Operations Manager

Wunderlich-Malec Engineering (WM) is a 100% employee-owned ESOP and one of the largest and most well-established engineering companies in the United States. When you join WM you become part of a company that is:

• 100% employee-owned with 40 years of industry history
• A Top 5 Systems Integrator Giant
• ENR Top 500 Firm

We have an Operations Manager opportunity available in Raleigh, NC. This person supports the Business Unit Manager in overseeing operational activities, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring team efficiency within the business unit. Key responsibilities include business reporting, recruitment, staff performance management, and career development. This role also manages client accounts, supports business development efforts, and ensures project success through effective scope, schedule, and budget management. The Operations Manager fosters a positive team culture, balances operational duties with billable project work, and ensures compliance with organizational policies and standards. This position requires strong leadership, technical expertise, and a focus on achieving business goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities All areas of responsibility listed below are essential to the satisfactory performance of this position, with reasonable accommodation, if necessary. Any non-essential functions are assumed to be included in “other related duties as assigned”:

• Report to the Business Unit Manager and responsible for part of the operations of the business unit and its interactions with other business units
• Supports development and execution of the short to long-term strategic plan, including the income goals
• Responsible for periodic business reporting and supporting relevant business meetings
• Develop and enhance the positive culture of the business unit and ensure proper operations of the team
• Ensure periodic operational activities (timesheet approval, expense report approval, invoicing) are completed on time and within the defined budget
• Support Business Unit recruitment and hiring per strategic staffing plan
• Manage business unit’s staffing changes (hiring, terminations) in collaboration with the Human Resources department
• Support and provide recommendations to the Business Unit Manager on staff compensation changes (salary and bonus)
• Track and review staff’s performance and be responsible for the on-time completion of staff’s annual performance assessment
• Evaluate the project needs and competency of business unit staff to achieve an optimum resource pool.
• Support business unit staff with their career development planning and growth
• Support the Business Unit Manager and Business Development team on business development activities
• Manages the business unit’s communication and special initiatives like internships and community service programs
• Manage key accounts/customers including contract and rate negotiations, client-specific staffing, business development, and strategic planning
• Ability to effectively develop and manage scope, schedule, budget, and quality for projects of varying size and complexity, including customer and business unit reporting of scope, schedule, and earned value
• Development of project budget, execution plans, work breakdown structures, and schedules
• Balance Operations Management time with billable work managing team projects
• Responsible for understanding, staying updated on, and abiding by the Employee Handbook as written

Qualifications/Requirements

• Proven ability to supervise, motivate, mentor, and optimize in a collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Goal-oriented and focused
• Strong drive, energy, enthusiasm, and proactive style
• Entrepreneurial and/or business background
• Experience managing technical projects of various sizes
• Experience in business development
• Strong leadership and client relations skills
• Excellent communication (written and oral) & interpersonal skills
• Excellent negotiation, influence, mediation & conflict management skills
• Proven ability with problem-solving and decision-making
• Personal credibility to quickly establish successful relationships within the team and with customers
• Strong organizational, multi-tasking, & time-management skills
• Strong budget management and financial reporting skills

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's degree (B. S.) from four-year college or university in Electrical, Computer, or Chemical Engineer is preferred
• Professional Engineer License required
• 10 years of power engineering experience including both technical and supervisory responsibilities
• Additional experience should include:
  • Lead engineering and design projects from project conception through execution
  • Develop customer-specific construction specifications
  • Develop conceptual P&C one-lines
  • Develop detailed P&C one-lines and three-lines
  • Develop detailed P&C schematics and wiring diagrams
  • Apply NEC, IEEE, NFPA, ISO, NERC, OSHA, and other organization’s regulations and standards in the provided designs and installations
  • Work on the detailed design for Industrial and Utility low, medium, and high voltage generation, distribution, and transmission electrical systems
  • Provide control enclosure manufacturing support and designs such as station electrical service, lighting, cable-tray, AC load center, DC load centers, battery sizing, and other facility design requirements
  • Engineering, Project Management, and Construction detailed cost estimating
  • Develop detailed proposals for contract engineering opportunities
  • Develop detailed proposals for Owner’s Engineer, Project Management, Construction Management, and Project Controls opportunities
  • Lead junior staff in engineering and design efforts

Supervisory Responsibilities This position supervises a team of engineers.

Work Conditions The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office Work:
  • Office desk/cubicle environment
  • Extensive computer use
  • Occasional Control Panel powered checkouts in panel shops or customer site
• Site Work:
  • Up to 25% travel to industrial manufacturing facilities
  • Comply with all Company safety guidelines and requirements for site work
• On-Site working conditions may include:
  • Work around construction equipment and personnel
  • Work around production equipment and personnel
  • Work in hot or cold areas
  • Work in noisy areas
  • Work up and down stairs, indoors and outdoors
  • Electrical/Instrumentation Device Checkout and Troubleshooting. Includes voltage testing, equipment troubleshooting on a ladder, and light electrical assembly – signal wiring in control panels/instruments
  • Working and interfacing with operations, maintenance, engineering, equipment supply, and construction personnel

Typical Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) Required: Safety Glasses, Steel Toed shoes, hearing protection, and electrical safety PPE. Employees must comply with customer specific requirements and PPE.

Work may include working weekends, holidays, nightshift, and extended hours to meet deadlines and commissioning requirements.

Our People

• Empowered Individuals – Employee owned, we are able to hire the best and empower them to develop and deliver solutions
• Rewarded & Motivated – Investing in continuing education and world-class benefits keeps our staff motivated
• Positive Attitudes – Dedicated experts are committed in the long-run and bring a positive, can-do attitude to your project
• Knowledgeable – Recognized industry experts reinforced with ongoing training remain knowledgeable on the latest industry trends and directions

• Job Descriptions are not exhaustive lists of all skills, responsibilities, or efforts associated with a job. They reflect principal job elements essential for performing the job and evaluating performance.

Wunderlich-Malec is proud to offer a comprehensive employee-owner benefit package. Full-time employees may be eligible for the following benefits: Medical • Dental • Vision • Basic and Supplemental Life and AD&D • Long Term Disability • Voluntary Short Term Disability • Healthcare & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts • Health Savings Account • Paid Time Off (PTO) • Paid Holidays • Tuition Reimbursement • Referral Bonus Program • 401(k)/Profit Sharing • 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) • Employee Assistance Program • Will Preparation Resources • Worldwide Travel Assistance

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.