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Project Manager
Chesapeake, Virginia
Posted 5 days ago
Project Manager
Commercial Lighting & Lighting Controls
Are you a natural problem-solver who thrives on keeping projects moving, building strong relationships, and turning challenges into solutions? We are looking for an experienced, motivated Project Manager to join our growing team!
This isn’t your typical project management role. You’ll be at the center of exciting commercial lighting and lighting controls projects, working alongside manufacturers, distributors, contractors, designers, and internal teams to bring projects from award through successful completion. From coordinating complex schedules to troubleshooting unexpected challenges, you’ll play a key role in keeping projects on track, customers informed, and operations running smoothly.
We’re looking for someone who brings more than just project management experience to the table. Our ideal candidate combines technical knowledge of lighting systems, lighting controls, electrical drawings, and project specifications with exceptional communication skills and a genuine passion for building relationships. You’ll need to be confident navigating challenging conversations, resourceful when finding solutions, and comfortable taking ownership of projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
In this role, you’ll manage multiple moving pieces, including project schedules, submittals, material procurement, logistics, manufacturer coordination, and project closeout. You’ll serve as a trusted point of contact for customers and project partners, ensuring expectations are clear, challenges are addressed proactively, and projects are executed efficiently and profitably.
If you’re someone who takes pride in seeing a project through, enjoys working with people, and knows how to balance technical details with the bigger picture, we’d love to hear from you!
Position Requirements
- Must be comfortable and enjoy engaging team members, manufacturers and customers by phone and in person.
- Must have commercial sensibilities and a desire to develop strong professional relationships based on being an effective, reliable business contact.
- Manage multiple objectives and meet expected and/or defined completion dates.
- Advanced understanding of lighting technology, products and their application.
- Advanced understanding of lighting design and the ability to interpret electrical schematics and drawings related to lighting and lighting systems.
- Advanced understanding of lighting controls and ability to field support installation and programming.
- Ability to interpret specifications (performance, job and product).
- Solid understanding of our manufacturers’ products, ordering/support requirements, the resources that support them and the tools or processes necessary to transact.
- Delegate actions to team members and outside service providers, while maintaining ownership of objectives.
- Must have good organizational skills, with the ability to multi-task.
- Possess a deep understanding of business flow and the tools/processes necessary to execute.
- Must be able to manage conflict and have good problem-solving techniques.
- Must be able to capture and maintain revenue.
- Work with minimal or no supervision.
- Must be resourceful, especially in areas where internal expertise is limited.
- Must be a solid, effective business resource.
- Must possess a high level of personal ownership.
- Strong determination to excel in the position or field.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Good written communication.
- Advanced understanding of the Microsoft Office Suite of products – Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.
- Develop, document and report plans/strategies for defined objectives and execute to completion.
- Must be able to create and maintain an impeccable reputation among employees, our competitors, manufacturers and customers.
- Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information relative to employees and our business.
Primary Responsibilities
- Maintain & develop solid business relationships with all project stakeholders and project owner entities (Pre/post project completion).
- Manage lighting and controls projects from turnover through final closeout.
- Manage factory and third-party service providers that are incorporated in the project scope.
- Develop, maintain, and communicate project schedules and key milestones to all project stakeholders.
- Work well within the project team (internally/externally)
- Design, review, and interpret lighting plans, controls drawings, electrical schematics, specifications, and submittals to ensure project requirements are met.
- Coordinate with manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and specifiers to ensure timely execution of project deliverables.
- Track shipments, monitor logistics, expedite orders, and proactively resolve supply chain issues.
- Review project requirements and verify that selected products and controls architectures align with project specifications.
- Prepare, coordinate, and deliver complete and accurate submittal packages.
- Maintain detailed project records, schedules, correspondence, and documentation.
- Communicate project status, risks, and schedule impacts to internal and external stakeholders.
- Identify and resolve project issues while minimizing delays and maintaining customer satisfaction.
- Coordinate commissioning, startup, programming, and project closeout activities as required.
- Support field teams, contractors, and customers with product identification, installation guidance, and controls-related questions.
- Monitor project profitability and identify opportunities to improve margins, reduce costs, and enhance project execution.
Qualifications
- 3 years proven experience acting in a similar role or capacity.
- Proven experience in project management, including planning, scheduling, coordination, and execution of multiple concurrent projects.
- Proven ability to read and interpret lighting plans, controls drawings, electrical schematics/diagrams, and project specifications.
- Experience managing submittals, project documentation, and customer communications.
- Experience with logistics management, shipment tracking, order expediting, and supply chain coordination.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with manufacturers, distributors, contractors, engineers, architects, and end users.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and project management or ERP software.
- Experience in the lighting, electrical, controls, or construction industries strongly preferred.
- Experience with commercial lighting controls systems, commissioning, programming, or startup support is highly desirable.
- Ability to work independently while maintaining a high level of accountability and ownership.
- High level of commitment to establishing and maintaining established timelines for follow up and follow through.
- Understanding the relationships of time and money and resolving issues quickly and effectively.
Preferred Background
- Commercial lighting industry experience.
- Electrical contracting, construction management, or specification-related experience.
Success in This Role
Success in this position goes beyond keeping projects on schedule. It’s about taking ownership, building lasting relationships, anticipating challenges before they become problems, and becoming the person customers and teammates know they can count on. Our most successful Project Managers are proactive, resourceful, technically knowledgeable, and committed to delivering exceptional results while contributing to the continued growth and success of the agency.