Manager, Capital Projects

ACCO Engineered Systems; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 158,000 - 208,000; Full time

Job summary

ACCO Engineered Systems is seeking a Manager of Capital Projects in California to lead the planning, design, budgeting, and execution of large facility builds and renovations. You will oversee a team of project leads and coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors, and internal stakeholders to deliver projects safely, on time, and within budget.

The role requires strong leadership, extensive construction experience, and the ability to influence across functions while maintaining a focus

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management or related technical field.
• Minimum of 7 years leadership experience in building design/construction or project management.
• Experience directly leading project managers or technical leads.

Responsibilities

• Leads the strategic development, planning, and execution of capital projects from concept through turnover.
• Mentors a high-performing team of Project Leads to execute projects and provide career guidance.
• Defines project scope, objectives, success criteria, and risk mitigation with executives and engineers.
• Manages budgets, schedules, resources, and capital expenditures for multiple projects.
• Oversees the design phase with external architects and internal engineering resources.
• Coordinates with operations for scheduling and execution of self-performed scopes (HVAC, plumbing, piping).
• Manages permitting, regulatory approvals, and major invoices/change orders; resolves scope changes.
• Leads project meetings, ensures codes/safety compliance, and reports status to leadership.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Budgeting

Stakeholder management

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management

Master’s degree or PMP/LEED

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Manager, Capital Projects will lead the planning, design, budgeting and execution of the company’s new facility builds, large-scale renovations and tenant improvements. This role serves as the primary liaison between internal stakeholders, architects, engineers, contractors and vendors to ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget and in alignment with company objectives. This role will lead a team of project leads that will oversee multiple capital projects. The Manager, Capital Projects and team will provide leadership throughout the project lifecycle from concept development through commissioning and turnover. The Manager, Capital Projects has strong project management experience, the ability to work cross-functionally throughout the organization and with external parties, a manage-by-influence approach and big-picture thinking coupled with a focus on the details of implementation.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Leads the strategic development, planning, and execution of new facility builds, large-scale renovations, and tenant improvements from initial concept through final commissioning and turnover.
• Develops, manages, and mentors a high-performing team of Project Leads to execute capital projects, providing professional development and career guidance.
• Collaborates with executive leadership, operations, estimating, engineering, and field teams to define project scope, objectives, success criteria, and strategic risk mitigation strategies.
• Conducts comprehensive feasibility studies, site assessments, spatial layouts, and due diligence activities to evaluate properties and project viability.
• Formulates and manages detailed project budgets, master construction schedules, resource allocation plans, and capital expenditure forecasts.
• Oversees the design phase of all projects, managing external architects, design engineers, consultants, and internal self-performed engineering resources.
• Coordinates closely with internal operations resources regarding the scheduling and execution of self-performed scopes of work (such as HVAC, plumbing, and process piping).
• Manages the entitlement, permitting, and regulatory approval processes with local jurisdictions as required for regional property development.
• Reviews and approves major invoices, complex change orders, and subcontractor pay applications while resolving project scope changes and schedule impacts.
• Leads high-level project meetings, ensures strict compliance with building codes and safety regulations, and provides detailed status reports to executive leadership.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements (Work Experience, Skills, Licenses, Etc.)

• In-depth expertise in commercial building design, spatial layouts, construction budgeting, scheduling, procurement, and risk management.
• Demonstrable competency in strategic planning, capital budgeting, and business development within a professional construction environment.
• Highly developed diplomatic skills and organizational savvy to interact effectively with executive leadership and external project stakeholders.
• Outstanding leadership capabilities with a proven history of managing, mentoring, and developing technical personnel or project managers.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, coupled with superb analytical and technical problem-solving capabilities.
• Proven ability to listen effectively, evaluate highly confidential situations, and determine appropriate, risk-aware courses of action.
• Strong ability to manage multiple complex, large-scale capital projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• High attention to detail, flexibility, and creative thinking while maintaining a long-term strategic perspective and operational focus.
• Demonstrated knowledge, sensitivity, and proactive support of equal opportunity, workplace diversity, and multiculturalism.

Education And Experience

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 7 years of leadership experience in the building design and construction industry or in commercial construction project management.
• Demonstrated experience directly managing, mentoring, or leading a team of project managers or technical leads.

