Construction Quality Assurance Manager (CQAM)

Job description

Company Description On November 28, 2025, AAR joined SOCOTEC, marking an exciting new chapter in our company’s history. This partnership builds on AAR’s long-standing legacy of technical excellence, integrity, and people-focused service. By joining SOCOTEC, we expand our reach and capabilities as part of a unified team of more than 1,700 experts nationwide. Together, we deliver broader, integrated solutions to better serve our materials testing and construction quality clients. Founded in 1989, AAR has continuously provided construction quality assurance, quality control, special inspection, and materials testing services throughout Washington State. AAR is a Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO) certified independent special inspection and materials testing agency headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Our laboratories in Redmond, Lacey, and Wenatchee are accredited by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Job Description AAR, a SOCOTEC Company (formerly AAR Testing and Inspection, Inc.) has an immediate need for a Construction Quality Assurance Manager (CQAM) to lead the implementation, management, and enforcement of the Construction Quality Assurance (QA) Program on complex design-build infrastructure projects, ensuring all construction activities comply with contract requirements, regulatory standards, and approved quality management plans. Core Responsibilities: Quality Program Leadership Develops, implements, and manages the Construction QA Program in alignment with the Quality Management Plan (QMP), ensuring all work meets contract specifications and WSDOT requirements. Inspection & Testing Oversight Oversees and coordinates QA inspection and testing operations, ensuring adequate staffing and coverage for all construction activities, including structural, paving, geotechnical, and utility work. Regulatory & Owner Coordination Interfaces directly with WSDOT for verification testing, inspections, and Independent Assurance (IA), ensuring alignment between QA results and owner acceptance criteria. Authority & Risk Control (Stop Work Authority) Holds authority to stop work when quality requirements are not met and leads development of corrective action plans to resolve deficiencies. Non-Conformance Management Maintains and manages the Non-Conformance Report (NCR) system, including tracking, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and closure in coordination with WSDOT. Quality Planning & Execution Develops Inspection Test Plans (ITPs), inspection checklists, and manages Quality Check Points (Hold Points) to ensure compliance at critical stages of construction. Personnel Qualification & Training Ensures all QA inspectors, technicians, and testing personnel are properly certified and trained; delivers ongoing quality training and pre-activity briefings. Documentation & Compliance Management Oversees all quality documentation including inspection reports, test results, daily logs, material certifications, and progress payment quality verification. Field Quality Leadership Directly performs and supervises inspections across a wide range of construction activities (concrete, asphalt, structures, utilities, etc.), ensuring workmanship meets specifications. Design-Build Integration Reviews working drawings, RFIs, and field design changes to ensure constructability and compliance with quality standards. Stakeholder Coordination Collaborates with contractors, project managers, engineers, and quality teams to resolve issues, maintain production, and ensure compliance with quality requirements. Continuous Improvement & Auditing Leads audits, quality meetings, and task force discussions to identify trends, improve processes, and prevent recurring non-conformances. Qualifications Technical Background: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or related field, with 5+ years of experience and strong knowledge of construction materials, methods, and inspection practices. - In lieu of a degree, 10+ years of experience in construction quality management Quality Management Expertise: Experience developing and implementing Quality Management Plans (QMPs), including inspection, testing, auditing, and documentation processes. Inspection & Testing Knowledge: Proficiency in overseeing QA inspections and materials testing across multiple disciplines (earthwork, concrete, asphalt, structures, utilities). Regulatory & Standards Compliance: Familiarity with agency requirements (e.g., WSDOT), AASHTO/ASTM standards, and contract specifications governing construction quality. Certifications: Relevant industry certifications (e.g., WAQTC, ACI, AWS CWI, nuclear density, etc.) demonstrating competency in testing and inspection. Leadership & Management Skills: Ability to lead QA teams, coordinate with contractors and owners, and manage staffing, scheduling, and quality resources. Authority & Decision-Making: Capability to enforce quality standards, including issuing non-conformance reports and stopping work when requirements are not met. Documentation & Reporting: Strong experience managing quality documentation such as inspection reports, NCR logs, test results, and certification packages. Communication & Coordination: Ability to work closely with project managers, design teams, contractors, and owners to resolve issues and maintain compliance. Problem-Solving & Continuous Improvement: Skill in identifying quality issues, implementing corrective actions, and improving processes to prevent recurring deficiencies. Other duties as required by the hiring manager and project needs. Additional Information Expected salary range: $110,000 to $140,000 / year, depending on qualifications/experience. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. SOCOTEC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.