Private Equity
Construction Executive
Search

The Only Search Firm Built for PE-Backed Construction
Platforms.

When your deal closes, the clock starts. Whether you're building a heavy civil platform, integrating an aggregates acquisition, or scaling a renewable energy EPC rollup, you need battle-tested construction executives — fast.

30+ Years

Construction Search Experience

15,000+

Vetted Executive Candidates

C-Suite to Mid-Level

Full-Range Coverage

Heavy Civil to Specialty

Construction Search Experience

Construction & Infrastructure Value
Creation Lever

Private equity firms move fast. But great construction executives don't apply on job boards — they're running projects, managing P&Ls, and answering to demanding clients. By the time a generalist recruiter learns what a Division President actually does, your 100-day plan is already behind.

Peterson Consulting was built differently. For three decades, we have cultivated direct relationships with the construction operators who produce results — the leaders who build backlogs, drive margin improvement, and integrate acquisitions without breaking culture.

When your PE firm needs a CEO for a new specialty construction platform, a CFO to lead post-acquisition integration, or a Chief Estimating Officer to drive bid discipline across a rollup — we find that person faster and with greater precision than any generalist executive search firm.

Construction & Infrastructure Sectors We Cover

We recruit executive talent across the full spectrum of construction and infrastructure verticals targeted by private equity — including
specialty sectors where a single wrong hire can cost millions.

Heavy Highway & Heavy Civil

We place CEOs, COOs, and Division Presidents who understand DOT relationships, bonding capacity, and bid strategy in the most competitive segments of infrastructure construction.

Specialty Construction Services

From concrete sawing & drilling to pavement marking and electrical contracting, we place the operators and platform CEOs who scale high-margin specialty trades.

Underground & Utility Infrastructure

From trenchless technology operators to pipeline division leaders, we recruit the underground specialists who drive growth in utility and municipal construction platforms.

Aggregates & Mining

PE-backed aggregates platforms need operators who understand reserves management, processing efficiency, and bolt-on acquisition integration.

Building Materials & Products

From distribution to manufacturing, we place the operational and commercial leaders who drive EBITDA growth in building materials platform companies.

Wastewater & Water Treatment

Municipal water and wastewater construction is a technically complex, relationship-driven sector. We recruit the engineers-turned-executives who lead it.

Why Private Equity Firms Choose Peterson Consulting

We are not a generalist firm that stumbled into construction recruiting. We are construction recruiters — and we have been since before most private equity firms had a construction thesis.

Speed That Matches PE Timelines

Our candidates are pre-vetted, actively tracked, and frequently pre-briefed on opportunities before searches even open. We present qualified candidates in days, not months.

Relationships, Not Resumes

The executives who move platforms forward are not on LinkedIn looking for jobs. They are in our network. We have decades of trust with the leaders others cannot reach.

Construction Fluency That Matters

We evaluate candidates the way operators do — by their P&L ownership, project complexity, backlog management, and team-building track record.

PE-Aligned Communication

We understand deal timelines, operating partner expectations, and the difference between a platform CEO search and a bolt-on integration hire.

PE-Aligned Communication

We manage sensitive searches, including C-suite replacements, with full confidentiality for portfolio companies and their employees.

Flexible Engagement Models for Private Equity

We offer three engagement structures built around the way

PE firms and their portfolio companies actually operate.

Retained Executive Search

For C-suite and senior VP-level roles, our retained model provides exclusive, fully managed search with dedicated research, comprehensive candidate assessment, and reference validation.

Portfolio Talent Program

An annual retained relationship that provides your PE firm and all portfolio companies with priority access to our candidate network, a dedicated point of contact, quarterly pipeline reviews.

Accelerated Contingent Search

For defined mid-level operational roles — Project Executives, Division Managers, Regional VPs — our contingent model delivers fast, qualified candidates at 30% of first-year compensation.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of construction executives does Peterson Consulting place?

We place CEOs, Presidents, COOs, CFOs, Chief Estimating Officers, Division Presidents, Regional VPs, VP Operations, and Business Development leaders across heavy civil, heavy highway, underground, renewable energy, aggregates, building materials, and wastewater sectors.

How does Peterson Consulting work with private equity firms?

We offer retained search, a Portfolio Talent Program for multi-company PE relationships, and accelerated contingent search. We align our engagement model to your deal timeline, operating cadence, and urgency.

How quickly can Peterson Consulting present candidates?

For most searches, we present a qualified slate of candidates within 10–21 business days of engagement, depending on role specificity. Our pre-built network of 15,000+ construction executives allows us to move significantly faster than generalist firms.

Does Peterson Consulting handle confidential C-suite searches?

Yes. We routinely manage confidential searches — including CEO successions and leadership changes — with full discretion for the portfolio company, its employees, and the incumbent leadership team.

What is the difference between retained and contingent search?

Retained search is an exclusive, fully managed engagement with payment in thirds. Contingent search is non-exclusive and paid only upon successful placement. We recommend retained for C-suite and senior leadership roles, and contingent for more defined mid-level searches.

Let's Talk About Your
Portfolio's Talent Needs.

Whether you are evaluating an acquisition, integrating a recently closed deal, or building a platform from scratch — the right executive makes all the difference. Peterson Consulting has been making that difference in construction for 30 years.

We recruit executive talent across the full spectrum of construction and infrastructure verticals targeted by private equity — including specialty sectors where a single wrong hire can cost millions.

Construction & Infrastructure Sectors We Cover

What Sets Strata Civil Apart

We don’t serve every industry — we serve yours. Our singular focus is heavy civil and infrastructure construction, ensuring a depth no generalist firm can match.