When you hear the name Declan Rice, you might think of packed stadiums, Premier League glory and Arsenal chants echoing through London. Only ours doesn’t play midfield. Instead, McNab’s Declan Rice has spent the last 12 years delivering something just as impressive – complex, large-scale projects that genuinely change the way people live.
A Project Manager with more than a decade at McNab, Declan (or Dec as he’s known to workmates) has worked across student accommodation, multi-residential developments and aged care – including luxury apartments, affordable housing and facilities designed for people who need them most.
It’s a career built on purpose, trust and long-standing relationships, and it’s one he’s proud to call home.
A career that’s grown with McNab
Declan’s McNab story began back in 2014, when he joined the business as a Construction Cadet while studying a Bachelor of Urban Development (Construction Management) at Queensland University of Technology.
Since then, his career progressed naturally, building depth, capability and confidence over time:
- Construction Cadet (2014–2016)
- Contract Administrator (2016–2020)
- Site Engineer (2020–2022)
- Project Manager (2022–present)
“I started in estimating as a cadet while I was studying,” Declan says. “From there, I had the opportunity to work across a range of projects and roles, learning from people who genuinely wanted to see me succeed.” That support is something Declan still values deeply today – and something he now passes on to the teams he leads.
Building projects that matter
Over the years, Declan has delivered student accommodation and multi-residential projects across Queensland, but more recently his focus has shifted to aged care – an area he finds especially rewarding.
He’s currently delivering Rockpool Residential Aged Care Northshore, one of three facilities currently under construction for our long-term client Rockpool.
“Seeing people move into their new home for the first time is always pretty heart-warming,” Declan says.
“A key driver for McNab is that we want to enrich people’s lives on a day-to-day basis. Social and affordable housing, and aged care projects like these, are a very tangible example of that.”
It’s also a space where McNab’s values are lived, not just talked about – from safety and quality, to care for the people who will ultimately call these places home.
Relationships at the core
Ask Declan what sets McNab apart, and he doesn’t hesitate.
“Relationships are a massive part of what we do. We wouldn’t be where we are without them,” he says.
Those relationships span clients, consultants, subcontractors and McNab’s broader group of businesses – including Supplyhaus, Trades and Labour and Building Services. It’s one of the reasons nine out of ten McNab projects come from repeat clients.
“For me, that says everything,” Declan says. “People come back because they trust us, and because we deliver.”
