Internship

Merit Construction, Inc. is an award-winning Knoxville-based General Construction firm with over 40 years of experience.

We currently have openings in our Internship Program.

Duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

Field Operations

Objective: Gain an understanding of how a construction site is managed on a day-to-day basis.

Jobsite Duties

  • Monitor subcontractors to ensure they are delivering quality work in the field.
  • Ensure subcontractors are adhering to the plans and specifications.
  • Manage the Storm Water Prevention Plan (SWPP) for the jobsite.
  • Work with the Superintendent to manage and distribute the Near-Term Schedule for the jobsite.
  • Assist in tracking RFI’s.
  • Manage and distribute all meeting minutes for the project.
  • Track subcontractors progress and manpower on a daily basis and assist in the Daily Report process with the Superintendent.
  • Assist Superintendent with jobsite safety:
    • Weekly Safety Checklist Review
    • Observe and report on subcontractor safety performance.
    • Assist the Safety Director with jobsite inspections.
  • Manage daily cleanup and organization of stored materials onsite.

Office Duties

  • Assist with the submittal review process.

Estimating

Objective: Gain an understanding of project estimating and construction bid proposals.

Office Duties

  • Work with the estimating team to establish a bid list for various projects.
  • Review the plans and specifications to ensure Merit accounts for all scopes of work and project requirements.
  • Review drawings and begin scoping out the project.
  • Complete any quantity takeoffs required for the estimate.
  • Contact all subcontractors bidding the project to answer any questions and ensure all scope of work is being accounted for.
  • Assist in managing the bid proposal and scope of work analysis.
  • Participate in any pre-bid walkthroughs with the owner rep. and/or architect.
  • Manage any pre-bid RFI’s that are received during the bid process.
  • Assist in compiling the final bid proposal and sending to the owner rep. for review.
  • Participate in drafting subcontracts for projects Merit is awarded.

Project Management

Objective: Gain an understanding of how to manage an ongoing construction project.

Jobsite Duties

  • Walk the jobsite to ensure subcontractors are adhering to the plans and specifications.
  • Assist in the change order process by identifying scope changes in the field.
  • Manage and distribute the Near-Term Schedule for the jobsite.
  • Assist in writing, tracking, and issuing RFI’s.
  • Manage and distribute all meeting minutes for the project.
  • Assist in tracking material deliveries and subcontractor mobilization dates.
  • Assist in tracking and resolving any issues that arise onsite.
  • Assist the superintendent with the permitting inspection process.
  • Manage all construction document revisions.
  • Assist the Marketing Director with producing aerial photos, jobsite signage, etc.
  • Assist the Superintendent with implementing Merit’s Jobsite Safety Program.

Office Duties

  • Assist the Project Manager and PA with owner pay applications.
  • Manage the submittal review process for the project and follow up with Architects and subcontractors to ensure we’re receiving them in a timely manner.
  • Work with the Project Manager to update the overall Project Schedule.
  • Assist with pricing field and owner driven change orders.
  • Assist with Project Estimating on an as needed basis.
  • Assist the Safety Director with the Safe Start Program.

Intern Report Out:

At the conclusion of your internship, you will be required to give a 10–15-minute presentation to Merit’s Leadership Team documenting what you learned, what you accomplished, how you directly impacted the project, any issues you experienced and how you overcame them, and any lessons learned.  More information will be provided for the Intern Report Out during the internship.

Essential Skills & Experience:

  • Pursuit of Bachelor’s degree from an accredited construction or civil engineering program.
  • Strong computer skills including proficiency using Excel and Word; project management and scheduling software knowledge helpful.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Plan and organize work effectively.

Merit Construction is an Equal Employment Opportunity and TN Drug-Free Workplace employer.

Interested candidates should submit a resume.