when the scope changes. Report on delegated scope at the weekly project meeting: cost position, progress against plan, open issues and risks. Escalate anything outside the delegated scope to the Project Manager rather than absorbing it. Cost & Reporting Maintain cost coding, quantity roll-up and earned-value reporting for the delegated scope. Prepare the monthly cost forecast and estimate at completion for the delegated scope; the Project Manager consolidates and owns the project total. Prepare the monthly accrual and progress billing backup for Project Manager review and submission. Review and approve timecards, vendor invoices and subcontractor pay applications within the delegated scope and authority threshold. Flag cost trends and budget exposure to the Project Manager early — no month-end surprises. Change Management Identify potential changes and assemble the pricing, quantity backup, labor and equipment build-up for Project Manager review. Draft change order documentation and notice letters for Project Manager signature; track the change log. Participate in change order negotiation with the client when the Project Manager leads it. The Assistant Project Manager does not negotiate or commit alone. Procurement & Subcontracts Issue purchase orders and administer subcontracts within the authority threshold; prepare above-threshold commitments for Project Manager signature. Administer subcontractor commercial documentation, scope definition, pay applications, back-charges and closeout. Own long-lead item tracking and delivery risk reporting for the delegated scope. Schedule Support Maintain schedule updates and progress data for the delegated scope; the Project Manager owns the schedule of record. Support recovery planning and time-impact documentation with data, quantities and productivity history. Team, Client & Safety Direct the Project Engineer(s) assigned to the delegated scope. Interface with the client's project staff on matters within the delegated scope only; refer anything else to the Project Manager. Support the Superintendent's execution — remove obstacles, secure resources, close information gaps. Support training and permit compliance verification and participate in incident investigations for the delegated scope. Authority and Decision Rights Purchase orders, rentals and subcontract commitments up to [$25,000] per commitment. Approves timecards, vendor invoices and subcontractor pay applications within the delegated scope and threshold. No authority to authorize work outside contracted scope — this remains solely the Project Manager's. No authority to negotiate or commit change order value to the client. Unlimited stop-work authority. Boundary Lines — What This Role Does Not Own Listed to prevent overlap. Each item below is a responsibility this role supports but does not own; the accountable role is named. This role does NOT own… Accountable role Authorizing work outside contracted scope Project Manager — SOLE authority, never delegated The contract, its interpretation and contractual notice Project Manager The schedule of record Project Manager Final project cost forecast, accrual and billing submission Project Manager Negotiating or committing change order value with the client Project Manager, escalating to Senior Project Manager above threshold Ownership of the client project-level relationship Project Manager Means and methods, and direction of craft crews Superintendent → Foreman Anything outside the scope formally delegated in writing at kickoff Project Manager Qualifications Experience, Education and Competency 3–7 years in construction, typically progressing from Project Engineer; mining, industrial or heavy civil preferred. Demonstrated ownership of cost coding, quantity tracking, forecasting and change documentation on a live project. Working command of subcontract administration, procurement and pay application review. Able to read and interpret civil, structural, mechanical, piping and electrical drawings, isometrics, P&IDs and specifications. Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Construction Management, or equivalent field-earned experience. MSHA Part 46/48; valid 5000-23; OSHA 30; first aid/CPR. Actively developing toward Project Manager: expected to demonstrate readiness for fu