Commissioning Manager - South Dakota

Black & Veatch; South Dakota; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Black & Veatch, through Overland Contracting, seeks a seasoned Startup Manager to lead commissioning and startup activities across heavy industrial projects. You will manage CPM-based schedules, budget, and cross-functional teams, ensuring on-time turnover to operations and client satisfaction.

The role emphasizes safety, continuous improvement, and strong leadership of startup engineers, technicians, and coordinators within a 100% ESOP environment that values employee ownership and long-term

Qualifications

• 10+ years of startup experience, including five years as startup manager.
• Certifications: Project Management, Value Based Management, OSHA 10 Hour Training.

Responsibilities

• Manages startup and commissioning activities per CPM schedule.
• Allocates resources and makes startup and testing decisions per policies.
• Maintains detailed startup schedules and client communications.
• Oversees startup budget and man-hour tracking.
• Supervises startup engineers, technicians and coordinators.
• Ensures safety and quality standards and drives continuous improvement.

Skills

Startup management experience

Leadership

Project management

Industrial startup knowledge

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering

Job description

Date: Sep 14, 2026

Location: SD, US

Company: Black & Veatch Family of Companies

Company: Black & Veatch Corporation

Opportunity Type: Staff

Relocation eligible: No

Full time/Part time: Full-Time

Project Only Hire: No

Visa Sponsorship Available: No

Why Black & Veatch?

Join the Overland Contracting (a Black & Veatch company) construction team and build with pride. As a 100% employee‑owned company, every role matters — you own your work, your impact, and your future. We lead with care, and safety is non‑negotiable and embedded into every role, site and decision, ensuring our teams return home safe, every day.

From field engineering to project management to quality and startup, you’ll work with cutting‑edge technology, learn from seasoned experts, and grow through real‑world, hands‑on experience. With a strong backlog across power, water, grid, and industrial markets, you’ll have the stability to grow and the opportunity to shape what comes next.

Job Summary

Management of all project commissioning and startup activities in accordance with the Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule and within the established startup budget. Has authority to allocate resources and make startup, commissioning, and testing decisions in accordance with Division Policies, Standards, Guides, and Contractual commitments. May function as an Assistant Engineering Manager to support startup program development during the engineering phase of a project.

Key Responsibilities

• Manages the process of construction completion turnover to startup, startup turnover to operations, and final turnover to the client.
• Manages priorities and activities of startup staff.
• Develops and maintains a detailed startup schedule and detailed set of startup packages to track Startup completion and progress.
• Manages and maintains open communications and relationship with the client.
• Responsible for managing and monitoring the Startup budget and man hours.
• Develops clear startup procedures as required by contract to coordinate the startup effort.
• Plans and prepares for startup activities and major milestones (chemical cleaning, steam blow, demonstration tests, etc).
• Implements a coordinated operations control program ensuring good communication and the smooth execution of operational activities.
• Creates and implements controls process for spares, consumables, outstanding work, and material deliveries.
• Coordinates the daily activities effecting and involving startup.
• Provides supervision, training, development, and performance management of direct reports.
• Adheres to safety and quality standards as applicable to duties and accountabilities.
• Identifies and assesses improvement opportunities which will add value.
• Champions continuous improvement efforts.
• Assesses and supports the change management effects associated with the implementation of improvements.
• Proactively supports, encourages and facilitates staff to engage in continuous improvement activities.
• Supervises discipline commissioning engineers, operations supervisors, commissioning technicians, LOTO/Turnover coordinators.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Engineering preferred
• Previous startup management experience within a heavy industrial environment preferred
• Electrical/Instrumentation, mechanical, DCS, or combinitation of experience in all three desired.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of startup experience, including five years as startup manager.
• All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Certifications: Project Management, Value Based Management, OSHA 10 Hour Training

Job Grade

019

Black & Veatch endeavors to make www.bv.com/careers accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process because of a disability, please contact the Employee Relations Department at [phone] or via our accommodations request form. This contact information is for disability accommodation requests only; you may not use this contact information to inquire about the status of applications. General inquiries about the status of applications will not be returned.

Black & Veatch is committed to being an employer of choice by creating a valuable work experience that keeps our people engaged, productive, safe and healthy.

Our comprehensive benefits portfolio is a key component of this commitment and offers an array of health care benefits including but not limited to medical, dental and vision insurances along with disability and a robust wellness program.

To support a healthy work-life balance, we offer flexible work schedules, paid vacation and holiday time, sick time, and dependent sick time.

A variety of additional benefits are available to our professionals, including a company‑matched 401k plan, adoption reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, vendor discounts, an employment referral program, AD&D insurance, pre‑taxed accounts, voluntary legal plan and the B&V Credit Union. Professionals may also be eligible for a performance‑based bonus program.

We are proud to be a 100 percent ESOP‑owned company. As employee‑owners, our professionals are empowered to drive not only their personal growth, but the company's long‑term achievements - and they share in the financial rewards of the success through stock ownership.

By valuing diverse voices and perspectives, we cultivate an authentically inclusive environment for professionals and are able to provide innovative and effective solutions for clients.

BVH, Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliated companies, complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) laws and regulations. Black & Veatch does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender Identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law.

Notice to External Search Firms

Black & Veatch does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Black & Veatch Talent Acquisition engages with search firms directly for hiring needs.

Job Segment: Instrumentation, Field Engineer, Electrical, Engineer, Engineering