How to hire a project executive

How to hire a project executive, step by step

Here's a step-by-step project executive hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a project executive job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new project executive
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a project executive do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your project executive job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a project executive for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A project executive's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, project executives from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of project executives.

   Type of Project Executive	Description	Hourly rate
   Project Executive	A Project Executive supervises the development of the project brief and business case. They authorize expenditure levels and monitor program and project performance.	$37-91
   Program Manager	A program manager is responsible for monitoring the project's progress, improving and developing new strategies, and coordinate various projects across the organization to ensure the success of the business objective. Program managers also manage the program's expenses, ensuring that the projects adhere to the budget goals without compromising the quality and accuracy of the result... Show more	$31-67
   Consultant/Project Manager	Consultants/project managers act as planners, leaders, and advisors in business enterprises. These professionals facilitate meetings and establish positive relationships with vendors, management, and clients... Show more	$35-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Construction Management
   • Project Management
   • Healthcare
   • Business Development
   • Client Satisfaction
   • Portfolio
   • Construction Projects
   • Financial Performance
   • Financial Management
   • Infrastructure
   • Project Delivery
   • Service Delivery
   • Project Budget
   • Contract Negotiations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Note for co-authoring and managing RFP process.
   • Manage projects using ITIL and SDLC methodologies.
   • Manage vendors and internal service owners to create the proper operating model to deliver service against SLAs.
   • Lead cross-functional team delivery execution of top-of-rack and embed converged network architecture switches.
   • Coordinate and manage project delivery of healthcare design and construction projects in collaboration with hospital staff.
   • Lead operational transformation projects, perform service line volume projections, and feasibility exercises for various facilities.

   More project executive duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your project executive job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A project executive can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, project executives' average salary in utah is 43% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level project executives 59% less than senior-level project executives.
   • Certifications. A project executive with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a project executive's salary.

   Average project executive salary

   $123,391yearly

   $59.32 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level project executive salary

   $79,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average project executive salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$155,163	$75
   2	California	$147,085	$71
   3	Massachusetts	$141,541	$68
   4	Michigan	$141,345	$68
   5	Ohio	$140,606	$68
   6	Wisconsin	$138,259	$66
   7	District of Columbia	$136,299	$66
   8	Minnesota	$136,134	$65
   9	Texas	$131,433	$63
   10	New York	$129,846	$62
   11	Pennsylvania	$126,702	$61
   12	Arizona	$126,137	$61
   13	Missouri	$125,565	$60
   14	Nevada	$122,939	$59
   15	Georgia	$121,503	$58
   16	Oregon	$121,119	$58
   17	Virginia	$119,009	$57
   18	North Carolina	$114,816	$55
   19	Illinois	$110,900	$53
   20	Florida	$107,103	$51

   Average project executive salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Eckardt Group	$180,687	$86.87
   2	Google	$178,744	$85.93	43
   3	Lighthouse Electric	$169,067	$81.28	4
   4	Oculus	$166,234	$79.92
   5	Rockford Construction	$165,527	$79.58	1
   6	Rycon Construction	$164,221	$78.95	15
   7	HITT Contracting	$164,053	$78.87	28
   8	Beck	$163,265	$78.49	12
   9	Abbott Clinic	$161,562	$77.67
   10	Balfour Beatty plc	$160,059	$76.95	18
   11	Kaufman Lynn Construction	$158,988	$76.44	3
   12	Callahan	$158,474	$76.19	10
   13	Lendlease	$157,351	$75.65
   14	Suffolk Construction	$156,860	$75.41	103
   15	Blinderman Construction	$156,455	$75.22
   16	Shawmut Design and Construction	$156,402	$75.19	7
   17	Graycor	$153,619	$73.86	10
   18	Skanska	$153,592	$73.84	41
   19	Haskell	$152,530	$73.33	14
   20	Carmel Partners, Inc.	$146,487	$70.43

4. Writing a project executive job description

   A good project executive job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a project executive job description:

   Project executive job description example

   • 15+ years commensurate experience with a degree in a related field such as Construction Management, Civil, Mechanical Engineering
   • Demonstrated exceptional leadership and team development
   • Demonstrated exceptional ability to build and maintain customer confidence
   • Demonstrated mastery of project financials and success in project profitability
   • Demonstrated ability to successfully manage risks and for safety of entire project
   • Demonstrated mastery of technical knowledge, business acumen, industry knowledge and standards/trends
   • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
   • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving ability
   • A strong balance of math, initiative and analytical skills with emotional intelligence, comfort with change and awareness
   • Strong customer service, solution focused attitude, a highly communicative style and takes ownership of their work
   • Strong knowledge of MS Office suite and other industry/company related programs

   About us:

   TriVersity Construction Company is one of Cincinnati’s 10 largest construction companies. Our team specializes in projects with complex needs, intense regulatory environments, and high standards for quality and safety. We put our clients first with a non-stop focus on Building a Better Way; that’s what makes us different from the competition and why we are a great place to work! TriVersity employees are a diverse and empowered team of individuals who strive to create vibrant communities.

   We are committed to providing equal opportunities in employment. We value diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, natural hair types/styles, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other basis that would be in violation of any applicable federal, state, or local law. Furthermore, TriVersity will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right project executive for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with project executives they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit project executives who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your project executive job on Zippia to find and recruit project executive candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit project executives, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new project executive

   Once you have selected a candidate for the project executive position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a project executive?