Assistant Project Manager

ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER

Mechanical & Plumbing Construction · MD · VA · DC

Salary Range: $80,000-$105,000/year

About JCM Associates

JCM Associates, Inc. is a family-owned commercial mechanical and plumbing contractor with 38 years of history in the DC Metro region. We have built a reputation for delivering technically complex, high-value projects for the region's top owners, developers, and general contractors - data centers, hospitals, federal facilities, high-rise residential, college campuses, and trophy office buildings - with project values ranging from $15M to $200M+.

Thirty-eight years as a family-owned business has shaped everything about how we operate. Our culture is close-knit, collaborative, and genuinely team-first - the kind of environment where people know each other, look out for each other, and take pride in the work they do together. We are based in Upper Marlboro, MD - just 20 minutes from Washington DC - in a brand-new, state-of-the-art office and fabrication facility purpose-built for the scale of work we do. Careers are built here. Skills are developed here. People are valued here - and that is exactly why so many of our team members have stayed for 20 years or more.

If you are ready to grow into a career in mechanical construction project management, we would like to hear from you.

 

Why APMs Choose JCM

• A real career path: The APM role is the direct entry point to Project Manager at JCM. We promote from within and invest in the people who show up ready to learn and grow.
• Mentorship from day one: You will work directly alongside experienced PMs and field leaders on active commercial projects. The people developing you know this work from both sides of the office-field divide.
• Complex, meaningful work: Contribute to some of the most technically demanding mechanical and plumbing construction projects in the DC Metro region from early in your career.
• A culture worth staying for: Close-knit, team-first environment with company outings, team events, and colleagues who have chosen to stay for decades. Our long-tenured team is the best evidence we can offer.
• State-of-the-art home base: A brand-new, state-of-the-art headquarters in Upper Marlboro, MD - purpose-built fabrication shop, modern offices, and an on-site fitness center.
• Competitive total compensation: Salary, annual bonus eligibility, comprehensive health benefits, 401(k) with company match, and paid vacation and holidays.

 

The Role

We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Assistant Project Manager (APM) to support the delivery of commercial mechanical and plumbing construction projects across MD, VA, and DC.

This is a hands-on role working directly alongside a Project Manager and field Foreman. You will own real deliverables, be on the job site regularly, and be steadily developed toward a PM role over time. Every PM at JCM started by doing exactly what this role does.

 

Projects You'll Support

JCM specializes in large-scale commercial mechanical and plumbing construction, including:

• Data centers and mission-critical facilities
• Hospitals, medical labs, and healthcare campuses
• Federal and government facilities
• High-rise residential and mixed-use developments
• College and university buildings
• Trophy office and corporate headquarters projects

 

Key Responsibilities

Submittals, RFIs & Document Control

• Create, review, track, and manage submittals for mechanical and plumbing equipment, materials, and systems. Confirm compliance with plans and specifications before forwarding.
• Prepare and maintain project documentation including design changes, RFIs, change orders, meeting minutes, IOM manuals, and project reports.
• Serve as the point person for document management applications and ensure all logs are current and accurate.

Equipment Tracking & Procurement

• Build and manage the JCM Equipment Tracking Log. Coordinate with the PM to ensure major equipment is released on schedule and deliveries align with the project timeline.
• Conduct off-site storage visits when required to verify stored materials for billing, review equipment against approved submittals, and confirm final orientations.
• Assist the PM with purchasing activities including scoping, take-offs, change order proposals, and soliciting pricing from subcontractors and suppliers.

Project Coordination & Scheduling

• Assist the PM and Foreman in planning, executing, and closing projects including scheduling, resource allocation, materials procurement, and commissioning.
• Help maintain project schedules and subcontractor detail schedules. Communicate impacts and delays to the PM proactively.
• Assist the PM with cost forecasts, budget and estimate tracking, purchase orders, and project accounting.

BIM & Prefabrication

• Support the BIM coordination process by attending clash meetings, reviewing models for system layout conflicts, and ensuring alignment with project specifications.
• Assist the PM with maintaining fabrication schedules, coordinating spool drawing reviews, and tracking the fabrication log.

Field Presence & Subcontractor Coordination

• Conduct regular site visits to monitor project progress, assist with field coordination, manage punch lists, support rigging logistics, and handle material management.
• Communicate with vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors to ensure timely delivery of materials and services.
• Work closely with GC and subcontractor project teams, field leaders, foremen, and site supervisors to maintain alignment and resolve issues efficiently.

Closeout & Quality

• Assist with project closeout including assembling IOM manuals, startup and commissioning documentation, subcontractor punch lists, warranties, and final payment documents.
• Coordinate equipment training schedules with vendors and the GC. Assist with final inspections and authority sign-offs.
• Support implementation of JCM's Quality Assurance Program and site safety protocols.

 

Qualifications

Experience

• 3–5 years of experience in mechanical and plumbing project management, project engineering, or a directly related construction role.
• Experience with a mechanical contractor, general contractor, or MEP subcontractor is preferred.
• Field or trade background is a significant advantage - plumber, pipefitter, HVAC mechanic, or any hands-on mechanical/plumbing installation experience. Candidates who came up through the trades and want to move into project management are strongly encouraged to apply.

Technical Knowledge

• Strong working knowledge of mechanical and plumbing systems in commercial or industrial construction, including the ability to read and interpret MEP drawings and specifications.
• Familiarity with mechanical and plumbing equipment - AHUs, pumps, chillers, VAVs, hydronic systems, domestic water, sanitary, and related systems.
• Experience managing submittals, coordinating RFIs, and producing closeout documentation including IOM manuals.
• Ability to read and understand electrical and controls design documents when coordinating final equipment connections with other trades.

Software & Tools

• Procore: Required for submittal management, RFI tracking, document control, and daily logs. Strongly preferred; training is available for the right candidate.
• Bluebeam Revu: Required for markup, drawing review, and document collaboration. Proficiency expected.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Excel (equipment logs, cost tracking, procurement logs), Word (letters, reports), Outlook and Teams (daily communication with GC, vendors, subs). Proficiency required.
• BIM / Coordination Tools: Experience attending BIM coordination meetings and reviewing models (Navisworks, Revit, or similar) is a plus.
• Scheduling Software: Familiarity with Primavera P6, MS Project, or similar is a plus.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field is preferred but not required. Equivalent field experience, trade background, or vocational training will be given equal consideration.

 

What We're Really Looking For

The right APM has either come up through the field and is ready to grow into project management, or has been working in a PM-adjacent role and is prepared to take on more ownership. Either background works well here. This is a role for someone who is energized by being on a job site, takes pride in keeping their logs and submittals sharp, and wants to be the person their PM and field team can count on. If that describes how you work and where you want to take your career, we would like to talk.

 

Benefits

• Annual bonus eligibility.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan with company match.
• Paid holidays and paid vacation.
• On-site fitness facility at our brand-new, state-of-the-art Upper Marlboro headquarters.
• Company outings, team events, and a close-knit culture built around people who enjoy working together.
• Clear path to Project Manager for the right candidate.

 

Work Environment

This is an active, hands-on role. You will spend meaningful time on commercial construction sites - attending field coordination meetings, conducting site visits, and staying directly connected to project progress. Office time is based at our brand-new, state-of-the-art Upper Marlboro headquarters, approximately 20 minutes from Washington DC.

Construction is a demanding and rewarding industry, and this role reflects that. We are looking for candidates who are genuinely energized by the work - people who want to learn fast, contribute early, and build a career doing something that matters.