- OUR promise
Here to exceed your unique hiring and talent needs.
In the spirit of collaborating, connecting, and cultivating, our differentiators are rooted in building long-term, flexible, and transparent relationships with our clients, keeping their priorities every step of the way.
Keyhires' focus has been met with the purpose of having all of the capabilities of a larger firm while being more nimble and entrepreneurial in the marketplace. This is exhibited by our qualified people, innovative fee structures, and our focused service offerings in Executive Search and Talent Acquisition.
In conjunction with providing talent management services, we provide built-in advisory services with every search, including a detailed compensation analysis, a broader market and industry overview, and the assignment of an Executive Coach to provide onboarding and an accelerated transition for each placement.
- WHAT WE ARE SEEING
The hiring landscape has shifted.
Hiring in today's construction market has never been more complex. These are the challenges we help our clients solve every day.
01
An entire generation of leaders is retiring at once
The construction industry skews older at the executive level. Project executives, division presidents, and COOs who built their careers over 30-plus years are exiting, and the leadership bench behind them is thin across nearly every trade and discipline.
02
Mega-projects require a caliber of leader the market cannot supply
Infrastructure spending, data center buildouts, and reshoring of manufacturing are creating billion-dollar project pipelines. The executives who can oversee that scale of complexity, risk, and stakeholder management are already spoken for.
03
Safety culture starts at the top
Regulatory scrutiny and client expectations around jobsite safety have never been higher. Organizations need senior leaders who embed safety into operations as a value, not a compliance checkbox, and that mindset has to be vetted during the search.
04
Technology adoption is separating winners from the rest
BIM, modular construction, drones, and project management platforms are reshaping how work gets delivered. Firms that cannot attract leaders comfortable making technology investment decisions will fall behind on bids, margins, and talent retention alike.
05
Labor shortages flow uphill into leadership
The skilled trades gap is well documented, but the ripple effect reaches the C-suite. Senior leaders are spending more time on workforce development and recruitment strategy than on growth, stretching already-thin executive teams even further.
06
Bonding capacity and backlog depend on stable leadership
Sureties and clients evaluate management continuity when extending bonding lines and awarding contracts. Executive turnover does not just disrupt operations, it directly impacts your ability to win and finance new work.
- OUR SERVICES
Two core disciplines. One mission.
Focused expertise in finding and placing the leadership talent that drives your organization forward.
EXECUTIVE SEARCH
Consultants — not recruiters — who build a framework for compensation, retention, and long-term fit, backed by the same data and technology-enabled research behind every KeyHires search.
01 Engagement & discovery
02 Data-backed market research & candidate development
03 Assessment & presentation
04 Negotiation, close & onboarding
- OUR EXPERIENCE
Proven across industry leaders.
Select engagements that demonstrate our depth in the construction industry.
Turner is a North America-based, international construction services company and is a leading builder in diverse market segments. The company has earned recognition for undertaking large, complex projects, fostering innovation, embracing emerging technologies, and making a difference for their clients, employees, and community.
POSITIONS PLACED:
- Regional Chief Financial Officer
- Regional Director, Human Resources
- Construction Project Manager, Chicago
Skanska is one of the world's leading project development and construction groups, concentrated on selected home markets in the Nordic countries, other European countries, and in North America. Skanska provides innovative and sustainable solutions to create a sustainable future for its people, customers, and communities.
POSITIONS PLACED:
- Vice President, Regional Manager
- Vice President, Human Resources
Jacobs, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is a global provider of technical professional, and scientific services, including engineering, architecture, construction, operations, and maintenance.
POSITIONS PLACED:
- Vice President Business Leader Midwest Building Group
- Vice President, Energy & Power Solutions
- Vice President, Mission Critical Facilities
- Vice President PMCM Buildings Group
- Oil & Gas Project Manager
- Project Manager, California
- Senior Project Manager, New York
- Project Manager, Denver
BE&K Building Group is a diversified construction services company serving advanced manufacturing & distribution, industrial, life sciences, research & development, food & beverage, healthcare, and commercial clients. They are a subsidiary of Pernix Group, a leading construction services company providing comprehensive services to private clients and public agencies around the globe.
POSITIONS PLACED:
- Project Executive
- Senior Mechanical Estimator
- Senior Electrical Estimator
- Senior Scheduler
- Procurement Manager
- our Talent Acquisition Process
From engagement to integration.
The need for qualified senior level executives is drastically outpacing the supply.
- OUR construction PRACTICE
Deep Roots in Construction Leadership
There is possibly no sector that drives, impacts, and reflects the globalization of business more than the engineering and construction industry. The sight of cranes for large construction and infrastructure projects tends to flow along with economies.
Engineering and Construction firms have long recognized the value of talented leaders as the engine for change and growth in this demanding sector. As a result of this competitive war for talent, construction companies are looking for leaders who can build teams and organizations to deliver innovative solutions to the world’s most complex environmental, infrastructure, construction, and energy problems.
Our practice leaders bring more than 40 years of comprehensive construction experience to your talent management demands. KeyHires delivers strategies to close talent gaps, solve workforce challenges, and provide leadership solutions to your projects and organizations.
Our dedicated team of consultants has a demonstrated track record placing all levels of leaders within this sector and an extensive network of long-lasting client relationships with medium to Fortune 500 Construction companies.
- learn more
Expert Perspectives
Hear from our leadership team on the trends shaping today's hiring landscape.
A hiring misstep does not just impact one role. It affects productivity, operational continuity, team performance, and long-term growth. Managing Directors Morgan and Nick Layton discuss how leadership gaps ripple across an organization and why making the right hire is a strategic business decision.
A failed hire doesn’t stay internal—it sends a signal to the entire market. Competitors, candidates, and industry peers are watching. When a role needs to be refilled, it can erode credibility, “sour the well,” and make it harder to attract top talent. Getting the right leader in place from the start is critical to protecting both performance and reputation.
- YOUR point of contact
The person who knows your industry.
Title: Founder, Chief Executive Officer Email: [email protected] Phone: (847) 722-4180
About Bernard Layton
Bernard Layton has over 35 years of mid-level and senior-level executive search experience executing over 1,000 searches across numerous industries, including Financial Services, Private Equity, Consulting, Food, Retail, Consumer Products, Engineering, Industrial Products, Medical Products, Biotechnology, and Construction.
Before founding KeyHires, he built and led the Chicago office of Stanton Chase beginning in 2008. Previously, Bernard operated his own search practice (Peoplenext, Nicholas Partners) for over 15 years, assisting both U.S. and multi-national clients with their senior management needs.
Earlier in his career, Bernard spent 6 years with S.R. Clarke Executive Search managing key clients in San Francisco and initiating the Chicago office. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for MorganWorks and S.R. Clarke.