Associate Project Manager

Johnson Controls; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 97,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & bonus

Paid vacation & holidays

Benefits package

Job summary

Johnson Controls is seeking an Associate Project Manager to support profitable execution of Fire Systems Install projects, guiding them from early planning through closeout. You will coordinate with Operations Leadership, Engineers, Designers, Technicians, and Subcontractors to ensure on-time delivery within budget and scope.

The role requires strong project controls, communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with a focus on safety and quality.

Qualifications

• Associate degree with equivalent work-related experience, or a minimum of five years of direct field experience in the Building Construction Industry.
• Proficiency in Project Management software and financial accounting systems.
• Experience working with MS Project, MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Adobe Writer, Visio, and basic Windows environment.
• Ability to verbally and non-verbally communicate technical material to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple project priorities, schedules, billing activities, and customer expectations.
• Travel may be required based on project assignment and needs.

Responsibilities

• Support the profitable execution of assigned small-dollar Fire Systems Install projects.
• Partner with Operations Leadership and other teams during early project development to support strategy, vendor and partner selection, scope enhancements, value engineering, and risk assessment.
• Provide work direction to Engineers, Designers, Technicians, Project Coordinators, Estimators, and Subcontractors to keep project execution aligned with the contract.
• Manage scope, costs, resources, schedules, risks, billing, and collections to maintain positive cash flow and support on-time delivery.
• Actively pursue change orders and additional opportunities when client instructions, field directives, or schedule changes affect the contractual scope of work.
• Review contract terms and conditions, prepare associated cost estimates and proposals, and support customer acceptance as needed.
• Oversee project document controls, construction compliance, and material ordering to support specifications, local codes, installation techniques, and JCI standards.
• Coordinate plan check submittals to Authorities Having Jurisdiction, track approvals, and secure permits promptly after approval.
• Assist with RFPs, RFIs, subcontracts, and project-related accounts payable, billing, and collections.
• Maintain relationships with customers, consultants, prime contractors, and subcontractors while supporting job progress meetings and issue resolution.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Time management

Team coordination

Travel readiness

Education

AA degree or 5 yrs exp

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

Adobe Writer

Visio

Job description

About Us

Johnson Controls, a global leader in thermal management, mission-critical building systems, energy efficiency, and decarbonization, helps customers use energy more productively, reduce carbon emissions, and operate with the precision and resilience required in rapidly expanding industries such as data centers, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, and higher education.

For more than 140 years, Johnson Controls has delivered performance where it really matters. Backed by advanced technology, lifecycle services and an industry-leading field organization, we elevate customer performance, turn goals into real-world results and help move society forward.

Associate Project Manager

Johnson Controls delivers fire protection and building solutions that help customers protect people, property, and operations. In this role, you will support the profitable execution of assigned small-dollar Fire Systems Install projects and help guide them from early planning through closeout.

Role Overview

You will work under general direction from the Installation/Operations Manager and/or Project Manager to coordinate project delivery, support early-stage planning, and keep assigned work on track. The role combines field leadership, customer coordination, financial control, document management, and safety oversight to ensure projects are completed accurately, on time, within budget, and within scope.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the profitable execution of assigned small-dollar Fire Systems Install projects for business customers.
• Partner with Operations Leadership and other teams during early project development to support strategy, vendor and partner selection, scope enhancements, value engineering, and risk assessment.
• Provide work direction to Engineers, Designers, Technicians, Project Coordinators, Estimators, and Subcontractors to keep project execution aligned with the contract.
• Manage scope, costs, resources, schedules, risks, billing, and collections to maintain positive cash flow and support on‑time delivery.
• Actively pursue change orders and additional opportunities when client instructions, field directives, or schedule changes affect the contractual scope of work.
• Review contract terms and conditions, prepare associated cost estimates and proposals, and support customer acceptance as needed.
• Oversee project document controls, construction compliance, and material ordering to support specifications, local codes, installation techniques, and JCI standards.
• Coordinate plan check submittals to Authorities Having Jurisdiction, track approvals, and secure permits promptly after approval.
• Assist with RFPs, RFIs, subcontracts, and project-related accounts payable, billing, and collections.
• Maintain relationships with customers, consultants, prime contractors, and subcontractors while supporting job progress meetings and issue resolution.

How You Will Do It

• Own the outcome by keeping safety, ethics, scope, schedule, cost, and quality aligned on every project.
• Stay close to the work by reviewing field conditions, contract changes, and customer instructions early, then removing obstacles before they affect delivery.
• Improve every day by using clear project controls, financial tracking, and recovery plans to address risk before it becomes a larger issue.
• Win as one team by coordinating closely with Operations, Engineering, Design, subcontractors, vendors, and customers to keep work moving.
• Communicate with candor by sharing project progress, issues, and financial status promptly with management and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Associate degree with equivalent work-related experience, or a minimum of five years of direct field experience in the Building Construction Industry.
• Proficiency in Project Management software and financial accounting systems.
• Experience working with MS Project, MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Adobe Writer, Visio, and basic Windows environment.
• Ability to verbally and non-verbally communicate technical material to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple project priorities, schedules, billing activities, and customer expectations.
• Travel may be required based on project assignment and needs.

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or Architecture.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Why Join Us

• Competitive salary and bonus.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick time, including 15 days of vacation in your first year.
• Comprehensive benefits package including 401K, medical, dental, and vision care, available day one.
• Extensive product and on-the-job or cross-training opportunities with outstanding resources.
• Encouraging and collaborative team environment.
• Dedication to safety through our Zero Harm policy.
• JCI employee discount programs through The Loop by Perk Spot.

HIRING SALARY RANGE

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $70,200 - $96,600 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.)

This role offers a competitive Bonus plan that will take into account individual, group, and corporate performance. This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply. To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site at https://jobs.johnsoncontrols.com/about-us.