Installation Manager - Commercial Signs & Fleet Graphics

A growing sign and fleet-graphics company is seeking an Installation Manager - Commercial Signs & Fleet Graphics to lead installation operations across multiple locations and build a formal career-development program for installers.

This is a working-manager position, with approximately 30-40% of the time spent in the field. The role will lead 5-8 in-house installers and subcontractors while establishing consistent standards for installation quality, safety, productivity and employee development.

The ideal candidate can come from the commercial electrical, HVAC, plumbing, carpentry or sign industry and has strong hands-on electrical and structural installation experience.

Key Responsibilities

Installation Quality

• Establish and maintain installation standards across multiple locations.
• Conduct pre-installation job reviews and field inspections.
• Implement photo documentation and sign-off procedures.
• Reduce installation rework, callbacks and quality issues.
• Identify and correct installation problems at their source.
  
  

Crew Leadership

• Lead 5-8 installers and subcontractors.
• Recruit, train, coach and develop installation personnel.
• Address performance and disciplinary issues in partnership with HR.
• Establish clear expectations for productivity, quality and safety.
  
  

Installer Development Program

• Help develop and implement a structured installer career path.
• Establish defined skill levels and advancement criteria.
• Conduct semiannual skills assessments.
• Develop Electrical & Structural and Graphics & Wrap career tracks.
• Train and mentor installers to advance into higher-level technical roles.
  
  

Scheduling & Coordination

• Manage a unified installation calendar.
• Coordinate installation schedules with project management, production and permitting teams.
• Ensure crews, equipment and materials are prepared for scheduled work.
  
  

Safety & Equipment

• Ensure safe operation of bucket trucks, aerial lifts, vehicles and installation equipment.
• Maintain compliance with company safety procedures.
• Monitor equipment readiness and address safety concerns promptly.
  
  

Labor & Productivity

• Track actual installation hours against estimates.
• Analyze labor performance and identify opportunities to improve productivity.
• Provide feedback to improve future project pricing and estimating accuracy.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of commercial field installation experience in sign installation or a related trade such as electrical, HVAC, plumbing or carpentry.
• 2 years of crew leadership or field supervision experience.
• Strong hands-on electrical experience, including wiring, connections and troubleshooting of illuminated signs or other line-voltage equipment.
• Experience with structural installation, including anchoring, mounting and working safely at height.
• Experience safely operating bucket trucks and aerial lifts.
• Valid Michigan driver's license with a driving record acceptable to company insurance.
• Ability and willingness to work in the field and lead by example.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Michigan Sign Specialist license or ability to obtain one.
• Commercial electrical sign installation experience.
• Welding experience.
• Vehicle graphics, fleet graphics or wrap experience.
• 3M, Avery Dennison or similar certification.
• Multi-site installation or rollout experience.
• Experience with Zoho, CoreBridge or comparable job-management software.
  
  

Ideal Background

Strong Candidates May Come From

• Commercial Electrical
• Electrical Sign Installation
• HVAC Field Operations
• Commercial Plumbing
• Commercial Carpentry
• Sign Installation
• Fleet Graphics / Vehicle Wraps
• Field Service / Installation Management
  
  

Important: Vinyl/wrap experience alone is not sufficient. Candidates must have meaningful hands-on electrical experience and structural installation experience.

What You'll Own

• Installation quality and callback reduction
• Crew performance and development
• Installer career progression and skills assessments
• Installation scheduling
• Safety and equipment
• Labor productivity and installation-cost accuracy
  
  

Why This Role

This is an opportunity to build and lead the installation function, rather than simply supervise installers. The successful candidate will establish technical standards, develop future installation talent and create a career path that allows highly skilled installers to advance without moving into management.