PROJECT EXECUTIVE (Lexington, Kentucky)

TP Mechanical; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

TP Mechanical is seeking a Project Executive to drive the performance, profitability, and growth of its commercial construction portfolio. You will provide strategic direction for project management, scheduling, cost control, and field execution across multiple projects, while collaborating with executive leadership to optimize margins and cash flow.

You will lead Project Managers, Engineers, and field staff, ensure safety and quality, and develop standardized processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Building Construction, or related field.
• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in commercial construction.
• Experience in a senior project management, operations management, or project executive role for a mechanical contractor.
• Strong understanding of HVAC systems, plumbing, piping, equipment installation, commissioning, and mechanical construction practices.

Responsibilities

• Oversee executive oversight of the company’s active commercial construction portfolio.
• Lead and support Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, Project Engineers, and other project personnel to ensure consistent execution and accountability.
• Develop and implement standardized project management procedures, reporting systems, operating metrics, and best practices.
• Partner with safety leadership to ensure compliance with safety policies and OSHA requirements.
• Lead monthly project financial reviews and manage budgets, forecasting, and cash flow.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop high-performing project management personnel.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Financial management

HVAC systems knowledge

Contract management

Communication

Analytical skills

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office

Scheduling tools

Project management software

Job description

Job Summary

The Project Executive is responsible for the overall performance, profitability, execution, and growth of the company's commercial construction portfolio. This position provides strategic direction and oversight for project management, project engineering, scheduling, cost control, and field execution across multiple projects.

Working closely with the President, executive leadership, estimating, service, and field operations, the Project Executive ensures that projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with contractual requirements and the company's quality standards. The Project Executive is accountable for portfolio-level financial results, project execution strategies, client satisfaction, risk management, and the development of a high-performing project management organization. This individual establishes consistent processes, drives accountability, identifies operational risks and opportunities, and helps position the company for sustainable growth while protecting margins and cash flow.

Primary Duties And Responsibilities

Operational Leadership and Project Portfolio Management

• Provide executive oversight of the company's active commercial construction portfolio.
• Lead and support Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, Project Engineers, and other project personnel to ensure consistent execution and accountability.
• Establish clear expectations for project planning, budgeting, forecasting, scheduling, subcontractor management, and closeout.
• Monitor project health across the portfolio, identifying potential cost overruns, schedule delays, labor challenges, scope gaps, and contractual risks before they materially affect performance.
• Develop and implement standardized project management procedures, reporting systems, operating metrics, and best practices.
• Coordinate with field leadership to align project requirements with workforce capacity, productivity expectations, and installation schedules.
• Promote collaboration between project management, estimating, preconstruction, fabrication, purchasing, and field operations.
• Ensure appropriate staffing, resource allocation, and succession planning to support current workloads and future growth.

Financial Performance And Profitability

• Maintain accountability for portfolio financial performance, gross profit, operating margin contribution, and achievement of established financial targets.
• Review project budgets, cost-to-complete forecasts, labor projections, committed costs, change orders, billing, and cash flow on a regular basis.
• Lead monthly project financial reviews with project management personnel and executive leadership.
• Identify unfavorable cost trends and require timely corrective action plans for projects that are underperforming.
• Ensure accurate and timely forecasting of revenue, gross profit, labor costs, material costs, equipment costs, and project completion estimates.
• Oversee the identification, pricing, negotiation, and execution of change orders to protect contractual entitlement and project profitability.
• Drive timely submission and collection of progress billings, retainage, change orders, and outstanding receivables in coordination with accounting.
• Establish accountability for cost control, labor productivity, purchasing discipline, and project-level financial reporting.
• Evaluate the financial impact of project risks, schedule changes, design revisions, escalation, and unforeseen field conditions.
• Partner with executive leadership to develop annual operating plans, financial forecasts, and departmental performance goals.

