What are the responsibilities and job description for the Construction Operations Manager- Automation & Water/Wastewater position at The Sterling Choice?
Operations Manager – Automation & Water/Wastewater
Location: Johnson City, TN
Job Type: Full-Time
Travel: Up to 25%
Pay: $120,000- $170,000
We’re looking for an experienced Operations Manager – Automation & Water/Wastewater to lead the technical delivery of automation and controls projects supporting municipal water and wastewater facilities.
This is a great fit for someone with a strong controls/automation background who has grown into a technical leadership or project management role.
What You'll Do
- Lead the technical execution of water/wastewater automation and controls projects
- Work closely with Project Managers, engineers, customers, vendors, and field teams
- Oversee technical deliverables from project kickoff through commissioning and startup
- Review electrical drawings, P&IDs, specifications, and technical documentation
- Support FAT, SAT, commissioning, and troubleshooting
- Provide technical direction to engineers, technicians, subcontractors, and vendors
- Identify and resolve technical issues and project risks
- Participate in customer meetings and serve as a key technical point of contact
- Support estimating, proposals, and sales activities when needed
- Travel to customer sites and project locations as needed
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- 10 years of automation, controls, or field service experience
- 5 years of municipal water/wastewater experience
- Experience leading technical projects and/or engineering teams
- Strong understanding of PLC, SCADA, controls, and automation systems
- Ability to read and interpret electrical drawings, P&IDs, and contract documents
- Knowledge of the National Electrical Code (NEC)
- Experience with commissioning, startup, FAT/SAT, and troubleshooting
- Experience with estimating and/or sales support
Ideal Background
We’re especially interested in candidates who have progressed from a hands-on Controls/Automation Engineer, Controls Engineer, SCADA Engineer, or Field Service Engineer into a technical leadership or project management position.
You should be comfortable getting into the technical details when necessary while also leading projects, communicating with customers, and coordinating multiple teams.
Why This Role?
- Senior-level technical leadership opportunity
- Work on municipal water and wastewater projects
- Opportunity to lead complex automation/controls projects
- Combination of technical engineering project leadership
- Customer-facing role with opportunities for career growth
- Approximately 25% travel
If you have a strong automation/controls background and significant municipal water/wastewater experience, we'd like to hear from you
Pay: $120,000.00 - $170,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Wastewater treatment: 5 years (Preferred)
- Construction management: 5 years (Preferred)
- PLC, SCADA, controls, and automation systems: 1 year (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $120,000 - $170,000