What are the responsibilities and job description for the Project Operations Manager position at Burns & McDonnell?
Burns & McDonnell is seeking a strategic and highly collaborative Project Operations Manager to help shape the future of our Transmission & Distribution business in our Mid-Atlantic Region. This role serves as a key partner to regional leadership, helping develop and implement operational strategies that improve business performance, drive organizational alignment, and support sustainable growth.
The Project Operations Manager is responsible for leading high-impact operational initiatives across the business, establishing scalable processes, improving organizational effectiveness, and supporting execution of strategic priorities. Working across multiple functional groups; including project management, project development, engineering, marketing, recruiting, finance, and operations. This individual will identify opportunities to improve how the business operates while helping leadership translate strategy into measurable results.
This position is ideal for a highly motivated professional who enjoys solving complex business challenges, influencing across organizations, and building systems that enable teams to perform at their highest level.
Major Responsibilities
Strategic Business Operations
Partner with regional leadership to develop and implement operational strategies that support business growth and long-term organizational objectives.
Lead cross-functional initiatives that improve operational performance, consistency, and organizational effectiveness.
Translate strategic priorities into actionable implementation plans, measurable objectives, and sustainable business processes.
Identify opportunities to improve scalability as the business continues to grow.
Operational Excellence
Develop standardized business processes, workflows, and governance models across the organization.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives that improve efficiency, quality, and client service.
Evaluate existing business processes and recommend improvements using data and stakeholder feedback.
Support implementation of new technologies, automation tools, and digital solutions.
Business Performance
Develop dashboards and key performance indicators that measure operational health and business performance.
Analyze trends related to staffing, project workload, utilization, business development, financial performance, and operational efficiency.
Present recommendations to leadership based on data-driven insights.
Support annual planning, forecasting, and resource management activities.
Organizational Leadership
Lead cross-functional teams without direct authority to successfully implement strategic initiatives.
Build alignment among regional offices and functional leaders.
Facilitate communication between leadership and operational teams to ensure successful execution.
Serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders on operational challenges and organizational priorities.
Change Management
Lead organizational change efforts associated with new business processes, technologies, and strategic initiatives.
Develop communication and adoption strategies that promote engagement and long-term success.
Create documentation, training materials, and implementation plans supporting operational improvements.
Business Growth
Support strategic growth initiatives including new services, organizational capabilities, and market expansion.
Partner with business development, marketing, recruiting, and operations to improve coordination and execution.
Participate in strategic planning sessions and leadership meetings.
- Bachelor Degree in engineering, business or a related field from an accredited program and 7 years relevant consulting experience required.
- A/E industry consulting experience preferred.
- Previous supervisory experience preferred.
- Proven ability and experience to thoughtfully and positively influence, lead, and manage large-scale change initiatives.
- Proven ability to process and manage organizational, account, and project financial data.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients.
- Strong project management skills and strategic perspective.
- Expert computer software skills (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).