Director of Operations (Mechanical Contractor)

Arena Family of Companies; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vehicle allowance

Phone and laptop

Medical & dental insurance

Vision coverage

401(k) match

PTO & holidays

Leadership development

Job summary

Arena Family of Companies in San Jose seeks a Director of Operations to lead Northern California construction operations. You will own the performance of the project portfolio from award to closeout and build the project management and field leadership teams.

The role focuses on project profitability, safety, schedule, and BIM alignment with prefabrication, with direct path to executive leadership.

Qualifications

• 12+ years in commercial or industrial mechanical contracting with leadership of PMs
• Proven P&L ownership on a portfolio of $50M+ annual revenue
• Deep experience with design build and design assist HVAC and piping projects
• Healthcare (OSHPD/HCAI), data center, life science, or high tech experience strongly preferred
• Strong working knowledge of union labor (Sheet Metal Workers and UA Pipe Trades), CA codes, and Title 24
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or related field preferred; equivalent PM experience considered
• Established relationships with Bay Area general contractors a plus
• Proficiency with project cost systems (Sage 300 or similar), Procore, and Bluebeam; comfort working alongside BIM teams
• Clear communicator who leads with accountability, integrity, and a team first mindset

Responsibilities

• Oversee all Northern California projects, typically a portfolio of $10M to $50M+ design build and design assist mechanical jobs
• Lead, mentor, and hold accountable Senior Project Managers, Project Managers, Project Engineers, and General Superintendents
• Own project financial performance: monthly cost reviews, cost to complete forecasting, change order management, cash flow, and fee fade prevention
• Partner with Preconstruction and Estimating on bid strategy, go/no go decisions, and smooth handoff from estimate to execution
• Coordinate manpower planning across sheet metal and piping crews with the Field Operations team and union halls
• Align BIM, detailing, and fabrication shop schedules with field installation to maximize prefabrication
• Champion a strong safety culture in partnership with the Safety Director, with a goal of zero recordables
• Build and maintain relationships with general contractors, owners, and engineers; serve as the senior escalation point on major projects
• Standardize project management processes, reporting, and technology across the operations group
• Recruit, develop, and retain top project talent; drive succession planning for the PM and field leadership bench

Skills

Leadership

P&L ownership

Communication

BIM coordination

Safety leadership

Education

Bachelors in Mechanical Eng

Tools

Sage 300

Procore

Bluebeam

Job description

A Leading Mechanical Contractor Full Time 100% employer paid medical, dental, and life insurance for self and family. 401(k) retirement plan, 50% match.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary: $220,000 to $270,000, depending on experience
• Annual performance bonus tied to company and division results
• Company vehicle or vehicle allowance, plus phone and laptop
• 100% employer paid medical, dental, and life insurance for self and family.
• Vision coverage
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Ongoing training and leadership development
• Stable, privately held company with decades of history and long tenured teams

About the Company

Our client is a well established, privately held mechanical contractor headquartered in the South Bay. The company designs, fabricates, and installs HVAC, plumbing, and process piping systems with a union craft workforce in both sheet metal and piping. Its design build, design assist, and plan and spec work spans hospitals, data centers, research and high tech facilities, universities, government agencies, and corporate campuses across the Bay Area. The team leads with BIM and in house prefabrication, and many employees have been with the company for 20+ years.

The Opportunity

Our client is seeking a Director of Operations to lead its Northern California construction operations out of its San Jose headquarters. Reporting to executive leadership, this leader will own the performance of the project portfolio from contract award through closeout, develop the project management and field leadership teams, and drive the systems that keep the company’s projects safe, profitable, and on schedule. This is a high visibility role with a direct path to executive leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all Northern California projects, typically a portfolio of $10M to $50M+ design build and design assist mechanical jobs
• Lead, mentor, and hold accountable Senior Project Managers, Project Managers, Project Engineers, and General Superintendents
• Own project financial performance: monthly cost reviews, cost to complete forecasting, change order management, cash flow, and fee fade prevention
• Partner with Preconstruction and Estimating on bid strategy, go/no go decisions, and smooth handoff from estimate to execution
• Coordinate manpower planning across sheet metal and piping crews with the Field Operations team and union halls
• Align BIM, detailing, and fabrication shop schedules with field installation to maximize prefabrication
• Champion a strong safety culture in partnership with the Safety Director, with a goal of zero recordables
• Build and maintain relationships with general contractors, owners, and engineers; serve as the senior escalation point on major projects
• Standardize project management processes, reporting, and technology across the operations group
• Recruit, develop, and retain top project talent; drive succession planning for the PM and field leadership bench

Qualifications

• 12+ years in commercial or industrial mechanical contracting, with at least 5 years leading multiple Project Managers or a business unit
• Proven P&L ownership on a portfolio of $50M+ annual revenue
• Deep experience with design build and design assist HVAC and piping projects
• Healthcare (OSHPD/HCAI), data center, life science, or high tech experience strongly preferred
• Strong working knowledge of union labor (Sheet Metal Workers and UA Pipe Trades), California mechanical codes, and Title 24
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or related field preferred; equivalent field and PM experience considered
• Established relationships with Bay Area general contractors a plus
• Proficiency with project cost systems (Sage 300 or similar), Procore, and Bluebeam; comfort working alongside BIM teams
• Clear communicator who leads with accountability, integrity, and a team first mindset