Technical Manager – Project Startup Low Voltage

IES Communications; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

IES Communications seeks a Technical Manager - Project Startup to lead a nationwide team of Startup Project Managers, standardize low-voltage startup processes, and ensure readiness from project award through handoff on hyperscale data center projects.

The role drives continuous improvement, KPI dashboards, and risk reduction, coordinating with operations, procurement, and engineering while traveling nationwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in construction, engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a nationwide team of Project Managers for startup activities.
• Establish departmental objectives, KPIs, staffing plans, and performance expectations.
• Develop standardized startup processes and ensure readiness before field mobilization.
• Implement startup templates, playbooks, checklists, workflows, and SOPs.
• Improve startup metrics with dashboards and data-driven insights.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to manage escalations and customer requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Cross-functional collaboration

Process improvement

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Power BI

Power Platform

SharePoint

Power Apps

Microsoft Lists

Primavera P6

Job description

THIS ROLE WILL REQUIRE 25-50% TRAVEL NATIONWIDE. TRAVEL EXPENSES WILL BE COVERED

Position Summary

The Technical Manager - Project Startup provides strategic and operational leadership for the Mission Critical Project Startup organization. This individual is responsible for developing, standardizing, and continuously improving all project startup processes that support successful execution of low voltage scopes within hyperscale data center construction projects. These low voltage scopes span structured cabling, fiber and copper backbone infrastructure, network and communications pathways, security and access control, fire alarm and life safety, building automation, audio/visual, and other extra-low-voltage (ELV) systems that form the connectivity and intelligence backbone of every mission critical facility.

The Technical Manager leads a nationwide team of Startup Project Managers, ensuring every low voltage project begins with complete operational readiness including standardized documentation, project controls, staffing coordination, procurement readiness, scheduling alignment, customer requirements, and project reporting. Because low voltage work is highly dependent on precise coordination with electrical, mechanical, and IT trades, this leader ensures startup planning accounts for cable pathway sequencing, terminations, testing and commissioning protocols, labeling and turnover standards, and the stringent quality and documentation requirements demanded by hyperscale clients.

This leader partners closely with Operations, Program Management, Scheduling, Procurement, Engineering, Quality Assurance, Safety, Finance, and Executive Leadership to reduce startup risk, improve consistency, shorten project mobilization timelines, and establish repeatable best practices for low voltage execution across the Mission Critical business.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Program Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a nationwide team of Project Managers tasked with executing project startup activities.
• Establish departmental objectives, KPIs, staffing plans, and performance expectations.
• Build a culture centered on accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• Develop career paths, training programs, and succession planning for startup personnel.
• Ensure consistent execution of startup standards across all regions.

Project Startup Strategy

• Develop and maintain standardized startup processes for all low voltage Mission Critical projects.
• Own the Project Startup Program from project award through operational handoff.
• Ensure that every project meets startup readiness requirements prior to field mobilization.
• Develop startup templates, playbooks, checklists, workflows, and standard operating procedures.
• Continuously improve startup processes based on lessons learned and field feedback.
• Identify opportunities to automate startup activities using Microsoft Power Platform, Power BI, SharePoint, and other technologies.
• Oversee management of customer and executive leadership escalations tied to project startup and performance.

Operational Readiness

Ensure all project teams are prepared prior to field execution through coordination of:

• Contract documentation is provided
• Scope validation has taken place
• Project startup checklists
• Logistics planning
• Staffing plan
• Customer specific documentation
• Project reporting requirements
• Financial setup
• Schedule alignment
• Quality planning
• Turnover requirements
• Communication plans
• Project governance requirements

Process Improvement

• Develop measurable low voltage project startup KPIs and dashboards.
• Analyze startup performance metrics.
• Reduce startup cycle times.
• Improve documentation quality and consistency.
• Standardize project startup workflows across all business units.
• Implement Lean principles and continuous improvement initiatives.

Lead implementation and administration of startup management tools including:

• Microsoft Power BI
• Microsoft Lists
• SharePoint
• Power Apps
• Power Automate
• Project startup dashboards
• Executive reporting
• Ensure accurate reporting of startup readiness, project status, resource allocation, and key performance metrics.
• Identify startup risks before field mobilization.
• Escalate critical issues to leadership.
• Ensure project startup compliance with customer requirements.
• Support successful project audits and customer reviews.

Customer Support

Serve as a program-level resource supporting strategic customers including hyperscale data center clients by:

• Participating in startup planning meetings
• Supporting customer startup requirements
• Improving customer experience through consistent project launches

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred (or equivalent experience).
• 10+ years of experience in construction, project management, program management, or operations.
• 5+ years of leadership experience managing technical or operational teams.
• Experience supporting hyperscale or mission critical data center construction projects.
• Strong understanding of low-voltage structured cabling systems.
• Experience with project startup, project controls, scheduling, procurement, or operations.
• Demonstrated ability to build standardized business processes.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft Lists, SharePoint, Primavera P6, Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), Bluebeam and Procore.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 40-50% throughout the United States.
• Ability to access active construction sites.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and use standard office equipment.
• Must be able to wear the required personal protective equipment (PPE) when visiting job sites.