Department Manager - Plumbing Construction

Monona Plumbing and Fire Protection, Inc.; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 135,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Monthly vehicle allowance

Gas card for business use

Job summary

Monona Plumbing & Fire Protection, Inc. in Madison, WI, is seeking an experienced construction operations professional to oversee our Plumbing Construction division. This role focuses on building the department, developing its people, and improving performance as a business.

You will manage people, operations, P&L, backlog, profitability, and overall department performance. As Department Manager, you will lead a team spanning project management, field leadership, and administrative support,

Qualifications

• 10+ years in commercial construction or related environment.
• Experience leading a construction department or business unit.
• Experience with budgets, forecasting, profitability, and P&L.

Responsibilities

• Lead Plumbing Construction team including project management, field leadership, and admin support.
• Own department P&L, revenue, gross margin, profitability, overhead, and forecasting.
• Manage backlog, staffing, project performance, and department priorities.

Skills

Leadership & coaching

P&L ownership

Project management

Strategic planning

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in construction management or related field

Job description

Monona Plumbing & Fire Protection is seeking an experienced construction operations professional to oversee our Plumbing Construction division!

This is an opportunity to build, not simply maintain. MPFP is an established specialty subcontractor in the Southern Wisconsin market, and we're looking for someone who can build on that foundation while improving how the Plumbing Construction division operates, develops its people, and performs as a business. This high-impact role is responsible for managing people, operations, P&L, backlog, profitability, and overall department performance. You'll have the opportunity to shape the division's future with meaningful influence on both department and company direction.

What you'll do

As the Department Manager, you'll lead a team spanning project management, field leadership, and administrative support while serving as a member of the Company's Leadership Team. You'll be responsible for:

• Leading, coaching, developing, and holding accountable the Plumbing Construction team.
• Owning department P&L and financial performance, including revenue, gross margin, profitability, overhead, expenses, and forecasting.
• Managing backlog, workload, staffing, project performance, and department priorities to ensure resources are aligned with business needs.
• Assessing department operations, identifying root causes of challenges, and implementing sustainable improvements to processes, structure, and performance.
• Establishing clear expectations, KPIs, accountability, and ownership throughout the department.
• Maintaining oversight of significant projects, financial performance, and operational risks while ensuring project-level responsibilities remain appropriately owned by the team.
• Evaluating potential projects and determining which opportunities align with department capacity, capabilities, risk, customer strategy, and financial objectives.
• Providing leadership and oversight to estimating, project management, and field operations.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with general contractors, customers, vendors, and industry partners.
• Partnering with other department leaders and executive leadership on company-wide priorities, challenges, and opportunities.

What we're looking for

• 10+ years of progressive experience in commercial construction, specialty subcontracting, mechanical contracting, or a related construction environment.
• Significant experience leading a construction department, business unit, operations team, or comparable function of employees responsible for projects, teams, or functional areas.
• Demonstrated responsibility for financial and operational performance, including budgets, forecasting, profitability, and/or P&L.
• Experience improving business or department performance through people development, process improvement, organizational change, or operational strategy.
• Strong understanding of commercial construction project management and field operations.
• Strong critical thinking, business judgment, communication, and organizational skills.
• A professional, collaborative leadership style with the ability to navigate competing priorities and challenging situations constructively.
• Bachelor's degree in construction management, engineering, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered.
• Mechanical or plumbing construction experience is preferred, but not required.

The above description covers the principal duties, responsibilities and requirements of the job. It shall not, however, be construed as a complete listing of all job duties, responsibilities or requirements that may be required from day-to-day.

Total compensation

Base salary range: $135k-155k, placement on the range is dependent on relevant experience

In addition to base salary, the position includes:

• Performance-based bonus opportunity
• Monthly vehicle allowance
• Gas card for business use

This is a 100% onsite leadership position based in Madison, Wisconsin, with some local travel throughout Southern Wisconsin. Regular working hours are Monday – Friday 7am to 4pm.

Why work for MPFP?

We look for employees who live their life, love their work, are personally accountable and go beyond what is required. Everything we do, and the way in which we do it, is aligned with our core values. Quality craftsmanship, customer service, and safety are at the core of who we are.

Live Your Life; Love Your Work.
Working hard and having fun is at the core of who we are. We strive to create an environment in which hard work and flexibility go hand in hand.

Create Enduring Relationships.
We value our customers and team members and do not take them for granted. We work cooperatively and respectfully and exercise a willingness to be helpful and supportive.

Be Personally Accountable.
We follow through on our commitments and deliver on our promises. We take responsibility for our actions and mistakes.

Do the Right Thing.
We act with integrity and focus on being honest, fair, and ethical. Quality craftsmanship, customer service, and safety are integral to who we are and how we accomplish our work.

Show Respect for Others.
We believe in honesty and treating people fairly and with respect. We listen to our employees, customers, business partners, and the community.

Remain Humble.
We are one team; our success is collective, not individual. We are quietly confident and let our actions speak louder than our words.

What We Offer

At Monona Plumbing & Fire Protection, our employees are our greatest asset. We value our employees by committing to providing a comprehensive benefits package to support their well-being and success.

Here's a brief overview of the benefits available to you as an employee (non-union):

Health & Wellness

• Health, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Voluntary insurance options, such as: short term disability, long term disability, critical illness, voluntary accident

Financial Stability

• Competitive Pay
• Retirement Savings 401(k) with Employer Matching
• Rewards and recognition

Work-Life Balance

• 8 Paid Holidays
• Early-out Fridays + PTO Policy
• Work with a values-driven and close-knit team
• Regular company & team events

Monona Plumbing & Fire Protection is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, and we are dedicated to creating an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and supported in their career growth. Please let us know if you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process.