Project Manager

Kinetic Search Strategies, LLC; Pleasanton (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Kinetic Search Strategies, LLC is seeking a Project Management/Business Development professional in Pleasanton, CA, to own a book of business in a hybrid role, blending sales and project management for a leading DDC controls and building automation contractor.

You will build relationships, manage projects from opportunity to close, coordinate engineering, scheduling, subcontractors, and ensure margins and cash flow. The position offers a base 110k–130k with commission in a hybrid environment.

Qualifications

• 5–10+ years in technical, project development, PM, or sales with BAS familiarity.
• Strong foundation in HVAC controls and building automation.
• Relationship builder with a commercial mindset.
• Proactive, problem-solving approach and ownership of outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Build your own book of business by identifying opportunities and developing client relationships.
• Take opportunities from conversation to contract, leading meetings, proposals, and negotiations.
• Own projects from start to finish: coordinate engineering, scheduling, materials, and subcontractors.
• Run the business side of projects: monitor budgets, profitability, cash flow, and billing.
• Shape the technical solution through concept engineering and submittals with the controls team.
• Stay ahead of issues, identify change orders, and keep clients informed.
• Finish strong by commissioning and handing off to the service team while maintaining client relationships.

Skills

HVAC controls

Building automation

Project management

Sales

Client relationship

Budgeting & cash flow

Leadership

Proactive problem solving

Job description

Project Management/Business Development

Location: Pleasanton, CA

Compensation: $110,000 - $130,000 Base + Commission

Are you a technical controls professional ready to take ownership of your own book of business? Do you want the autonomy of running projects like a small business owner, backed by the resources of a well-established contractor?

One of our clients is a full-service DDC controls and building automation contractor with more than 30 years in the industry, serving new construction and retrofit projects across the Western U.S. from multiple branch offices. They are 100% employee-owned, run each branch independently, and are genuinely invested in helping their people grow. This is not a large national conglomerate, but it has the scale, reputation, and platform depth to secure serious, complex work. They serve commercial, healthcare, education, data center, and biotech verticals. This is a hybrid sales and project management role where you develop new client relationships, then own the projects you bring in from cradle to grave.

What You Will Do:

Build your own book of business by identifying new project opportunities, developing relationships, and becoming a trusted partner to clients at every level.

Take opportunities from conversation to contract, leading client meetings, developing proposals, negotiating scope, and closing projects at healthy margins.

Own projects from start to finish, coordinating engineering, scheduling, materials, subcontractors, field execution, and commissioning.

Run the business side of your projects by keeping a close eye on budgets, profitability, cash flow, and billing throughout the project lifecycle.

Help shape the technical solution through concept engineering, system configuration, and submittals while partnering with the controls team.

Stay ahead of issues in the field, addressing challenges early, identifying change-order opportunities when scope shifts, and keeping clients informed along the way.

Finish strong by driving projects through commissioning and ensuring a smooth handoff to the service team and a client relationship that continues beyond the project.

What You Will Do:

A strong foundation in HVAC controls and building automation with 5 to 10+ years of experience in a technical, project development, project management, or sales capacity. You understand BAS well enough to have credible conversations with both technical teams and customers.

A motivated leader who likes owning the full picture. You’re comfortable taking projects from the initial opportunity through development, execution, commissioning, and closeout while keeping the team moving in the right direction.

A relationship builder with a commercial mindset. You enjoy working directly with clients, identifying new project opportunities, understanding their needs, and turning those conversations into long-term relationships and repeat business.

The ability to communicate with just about anyone. You can move comfortably between customers, engineers, technicians, subcontractors, and leadership, keeping everyone aligned and working through challenges as they arise.

Strong business and financial instincts. You understand how scope, schedule, budget, billing, and cash flow come together and have experience using project management tools to keep projects on track and profitable.

A proactive, problem‑solving approach. You don’t wait for issues to become bigger problems. You’re comfortable making decisions, finding solutions, and taking ownership of the outcome.

This is a challenging role in a world‑class design/build organization. We are looking for a career‑minded team player that is hungry to make an impact and grow their career in this organization. Compensation will be commensurate with your experience, but expect a competitive base and benefits.