Operations Manager - Power System Testing

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
• ENR (Engineering News Record) Top 500 firm
• Rated as a top System Integrator Giant

Wunderlich-Malec's Electrical Testing Group (ETG) is expanding - and we're looking for a hands-on Operations Manager to lead our newest regional location from its infancy into a thriving, profitable business unit.

This is a rare opportunity to build something from the ground up with the full support, reputation, and resources of Wunderlich-Malec behind you. You'll be responsible for executing ETG's proven business model locally: recruiting and developing a team, ensuring operational excellence in field testing and commissioning, managing client relationships, and driving financial performance under ETG's "Incubation Growth Mature" framework.

If you are an entrepreneurial operations leader who thrives on building teams, delivering technical excellence, and watching a business grow under your leadership - this role is for you.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Manage day-to-day operations of the ETG business unit, including scheduling, field execution, quality control, and safety
• Implement ETG standards for testing, commissioning, and documentation (relays, SCADA, automation, and IEC 61850 systems)
• Oversee resource allocation, cost management, and P&L performance targets in alignment with ETG's growth phase milestones

Team Building & Development

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a team of field engineers and technicians to support regional testing and commissioning projects
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and technical excellence consistent with ETG's national standards
• Partner with the ETG leadership team to establish clear career paths and training opportunities for the new market

Client & Project Management

• Serve as the local point of contact for utility, industrial, and renewable energy clients
• Ensure all projects meet client expectations, schedule, and technical specifications
• Support proposal development, cost estimation, and project scope definition

Process & Systems

• Operate within ETG's EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework: own the scorecard, lead local L10s, and manage to key metrics.
• Drive efficiency through standardized templates, documentation, and reporting processes.
• Collaborate closely with ETG corporate operations and other BU leaders to share resources, lessons learned, and best practices.

What Success Looks Like

• First 6-12 months: The foundation is established - local vendor relationships formed, first key hires onboarded, initial projects executed with excellence, and a clear path to profitability identified
• 12-24 months: The BU enters its Growth Phase - a stable, self-sustaining operation with a strong team, healthy backlog, and increasing client base
• Long term: The ETG becomes a Mature Business Unit - recognized regionally for its technical quality, reliability, and alignment with Wunderlich-Malec's mission and culture

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in power systems testing, commissioning, or related operations (utility, industrial, or EPC environment)
• Proven leadership experience - managing teams, budgets, and client relationships
• Strong technical understanding of protective relaying, SCADA/automation systems, and commissioning processes
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build structure in a startup environment
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
• Willingness to travel regionally as the new location scales

Why This Role is Exciting

You'll be part of ETG's national expansion - taking a blank slate and building a self-sustaining operation that carries your fingerprint from day one. Every milestone will reflect your leadership: the first hire, the first FAT, the first profitable month, and ultimately the transformation from an emerging location to a Mature Business Unit within one of the fastest-growing divisions at Wunderlich-Malec.

*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

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