Project Execution And Delivery

• Oversee project planning from turnover and preconstruction through installation, commissioning, startup, punch list, and final closeout.
• Ensure each project begins with a comprehensive review of scope, contract terms, estimate assumptions, schedule requirements, labor budgets, procurement needs, and risk exposure.
• Establish project-specific execution plans that align design coordination, material procurement, prefabrication, manpower planning, and installation sequencing.
• Monitor critical milestones, long-lead equipment, shop drawing approvals, submittals, RFIs, and coordination deliverables.
• Work with project teams to resolve design conflicts, constructability issues, coordination challenges, and field execution problems.
• Ensure projects meet contractual obligations, applicable codes, specifications, commissioning requirements, and customer expectations.
• Lead escalation and resolution of major project issues involving owners, general contractors, engineers, vendors, and subcontractors.
• Ensure consistent turnover from construction to commissioning, service, warranty, and customer support teams.

Client And Business Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with general contractors, construction managers, owners, developers, engineers, and key industry partners.
• Serve as an executive point of contact for strategic clients and projects requiring senior-level involvement.
• Participate in project interviews, business development meetings, negotiated work opportunities, and key client presentations.
• Support estimating in evaluating project opportunities, delivery methods, contract terms, and execution risks.
• Help maintain client satisfaction through proactive communication, issue resolution, reliable execution, and professional representation of the company.
• Identify opportunities to expand relationships with existing clients and support repeat business and long-term account development.
• Participate in contract negotiations and assist in evaluating commercial terms, risk allocation, schedule commitments, and scope responsibilities.

Safety, Quality, And Compliance

• Reinforce a company-wide culture of safety, accountability, quality, and professionalism.
• Partner with safety leadership and field operations to ensure compliance with company safety policies, OSHA requirements, and project-specific safety programs.
• Hold project leadership accountable for identifying hazards, addressing unsafe conditions, and incorporating safety into project planning.
• Promote quality assurance and quality control practices that minimize rework, callbacks, commissioning deficiencies, and warranty exposure.
• Ensure compliance with applicable building codes, mechanical codes, environmental requirements, and contractual specifications.
• Support incident investigations, corrective action plans, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Leadership, Talent Development, And Accountability

• Recruit, mentor, develop, and retain high-performing project management personnel.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability standards across the project management team.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and provide coaching focused on financial management, leadership, communication, and project execution.
• Develop future Senior Project Managers and Project Managers capable of assuming greater operational responsibility.
• Foster a culture of ownership, teamwork, transparency, proactive problem-solving, and continuous improvement.
• Address performance deficiencies promptly and implement improvement plans when necessary.
• Ensure project teams communicate effectively with field supervision, accounting, estimating, purchasing, and executive leadership.
• Build organizational depth and succession capabilities to support the company's long-term strategic objectives.

Strategic Planning And Continuous Improvement

• Partner with executive leadership to develop and execute operational strategies supporting profitable, sustainable company growth.
• Evaluate project management capacity, organizational structure, staffing levels, and resource requirements as revenue and backlog change.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators for project profitability, forecast accuracy, change order recovery, cash flow, labor productivity, schedule performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Support implementation and consistent use of project management software, cost control systems, scheduling tools, and business intelligence reporting.
• Participate in annual budgeting, strategic planning, backlog reviews, and executive operating meetings.
• Promote disciplined growth by evaluating project selection, customer concentration, contract risk, and available execution capacity.

Required Skills And Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, Building Construction, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant industry experience will be considered.
• 10–15+ years of progressive experience in commercial construction, with significant responsibility for complex projects and multiple-project portfolios.
• Demonstrated experience in a senior project management, operations management, or project executive role for a mechanical contractor.
• Proven ability to oversee multiple concurrent projects and lead project teams in a commercial construction environment.
• Strong understanding of HVAC systems, plumbing, piping, equipment installation, commissioning, and mechanical construction practices.
• Demonstrated financial management experience, including project budgets, cost forecasting, gross profit analysis, change orders, billing, and cash flow.
• Experience with commercial construction contracts, general contractor relationships, subcontractor management, and risk mitigation.
• Proven ability to develop teams, establish accountability, resolve complex issues, and influence performance across departments.
• Strong written and verbal communication, negotiation, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency with construction project management and financial systems, scheduling tools, and Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred Skills And Qualifications

• Journeyman license in Plumbing, Pipefitting or Sheet Metal