Construction and engineering talent is among the most competitive to recruit — experienced project managers, skilled construction superintendents, and strong engineering leaders are always in demand and rarely available through job postings. Patrice & Associates of Cleveland, led by Chuck and Sharon Helden, recruits construction and engineering professionals through direct outreach and relationship-based sourcing — reaching the candidates your competitors are trying to hold onto. From project-level roles to VP and executive leadership, our team brings the same disciplined recruiting process to every construction and engineering search.
Greater Cleveland and its surrounding communities represent one of the most active construction and engineering markets in the Midwest. Commercial development, infrastructure projects, industrial facility construction, and residential growth are driving consistent demand for experienced talent across the project lifecycle. Beachwood and Solon anchor a strong east-side commercial construction market. Westlake and Lorain see active industrial and infrastructure work along the Lake Erie corridor. Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley continue to support a significant manufacturing and industrial construction base, and Pittsburgh, PA extends our recruiting footprint into an equally active Western Pennsylvania market.
We place construction and engineering professionals across the full project and organizational hierarchy — from field supervision and project coordination through senior leadership and C-suite roles. For VP and executive-level searches requiring confidentiality, our executive search practice manages the full engagement. Connect with Patrice & Associates of Cleveland, Ohio to discuss your specific role.
Our recruiting practice covers the full range of construction and engineering disciplines and project types:
For broader industrial and manufacturing leadership roles that fall outside the construction and engineering scope, see our specialized industry recruiting practice.
Construction and engineering recruiting fails when it relies on active candidates — the ones who are between jobs or unhappy enough to be sending out resumes. That pool is small and often doesn’t include the professionals who have consistently delivered on complex projects. Our team targets the project managers who just brought a job in under budget, the superintendents who are known for keeping schedules, and the engineering directors who have built strong teams. We reach them through direct outreach, industry relationships, and the kind of persistent cold calling that most staffing firms have abandoned.
We also take the time to understand the technical and project-specific context of every search. What type of construction? What project delivery method? Union or open shop? What’s the project backlog look like? The right candidate for a commercial general contractor is not the same as the right candidate for an industrial EPC firm — and our vetting process accounts for that distinction.
Our office places construction and engineering talent throughout a wide footprint, including:
For searches that extend beyond the region, our national network provides coverage across the U.S. and Canada from a single point of contact.
Construction and engineering firms across the region trust Chuck and Sharon Helden to find the technical talent that keeps projects moving.
We work with general contractors, construction management firms, specialty and trade contractors, civil engineering firms, industrial contractors, real estate developers with in-house construction programs, and engineering consulting firms. Our recruiting practice covers both project-level and organizational leadership roles across all of these firm types.
Yes. We place across both environments — field supervision roles like Construction Foremen, Superintendents, and Field Engineers as well as office-based positions including Project Managers, Project Engineers, Directors of Engineering, and VP-level construction executives. The candidate profile and vetting criteria differ significantly between these environments, and our process accounts for that.
The best construction and engineering professionals are project-committed and not browsing job boards. We reach them through direct phone outreach to candidates working at peer firms and competitors, combined with our North American database of over 700,000 candidates and established industry relationships. We identify, recruit, and vet before any candidate reaches your desk.
Yes. Our office manages construction and engineering searches across multiple locations throughout the region and nationally from a single point of contact. Whether you need a superintendent in Youngstown, a project manager in Pittsburgh, and a VP of Construction based locally, we handle all three with no territory restrictions.
Most construction management and engineering searches result in a qualified candidate presentation within a few weeks of engagement. VP and senior director searches may take somewhat longer depending on the seniority and specificity of requirements. We provide consistent progress updates throughout.
Every placement is backed by a replacement guarantee. If a placed candidate doesn’t work out within the guarantee period, we restart the search at no additional charge. Contact our office for specific terms.
Tell us about your firm, the role, and what project experience matters most. Chuck and Sharon Helden will handle the outreach, technical background assessment, and candidate presentation — so you spend your time evaluating qualified options, not managing a search process. Contact the team today to get started.
Laura T. says that Chuck Helden went about and beyond!Working with Chuck Helden was an absolute game-changer in my career. From the day he reached out to me, he took the time to truly understand my goals, skills, and what I was looking for in my next role. His insight into the industry, personalized guidance, and constant support throughout the process were unmatched.
Thanks to his efforts, I landed my dream job, a role that not only aligns perfectly with my aspirations but also challenges and excites me every day. Chuck went above and beyond, advocating for me at every step and ensuring I was fully prepared for interviews and negotiations.
I can’t thank him enough for his dedication, professionalism, and belief in my potential. If you’re looking for someone who genuinely cares about your career success, I wholeheartedly recommend Chuck Helden.
Thank you, Laura T.
Remzi Yilmaz“Patricia’s approach to searching for candidates allows her to find top notch prospects each and every time. She has the ability to know exactly what qualifications we are looking for when a vacancy becomes available. I appreciate Patricia’s enthusiasm, tailored approach, consistent communication and follow up when recruiting for our company. She is truly a wonderful partner!”
