Project Executive (Operations Manager)

Job Description

Job Description

The Industrial Controls Operations Manager owns the people, performance, and P&L health of the Industrial Controls Group's project portfolio. You are the operational leader who ensures our design teams, UL508A panel fabrication shop, and field integration crews deliver world-class control systems — safely, on schedule, and at or above budgeted margin.

You will lead across the full project lifecycle: from proposal support and design release, through panel fabrication and factory acceptance testing (FAT), to site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and warranty.

What You'll Do

Leadership & People

• Manage, supervise, and develop department personnel across design and manufacturing teams; build a productive, accountable work environment.
• Provide mentorship, structured coaching, and career-path development; maintain a documented succession plan for every key seat in the group.
• Hire departmental staff in partnership with the HR Talent Acquisition group; own time-to-fill and quality-of-hire for the group.
• Delegate responsibilities with clear ownership and follow up to successful completion.

Operational Execution

• Ensure all projects are delivered on budget and on schedule; own monthly project reviews, earned-value tracking, and margin forecasting for the group's portfolio.
• Track and publish performance metrics for the design team and manufacturing team; drive labor utilization and panel shop throughput targets.
• Own resource planning: maintain a rolling 12-month staffing and shop-capacity plan aligned to backlog and pipeline.
• Enforce disciplined change management — all scope changes priced, approved, and documented before work is performed.

Client & Commercial

• Interface with internal and external clients to resolve issues; serve as the executive escalation point and own client-relationship health for the group.
• Support proposal development, estimating reviews, and go/no-go decisions with operational and capacity input.
• Partner with business development to convert delivery excellence into repeat work and negotiated backlog.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all panel fabrication complies with UL508A standards and applicable codes (NFPA 70, NFPA 79); maintain command of electrical drawings, control schematics, and engineering specifications.
• Own FAT/SAT quality gates: zero panels ship without documented, passing factory acceptance testing.
• Model and enforce safety guidelines; ensure corrective actions are assigned, tracked, and closed within 48 hours; drive documented weekly safety observations and toolbox talks.

Technology & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and advance the group's technology standards — PLC/HMI/SCADA platforms, panel design libraries, and documentation templates — to reduce engineering cycle time and rework.
• Drive continuous improvement in job processes, shop workflow, and cost; standardize what works and eliminate what doesn't.

Who You Are

• 4-year degree in engineering, project management, or construction management — or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of management experience in industrial electrical controls, automation, UL508A panel shop, or manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of electrical drawings, control schematics, engineering specifications, and the UL508A fabrication process.
• Demonstrated P&L or budget accountability with a track record of on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Project, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; proven ability to lead teams and work collaboratively to meet shared objectives.
• Initiative, attention to detail, positive attitude, and the ability to work autonomously.
• Legal right to work in the U.S. without sponsorship indefinitely; valid driver's license with a good driving record; pre-employment drug screen.