Operations Manager – EPC Transmission & Substation

Location: Midwest (Ohio/Indiana), New England, or East Coast (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia)
Compensation: Up to $180,000 base salary + annual bonus opportunity and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
Industry: Electrical Utility Construction / EPC Infrastructure

Position Summary

A leading billion-dollar electrical infrastructure contractor is seeking an experienced Operations Manager – EPC Transmission & Substation to oversee the successful execution and operational performance of a portfolio of large-scale utility infrastructure projects across the Midwest, New England, and East Coast.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join an employee-owned organization with a robust portfolio of EPC transmission and substation projects supporting critical power infrastructure throughout the United States. The Operations Manager will provide strategic leadership across all operational activities, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within budget while maintaining the highest standards of quality and customer satisfaction.

Reporting into senior leadership, this individual will oversee multiple Project Managers and collaborate closely with engineering, estimating, construction, procurement, and executive teams to optimize project delivery from preconstruction through closeout. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of engineering and construction workflows, including design progression, constructability reviews, and Issued for Construction (IFC) package management.

Key Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight of all transmission and substation operations across a portfolio of EPC projects.
Lead the operational execution of multiple large-scale utility infrastructure projects while ensuring alignment with company objectives for safety, quality, schedule, and profitability.
Directly manage and mentor up to three (3) Project Managers, providing leadership, performance coaching, and operational guidance.
Coordinate resources, staffing, equipment, subcontractors, and project priorities to maximize operational efficiency.
Partner closely with engineering teams to ensure seamless transition from design through construction, with a strong understanding of engineering deliverables and project design flow.
Review and evaluate 30/60/90-day Issued for Construction (IFC) drawing packages to support effective construction planning and field execution.
Participate in and lead constructability reviews, ensuring designs are practical, executable, and optimized prior to construction.
Collaborate with estimating, engineering, procurement, safety, and executive leadership to ensure successful project delivery.
Monitor operational performance, project schedules, budgets, forecasts, and financial results across multiple projects.
Identify operational risks and implement proactive solutions to maintain project performance and client satisfaction.
Ensure compliance with contractual requirements, utility specifications, safety regulations, and quality standards.
Build and maintain strong relationships with utility customers, clients, subcontractors, and key stakeholders.
Review project performance metrics and provide regular operational reporting to senior leadership.
Support business development efforts through operational planning, resource forecasting, and execution strategy.
Champion continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, operational excellence, and best practices throughout the organization.

Required Qualifications

10+ years of progressive leadership experience within the electrical utility construction industry.
Proven experience overseeing EPC transmission and/or substation operations.
Demonstrated success managing multiple large-scale utility infrastructure projects simultaneously.
Previous experience providing operational oversight and leadership for multiple Project Managers.
Strong understanding of engineering workflows, construction sequencing, procurement, and field execution.
Experience reviewing 30/60/90-day Issued for Construction (IFC) packages and coordinating construction readiness.
Familiarity with constructability reviews and collaborating with engineering teams to improve project execution.
Strong understanding of design and engineering processes from concept through IFC release.
Experience managing operational budgets, schedules, workforce planning, and customer relationships.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams while balancing competing priorities.
Strong analytical, organizational, and decision-making skills.
Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship management abilities.
Willingness to travel throughout assigned regions as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with investor-owned utilities (IOUs), transmission owners, or major energy providers.
Background with a large electrical contractor, EPC contractor, or utility services organization.
Experience overseeing projects valued at $50M+.
Knowledge of transmission lines, substations, renewable interconnection, and grid modernization projects.
Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related field.
PMP certification or equivalent leadership credentials preferred.

What We Offer

Competitive base salary up to $180,000
Annual performance-based bonus opportunity
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) — build long-term ownership and wealth through company success
Comprehensive benefits package
Retirement benefits
Career advancement opportunities within a nationally recognized, employee-owned organization
Opportunity to provide operational leadership on some of the nation's most significant transmission and substation EPC programs

This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced utility operations leader to join a financially strong, employee-owned contractor and take ownership of transmission and substation operations across a diverse portfolio of EPC projects. You'll play a critical role in leading high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, and delivering infrastructure that powers communities across the country.

EPC Operations Manager