Building Automation Project Manager - Columbus

Location: Columbus, Ohio
Employment Type: Full-time

Company Overview

Our client is an established building automation and controls contractor specialising in Direct Digital Control (DDC), HVAC controls, and integrated building systems.

The company offers a supportive, high-energy environment where employees are encouraged to develop their technical expertise, take ownership of their careers, and progress within the organisation.

Benefits

The company offers a competitive compensation and benefits package that may include:

• Competitive base salary
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Vehicle or car allowance
• Fuel card
• Mobile phone allowance
• 401(k) with company match
• Performance or profit-sharing opportunities
• Disability insurance
• Fitness membership reimbursement
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Tuition reimbursement

Position Overview

The Project Manager will oversee assigned building automation and controls projects from initial handover through final completion.

This individual will be responsible for ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with the agreed scope and quality standards. The Project Manager will lead the day-to-day coordination of project teams, subcontractors, customers, materials, schedules, and financial performance.

The position will typically report to a regional or operational leadership team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage assigned projects on a day-to-day basis.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships throughout the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with internal departments, external project teams, subcontractors, and other stakeholders.
• Communicate regularly with project team members to maintain project schedules, quality standards, and customer expectations.
• Conduct comprehensive project turnover meetings between estimating, sales, operations, engineering, and field teams.
• Direct the pre-construction planning process.
• Evaluate the scope, duration, complexity, and resource requirements of assigned projects.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules.
• Anticipate potential delays, risks, and project roadblocks.
• Work with project foremen and field teams to resolve construction-related challenges proactively.
• Attend project, construction, and coordination meetings.
• Coordinate the procurement of materials, equipment, labour, and subcontractor services.
• Establish and monitor project costs, including labour, materials, subcontractors, and other direct expenses.
• Monitor labour reporting and project productivity.
• Identify cost variations and take corrective action where required.
• Maintain accountability for the commercial and financial performance of assigned projects.
• Ensure billing, invoicing, and material procurement are completed accurately and on time.
• Prepare estimates for labour and material change orders.
• Recommend process improvements based on project requirements and available resources.
• Promote a safe working environment across all project sites.
• Conduct or support regular job-site safety audits.
• Ensure project teams comply with applicable safety policies and regulations.

Experience and Qualifications

• Approximately five or more years of relevant project management experience within building automation, HVAC controls, DDC, mechanical systems, or a related technical construction environment.
• Experience with project budgeting, proposal review, design coordination, value engineering, scheduling, and project accounting.
• Strong understanding of HVAC equipment, DDC systems, controls materials, and installation processes.
• Familiarity with pre-construction, new construction, design-build, retrofit, and value-engineering projects.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or a related discipline is preferred.
• Equivalent industry experience may also be considered.
• Working knowledge of OSHA requirements and construction safety standards.
• Demonstrated history of successfully managing complex technical projects.

Personal and Organisational Skills

• Ability to organise and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to provide project teams with the information required to make timely and accurate decisions.
• Strong customer relationship and stakeholder-management skills.
• Commitment to meeting the expectations of internal and external customers.
• Sound decision-making skills based on analysis, experience, and professional judgement.
• Ability to identify underlying project challenges and recommend practical solutions.
• Strong negotiation skills when working with customers, subcontractors, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Results-oriented approach with a focus on project delivery and financial performance.
• Strong analytical and critical-thinking capabilities.
• Ability to establish priorities and manage time effectively.
• High standards of accuracy, quality, and accountability.

Computer Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Experience with Microsoft Project or comparable scheduling and project-management software.
• Familiarity with project databases, reporting platforms, and construction-management systems is beneficial.

Career Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join an established building automation contractor and manage technically complex projects across the Columbus market. The successful candidate will work alongside experienced controls professionals while contributing to project delivery, customer satisfaction, operational performance, and continued company growth.

Main changes made

• Removed the original company name, abbreviation, website, author, and publication date.
• Replaced branded cultural statements with company-neutral language.
• Removed direct references that could identify the original employer.
• Generalised company-specific reporting lines and terminology.
• Retained the Columbus location because it is relevant to the vacancy.
• Reorganised the responsibilities and qualifications into a cleaner, more readable format.
• Changed the requirement for "long tenures" into a more objective focus on successful project-management experience.
• Clarified that the listed benefits may include these items, avoiding an implied guarantee without supporting plan details.