Contractor Evolution 261. Construction Project Management Fundamentals (Build Show Live Session) - Danny Kerr
Feb 25, 2026
Danny Kerr, founder of Breakthrough Academy who helps contractors scale, shares recruitment systems for hiring reliable project managers. He covers ideal candidate profiles, writing job ads that attract A-players, a 20-minute screening call, behavioral interviews, employment agreements with KPIs and bonuses, communication plans, GSNR coaching rhythm, and using PM software effectively.
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Write PM Agreements Around Deliverables
- Define a PM role with an employment agreement that ties specific deliverables to accountabilities and reporting requirements.
- Include KPIs (volume, quality, profit), reporting cadence, and bonus structure so performance is objective and tied to pay.
Speed Protects Project Profit
- Project duration silently destroys profit because overhead accumulates each month; a $500k job at 25% GP can lose roughly half the profit if extended from five to eight months.
- Speed and schedule adherence directly protect net profit more than minor on-site savings.
Bonuses Unlock Discretionary Effort
- Tying PM bonuses to the deliverables they control unlocks discretionary effort; up to ~40% of employee effort is untapped without performance structures.
- Clear goals + reward alignment turn pay into motivation rather than just a wage.