AVL Project Manager

Next Level AVL; Birmingham, Northern (AL, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary: $55,000–$70,000

Performance bonus

Paid time off

Company vehicle or mileage

Training and certification

Direct access to ownership

Job summary

Next Level AVL is seeking an experienced AVL Project Manager to own installation and production projects from signed proposal through final client sign-off. You will be the single point of accountability for scope, schedule, budget, crew, and client communication.

You'll run multiple concurrent projects - a church sanctuary upgrade, a corporate conference room install, a multi-day live event - and keep each one on time, on budget, and on spec. This is a hands-on role.

Qualifications

• 3+ years managing AV, AVL, low-voltage, or commercial construction projects.
• Technical fluency across audio, video, and lighting systems.
• Ability to read architectural, electrical, and AV drawings.
• Proficiency in Vectorworks and/or AutoCAD for drawings and plots.
• Proven track record managing concurrent projects, budgets, and subcontractors.

Responsibilities

• Own full project lifecycle from kickoff to closeout.
• Build and maintain schedules and milestones; drive completion.
• Conduct site surveys and identify constraints before change orders.
• Coordinate with GC, electricians, and subs.
• Manage punch lists and lead final commissioning and client acceptance.
• Provide regular status updates to clients and sales team.

Skills

Project management

Technical fluency (AV/Video/Lighting)

Reading drawings

AutoCAD/Vectorworks

Budget and scheduling

Client communication

Team leadership

Tools

Vectorworks

AutoCAD

Job description

Company: Next Level AVL
Location: Birmingham, Alabama (on-site + travel across the Southeast and beyond)
Type: Full-time, exempt
Reports to: Owner / Operations Lead
Travel: Regional and beyond - up to 40% (day trips, overnights, and occasional out-of-region projects)

About Next Level AVL

Next Level AVL designs, installs, and supports audio, video, and lighting systems for churches, schools, businesses, events, and facilities across the Southeast. We take sanctuaries, stages, and spaces to the next level with systems that sound great, look great, and - just as important - are simple enough for a volunteer team to run on a Sunday morning.

The Role

The AVL Project Manager owns installation and production projects from the moment a proposal is signed through final client sign-off. You are the single point of accountability for scope, schedule, budget, crew, and client communication. You'll run multiple concurrent projects - a church sanctuary upgrade, a corporate conference room install, a multi-day live event - and keep each one on time, on budget, and on spec.

This is a hands-on role. You will be on job sites, in ceilings, on ladders, and in client meetings - often in the same week.

What You'll Do

Project Execution

• Own the full project lifecycle: kickoff, planning, procurement, installation, commissioning, training, and closeout
• Build and maintain project schedules, task lists, and milestone dates; drive them to completion
• Conduct site surveys and pre-installation walkthroughs; identify structural, electrical, and access constraints before they become change orders
• Coordinate with general contractors, electricians, low-voltage subs, and facility staff
• Manage punch lists and lead final commissioning and client acceptance

Crew & Resource Management

• Schedule and direct install technicians, freelance crew, and subcontractors
• Set daily job-site expectations for safety, quality, workmanship, and professional appearance
• Review labor hours against estimate and flag variances early

Budget & Procurement

• Own project budgets; track labor, equipment, and material costs against the approved estimate
• Generate equipment orders, track lead times, verify receiving, and stage gear for install
• Write and price change orders; secure written client approval before executing out-of-scope work

Client Relationship

• Serve as the primary client contact throughout the project; provide regular, proactive status updates
• Translate technical detail into plain language for pastors, facility directors, and business owners
• Lead end-user training and handoff so client teams and volunteers can confidently operate their systems
• Support the sales team with scoping, feasibility input, and accurate labor estimates on proposals

Documentation & Process

• Produce and maintain signal flow diagrams, rack elevations, venue plots, and as-built drawings in Vectorworks and/or AutoCAD
• Keep project files, photos, warranty records, and closeout packages complete and organized
• Contribute to improving install standards, checklists, and repeatable processes

What You Bring

Required

• 3+ years managing AV, AVL, low-voltage, or commercial construction projects
• Working technical fluency across audio (consoles, DSP, wireless, speaker systems), video (displays, LED walls, cameras, switching, streaming), and lighting (fixtures, DMX, control consoles
• Ability to read architectural, electrical, and AV system drawings
• Working proficiency in Vectorworks and/or AutoCAD - able to produce and revise system drawings, rack elevations, and stage/venue plots
• Proven track record managing concurrent projects, budgets, and subcontractors
• Strong written and verbal communication; comfortable leading a client meeting and a crew briefing
• Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and willingness to travel regionally and beyond as projects require
• Ability to lift 50 lbs., work from ladders and lifts, and work in ceilings, attics, and tight spaces
• Comfortable with occasional evening and weekend work around client event schedules

Preferred

• Experience with church AVL environments and volunteer-operated systems
• Familiarity with brands such as Yamaha, Allen & Heath, QSC, Q-SYS, Dante, Shure, Sennheiser, Blackmagic, ETC, Chauvet, and ProPresenter
• CTS or CTS-I certification (or willingness to obtain)
• OSHA 10/30, aerial lift, or rigging certification
• Experience with project management and estimating tools (D-Tools, Jobber, Monday.com , or similar)

Success in the First 6 Months

• 30 days - Know our install standards, gear inventory, vendor list, and active project pipeline; shadow and then co-lead an active install
• 90 days - Independently running 2-3 concurrent projects with clean documentation and on-schedule delivery
• 180 days - Projects consistently landing at or under estimated labor hours, zero surprise change orders, and measurable improvement in client handoff and training quality

What We Offer

• Salary of $55,000 - $70,000, commensurate with experience
• Performance bonus tied to project margin and on-time delivery
• Paid time off and holidays
• Company vehicle or mileage reimbursement for job-site travel; travel expenses covered for out-of-region work
• Tools, technology, and manufacturer training/certification paid by the company
• Direct access to ownership, real decision-making authority, and room to grow with a scaling company

Next Level AVL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic