Director of Operations

Create the Team; Pensacola (FL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Create the Team, a Pensacola-based building automation contractor, seeks a Director of Operations to lead construction operations across the Southeast. You will oversee project management, engineering, administration, closeout and warranty turnover, and drive profitability and customer satisfaction.

The role reports to the President and requires building leadership, a systems approach, and regular travel. The role emphasizes consistency across markets, staff development, and partnering with

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of progressive experience in building automation, HVAC controls, mechanical or electrical contracting, systems integration, or a closely related construction business.
• Five or more years leading managers or multi-disciplinary delivery teams and a record of improving project and financial performance.
• Strong command of project financials, WIP, forecasting, job cost, gross margin, change orders, billing, cash flow, contracts, and risk.
• Working knowledge of BAS design, installation, programming, integration, commissioning, turnover, and service transition.
• A builder’s mindset: you create leaders, simplify processes, establish accountability, and use data without losing touch with people or the field.
• The credibility and communication skills to work with employees, customers, general and mechanical contractors, engineers, vendors, and executives.
• Willingness to travel regularly between offices and project locations.
• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, business, or a related field is preferred, but equivalent industry leadership experience will be considered. Experience with Automated Logic WebCTRL, Tridium Niagara, another major BAS platform, multi-location operations, branch expansion, or a construction portfolio of $15 million or more is especially valuable.

Responsibilities

• Lead company-wide construction operations, including project management, engineering and administration, closeout, and warranty turnover.
• Direct construction revenue and gross-margin performance, cost-to-complete forecasting, WIP reviews, resource planning, monthly billing projections, change-order discipline, and project recovery.
• Implement one consistent project delivery system across Birmingham and Pensacola, with a repeatable branch model for future markets.
• Develop project managers, technical leaders, field leaders, and the next generation of operations management.
• Partner with Sales before major commitments and ensure a disciplined handoff to the Director of Quality, safety, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement across the full construction lifecycle.
• Ensure backlogged work translates into predictable revenue, gross profit, and cash while maintaining quality and customer trust.
• Identify and manage project risks, labor needs, schedule issues, and margin exposure with early visibility and decisive action.
• Enable branch leaders to run the business with clear standards, scorecards, and accountability.
• Maintain distinct, accountable Construction and Service departments while delivering seamless customer transitions and long-term support.
• Build management depth and operating discipline to reach $20 million and support expansion into new markets.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, business, or a related field

Job description

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS | BUILDING AUTOMATION CONSTRUCTION

Pensacola, FL Preferred (Potential for Birmingham, AL)

Our client is an established building automation systems contractor serving customers across the Gulf South. As a growing contractor from a $10 million business toward $20 million in annual revenue, we are creating a new Director of Operations position to lead their Construction Operations Department across their southeastern territory of Alabama, Florida Panhandle, Mississippi (Central and Southern portions) and Louisiana to help build the operating model for future branch expansion.

This is an opportunity for an experienced BAS or specialty-contracting leader to shape the organization, not simply inherit it. You will lead the people and systems that turn sold projects into safe, profitable, on-time results and lasting customer relationships. You will work directly with the President and senior leadership team and will have meaningful authority to improve how our client plans, staffs, executes, measures, and scales its construction work.

What you will lead:

• Company-wide construction operations, including project management, engineering and administration, closeout, and warranty turnover.
• Construction revenue and gross-margin performance, cost-to-complete forecasting, WIP reviews, resource planning, monthly billing projections, change-order discipline, and project recovery.
• One consistent project delivery system across Birmingham and Pensacola, with a repeatable branch model for future markets.
• The development of project managers, technical leaders, field leaders, and the next generation of operations management.
• Partnership with Sales before major commitments and a disciplined handoff to the Director of
• Quality, safety, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement across the full construction lifecycle.

What success looks like:

• Company converts backlog into predictable revenue, gross profit, and cash without sacrificing quality or customer trust.
• Project risks, labor needs, schedule issues, and margin exposure are visible early and managed decisively.
• Leaders at each branch can run the business with clear standards, useful scorecards, and
• Construction and Service operate as distinct, accountable departments while customers experience a seamless transition and long-term support.
• Company has the management depth and operating discipline to reach $20 million and enter new markets responsibly.

What you bring:

• Ten or more years of progressive experience in building automation, HVAC controls, mechanical or electrical contracting, systems integration, or a closely related construction business.
• Five or more years leading managers or multi-disciplinary delivery teams and a record of improving project and financial performance.
• Strong command of project financials, WIP, forecasting, job cost, gross margin, change orders, billing, cash flow, contracts, and risk.
• Working knowledge of BAS design, installation, programming, integration, commissioning, turnover, and service transition.
• A builder’s mindset: you create leaders, simplify processes, establish accountability, and use data without losing touch with people or the field.
• The credibility and communication skills to work with employees, customers, general and mechanical contractors, engineers, vendors, and executives.
• Willingness to travel regularly between offices and project locations.

Preferred background:

A bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, business, or a related field is preferred, but equivalent industry leadership experience will be considered. Experience with Automated Logic WebCTRL, Tridium Niagara, another major BAS platform, multi-location operations, branch expansion, or a construction portfolio of $15 million or more is especially valuable.