What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Material Handling & Lodistics position at Upchurch?
Company Overview
Upchurch is a rapidly growing, full-service building engineering company providing mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services across the southeastern United States. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Horn Lake, MS, Upchurch has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, establishing a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and service excellence. We offer end-to-end solutions—from design and installation to ongoing maintenance and emergency support—helping clients maximize building performance, energy efficiency, and equipment lifespan.
Position Summary
Upchurch is experiencing significant growth in large, complex mechanical projects. To support this, we are adding a Director of Material Handling & Logistics to lead how materials are planned, moved, staged, and installed across our major jobs.
This role is focused on one thing: protecting job margin through better material flow and jobsite logistics.
The right person will bring real-world experience from the field and know how to turn logistics planning into measurable labor productivity and execution improvements.
Key Responsibilities
Own Material Flow Strategy on Major Projects
Upchurch Companies provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
Upchurch is a rapidly growing, full-service building engineering company providing mechanical, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services across the southeastern United States. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Horn Lake, MS, Upchurch has grown through both organic expansion and strategic acquisitions, establishing a strong reputation for quality, reliability, and service excellence. We offer end-to-end solutions—from design and installation to ongoing maintenance and emergency support—helping clients maximize building performance, energy efficiency, and equipment lifespan.
Position Summary
Upchurch is experiencing significant growth in large, complex mechanical projects. To support this, we are adding a Director of Material Handling & Logistics to lead how materials are planned, moved, staged, and installed across our major jobs.
This role is focused on one thing: protecting job margin through better material flow and jobsite logistics.
The right person will bring real-world experience from the field and know how to turn logistics planning into measurable labor productivity and execution improvements.
Key Responsibilities
Own Material Flow Strategy on Major Projects
- Build and implement material handling plans for all large-scale projects
- Define site logistics including laydown, access points, delivery sequencing, and trade flow
- Engage early in preconstruction to ensure logistics are fully planned—not reactive
- Identify where poor material handling is costing labor hours
- Eliminate double-handling, lost time, and trade stacking conflicts
- Work directly with project teams to improve install efficiency
- Provide clear input on how logistics decisions impact job cost
- Work alongside project managers, superintendents, and foremen
- Ensure material plans are actually followed in the field
- Step in when jobs get tight—solve real-time constraints and bottlenecks
- Bring practical solutions, not theory
- Establish consistent expectations for logistics planning on large jobs
- Build repeatable playbooks and jobsite standards
- Help elevate how we plan and execute work across all major projects
- Align prefab output with field install sequence
- Improve kitting, packaging, and delivery timing
- Reduce field handling by shifting effort upstream where possible
- Improve material tracking and visibility
- Support smarter planning (3D/4D when needed)
- Bring new ideas that actually make the field more efficient
- Noticeable reduction in labor waste tied to material movement
- Jobs run cleaner with fewer bottlenecks and delays
- Project teams rely on this role as a key part of planning and execution
- More predictable outcomes on large projects
- Stronger margin performance
- 10 years in mechanical construction, industrial construction, or similar
- Proven experience in material handling, logistics, or large job execution
- Has worked directly on large, complex projects ($25M–$100M )
- Strong understanding of:
- Field operations
- Crew productivity
- Mechanical installation workflows
- Can communicate effectively with both field and executive teams
- Practical mindset—knows what actually works in the field
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- Paid time off and holiday pay.
- Opportunities for professional development and certification assistance.
Upchurch Companies provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.