Projects Operations Manager

Prairie Mechanical Corporation; Omaha, Northern (NE, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Prairie Mechanical Corporation seeks a senior leader to drive day-to-day execution of the projects division, manage resources, and ensure safe, profitable, on-schedule delivery aligned with VP of Projects’ objectives.

Responsibilities include coaching the project operations team, succession planning, and maintaining PM standards while coordinating field operations, fabrication, and logistics to optimize performance across multiple projects.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of mechanical construction operations.
• Excellent leadership and team development skills.
• Strong financial and business acumen.
• Proficient in project management systems, scheduling software, and construction accounting principles.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to effectively lead multiple teams and projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop project operations team; conduct performance evaluations and development activities.
• Assist in identifying future leaders and complete succession planning; promote accountability and continuous improvement.
• Oversee project execution from turnover through closeout, ensuring safety, efficiency, and profitability; establish PM processes and standards.
• Monitor labor productivity, material costs, subcontractor performance, and project forecasting; ensure billing and change order management.
• Provide project operations manpower forecasts and own divisional revenue, gross margin, and KPIs; oversee field operations with Project Coordinator and managers.
• Provide leadership for fabrication shop operations; coordinate fabrication schedules and logistics to support projects.

Skills

Mechanical ops

Leadership

Financial acumen

PM systems

Communication

Multi-team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CM/Engineering/Business Admin

OSHA 30 Certification

Tools

Project management software

Scheduling software

Construction accounting

Job description

This position serves as the primary operational leader responsible for day-to-day execution of the projects division and the successful management of project resources, manpower, and operational performance. They ensure projects are delivered safely, profitably, and on schedule supporting the strategic objectives established by the Vice President of Projects.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of mechanical construction operations
• Excellent leadership and team development skills
• Strong financial and business acumen
• Proficient in project management systems, scheduling software, and construction accounting principles
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to effectively lead multiple teams and projects simultaneously

Job Functions

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop project operations team
• Conduct performance evaluations and development activities
• Assist in identifying future leaders and complete succession planning
• Promote accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement throughout the organization
• Understand and use Prairie’s core values to hire, coach and hold employee’s accountable
• Support recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and retention initiatives for project operations

Project Execution

• Oversee project execution from turnover through closeout, ensuring they are carried out safely, efficiently, and profitably by:
  • Establishing and maintaining consistent project management processes and standards
  • Review project manpower assignments with the project coordinator based on workload, expertise, and resource availability
  • Monitoring project schedules, manpower plans, procurement activities, and project milestones
  • Identifying potential risks and mitigating project issues and customer concerns
  • Conducting monthly project reviews and regularly monitoring the following: labor productivity, material costs, subcontractor performance, and project forecasting
  • Ensuring timely billing, accurate forecasting, and effective change order management
  • Participating in customer, vendor & subcontractor meetings as necessary to ensure successful project execution.
• Provide project operations manpower forecasts and own the execution of divisional revenue, gross margin, and other identified KPIs
• Oversee field operations in coordination with the Project Coordinator, Project Managers, Superintendents, and trade leadership

Logistics & Fab shop operations

• Provide leadership and oversight of fabrication shop operations
• Coordinate fabrication schedules with project requirements
• Oversee logistics operations to ensure efficient material handling, equipment delivery, and project support
• Work with fabrication and logistics leaders to improve operational efficiency and productivity by reviewing the staffing and workflows

Safety

• Act as Prairie’s safety champion in partnership with BCTS corporate office to drive safety culture and initiatives that in turn reduce safety incidents, costs and concerns by:
  • Promoting and enforcing a culture of safety throughout all project operations, ensuring they meet company and customer standards and expectations
  • Ensuring compliance with company safety policies and regulatory requirements
  • Participating in safety reviews, incident investigations, and corrective action planning that will be lead by the BCTS Head of Safety

Preferred Certificates/Licenses/Education

• A bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, or business administration. Equivalent industry experience may be substituted for formal education.
• OSHA 30-hour certification preferred