Operations Manager - Industrial Controls

JCO Workforce Solutions, LLC; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

JCO Workforce Solutions, LLC seeks an Industrial Controls Operations Manager to lead the Industrial Controls Group, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and with high margin. You will oversee design, fabrication, FAT/SAT, and field integration, aligning engineering, manufacturing, and service teams to accelerate delivery and maintain safety and quality.

You will build a high-performing team, drive P&L health, manage capacity and changes, and partner with BD to convert delivery

Qualifications

• 5+ years of management experience in industrial electrical controls, automation, UL508A panel shop, or manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of electrical drawings, control schematics, engineering specifications, and the UL508A fabrication process.
• Demonstrated P&L or budget accountability with a track record of on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Project, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; proven ability to lead teams and work collaboratively to meet shared objectives.
• Initiative, attention to detail, positive attitude, and the ability to work autonomously.
• Legal right to work in the U.S. without sponsorship indefinitely; valid driver's license with a good driving record; pre-employment drug screen.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design teams, UL508A panel fabrication shop, and field integration crews to deliver world-class control systems safely and on schedule.
• Oversee proposal support, design release, FAT, SAT, commissioning, and warranty across the project lifecycle.
• Manage, mentor, and develop department personnel; own succession planning and hiring in partnership with HR.
• Own budget, monthly project reviews, earned-value tracking, and margin forecasting for the group.
• Track performance metrics for design and manufacturing teams; drive labor utilization and shop throughput targets.
• Maintain a rolling staffing and capacity plan aligned to backlog and pipeline.
• Enforce change management with priced, approved scope changes before work begins.
• Interface with clients to resolve issues and maintain client-relationship health.
• Support proposals, estimating reviews, and go/no-go decisions with operations input.
• Partner with business development to convert delivery excellence into repeat work and backlog.
• Ensure UL508A compliance and codes, control drawings, and engineering specs; drive FAT/SAT quality gates.
• Drive safety with weekly observations and toolbox talks; enforce corrective actions within 48 hours.
• Advance technology standards for PLC/HMI/SCADA and templates to reduce cycle time.
• Pursue continuous improvement in processes and shop workflow.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Budget accountability

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Autonomy

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Industrial Controls Operations Manager owns the people, performance, and P&L health of the Industrial Controls Group's project portfolio. You are the operational leader who ensures our design teams, UL508A panel fabrication shop, and field integration crews deliver world-class control systems — safely, on schedule, and at or above budgeted margin.

You will lead across the full project lifecycle: from proposal support and design release, through panel fabrication and factory acceptance testing (FAT), to site acceptance testing (SAT), commissioning, and warranty.

What You'll Do

Leadership & People

• Manage, supervise, and develop department personnel across design and manufacturing teams; build a productive, accountable work environment.
• Provide mentorship, structured coaching, and career-path development; maintain a documented succession plan for every key seat in the group.
• Hire departmental staff in partnership with the HR Talent Acquisition group; own time-to-fill and quality-of-hire for the group.
• Delegate responsibilities with clear ownership and follow up to successful completion.

Operational Execution

• Ensure all projects are delivered on budget and on schedule; own monthly project reviews, earned-value tracking, and margin forecasting for the group's portfolio.
• Track and publish performance metrics for the design team and manufacturing team; drive labor utilization and panel shop throughput targets.
• Own resource planning: maintain a rolling 12-month staffing and shop-capacity plan aligned to backlog and pipeline.
• Enforce disciplined change management — all scope changes priced, approved, and documented before work is performed.

Client & Commercial

• Interface with internal and external clients to resolve issues; serve as the executive escalation point and own client-relationship health for the group.
• Support proposal development, estimating reviews, and go/no-go decisions with operational and capacity input.
• Partner with business development to convert delivery excellence into repeat work and negotiated backlog.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all panel fabrication complies with UL508A standards and applicable codes (NFPA 70, NFPA 79); maintain command of electrical drawings, control schematics, and engineering specifications.
• Own FAT/SAT quality gates: zero panels ship without documented, passing factory acceptance testing.
• Model and enforce safety guidelines; ensure corrective actions are assigned, tracked, and closed within 48 hours; drive documented weekly safety observations and toolbox talks.

Technology & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain and advance the group's technology standards — PLC/HMI/SCADA platforms, panel design libraries, and documentation templates — to reduce engineering cycle time and rework.
• Drive continuous improvement in job processes, shop workflow, and cost; standardize what works and eliminate what doesn't.

Who You Are

Required

• 5+ years of management experience in industrial electrical controls, automation, UL508A panel shop, or manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of electrical drawings, control schematics, engineering specifications, and the UL508A fabrication process.
• Demonstrated P&L or budget accountability with a track record of on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Project, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; proven ability to lead teams and work collaboratively to meet shared objectives.
• Initiative, attention to detail, positive attitude, and the ability to work autonomously.
• Legal right to work in the U.S. without sponsorship indefinitely; valid driver's license with a good driving record; pre-employment drug screen.