Desired

• Advanced degree (Master’s or MBA) or relevant industry credentials (such as PMP, LEED, or active PE/AIA licenses).
• Proven track record of managing public entitlement, permitting, and multi-state regulatory compliance processes.

ACCO Competencies

• Proactivity/Initiative: Recognizes what needs to be done and accomplishes it in a manner appropriate for one’s level/position and with minimal supervision.
• Perseverance: Shows wherewithal to fight for difficult goals despite challenges and to bounce back from adversity.
• Motivation/Dedication: Commits to excellence in pursuing unselfish goals. Initiates action with collective goals, takes responsibility, and shows personal humility.
• Technical Curiosity/Willingness to Learn: Interest in seeking out new experiences, knowledge, and candid feedback; demonstrating an openness to learning and change.
• Insight: The ability to gather and make sense of information that suggests new possibilities.
• Engagement: Shows a knack for using emotion and logic to communicate a persuasive vision and connect with people.
• People Skills: Is approachable and gains the mutual trust and respect of others. Understands people’s strengths & weaknesses and actively seeks to understand other perspectives.
• Communication: Fosters open, honest, candid and respectful communication. Effectively assesses, defines and communicates issues in a timely manner, both written and verbal.
• Teamwork: The ability to effectively work toward common goals with others by supporting, encouraging, and sharing information in an authentic and approachable manner.
• Big Picture: Understands and contributes to the organizations’ short- and long-term business strategy. On a personal level has independently developed a vision for short- and long-term career success.
• Problem-Solver: Ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems in support of personnel, group, department, or organizational objectives.
• Execution: Effectively takes a vision and translates into action by including the right people. Identify and remove barriers, when possible, to achieve results. Demonstrates appropriate compromise, effective time management, prioritization practices and holds team members (including themselves) accountable for their performance/conduct.
• Professionalism: Respectfully observes and challenges the status quo with intent for improvement. Can take direction, accept feedback, and take full responsibility for their actions. Lead by example through positive influence and ethical leadership with consideration of the entire organization.

Job Responsibility Level

People manager with direct reports

Travel Requirements

Travel to (field, shop, project site) may be required 15-25% of the time.

Hours

This is an exempt position. Workdays are scheduled from Monday through Friday. Typically, work hours begin and end between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm as scheduled with the position's supervisor. Work outside of regular hours may occasionally be necessary to meet business needs.

Physical Demands

• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Prolonged sitting.
• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms.
• Occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch.

Competitive Wages

$157,500.00 to $207,750.00 Annual Salary. Applicants, please note that actual compensation is determined by several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, certifications, relevant education or training, and specific work location, among others. The offered wage or salary is only one aspect of an employee's total compensation.

About Us

Why join ACCO? ACCO Engineered Systems is one of the largest mechanical contractors in the country. Since 1934, owners and builders have selected ACCO to design, install, and maintain more than 250,000 mechanical projects. ACCO is dedicated to the design, fabrication, installation, maintenance and service of commercial and industrial HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, process piping, and building automation systems. Whether your project is a low or high-rise office building, a shopping mall, hospital, semi-conductor fabrication facility or pharmaceutical manufacturing plant...ACCO can design, build, install, and maintain a mechanical system to meet your needs.

Here at ACCO, we are a part of something bigger. Just ask our customers: California Academy of Sciences, L.A. Live, and San Francisco 49ers Stadium. While we have been around for 80+ years, we continue to grow at a dynamic pace. And we are looking for talented individuals to join our team.

What's great about working at ACCO is that we're a big enough company to be the leader in HVAC mechanical contracting in California and the Southwest U.S., but as a 100% employee-owned ESOP, we're a private company with a family-oriented feel. Several of our employees have worked at ACCO for twenty-five, thirty, and even over forty years! Together, the employees of ACCO are comprised of intelligent, dedicated, and entrepreneurial team members who put customers first and enjoy what they do.

ACCO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AA M/F/V/D.

We proudly hire U.S. Military Veterans, and those qualified are encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity is The Law.|Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

ACCO will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment.

Notice To Outside Recruiters

Hiring managers are not authorized to review or accept recruiting agreements from any outside recruiting agencies. Outside recruiting agencies should not submit unsolicited resumes without signing the company's recruiting agreement.