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
• 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 seeking an entrepreneurial Operations Manager to lead our newest regional location from the ground up. This position combines operational leadership with entrepreneurial drive — serving as both Integrator and Builder of a new ETG Business Unit. You'll take ownership of day-to-day execution, lead a growing technical team, manage P&L objectives, and work side-by-side with ETG leadership to bring our proven business model to a new region. This is a rare opportunity to see a business evolve from Infancy Growth Maturity — with your leadership at the center of that transformation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Leadership & Execution

• Faithfully execute the ETG business plan — achieving or exceeding P&L, revenue, and performance goals
• Lead all regional operations including scheduling, resource planning, quality assurance, safety, and project delivery
• Implement and maintain ETG's operating systems, testing standards, and documentation processes
• Manage field operations for protective relaying, SCADA, and IEC 61850 systems commissioning
• Ensure alignment between technical execution and business objectives — balancing efficiency, quality, and profitability

2. Integration & Team Alignment

• Integrate all major functions of the local ETG operation — ensuring everyone is rowing in the same direction
• Lead, manage, and hold team members accountable for results and commitments
• Build and nurture a healthy, functional, and cohesive leadership team under the EOS framework
• Resolve issues effectively: identify root causes, address conflict constructively, and drive solutions to completion

3. Business Unit Development

• Build the BU from the ground up — recruiting, training, and developing a skilled team of field engineers and technicians
• Establish vendor partnerships and client relationships within the region
• Drive growth through operational excellence, local market development, and client satisfaction
• Create and maintain structure and process as the BU transitions from startup to sustainable operation

4. Vision & Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with the ETG Visionary and National Leadership Team to ensure clear direction and alignment
• Translate vision into actionable, measurable goals
• Maintain a strong, respectful partnership with ETG leadership — ensuring ideas are filtered, prioritized, and implemented effectively
• Ensure that key messages and decisions are properly cascaded across the team so that everyone is informed, aligned, and focused

5. Systems, Structure, and Process

• Operate within ETG's EOS framework: own the scorecard, lead local L10s, and manage to defined KPIs
• Ensure consistency in how core processes are followed, documented, and improved
• Demonstrate strong project management discipline and operational consistency
• Uphold ETG's values of safety, integrity, quality, and innovation in every aspect of operations

What Success Looks Like

First 6–12 Months:

• Establish the foundation: hire key staff, build client relationships, deliver first projects successfully, and drive the BU toward break-even

12–24 Months:

• Transition into the Growth Phase: solid team structure, sustainable backlog, and strong client confidence
• Local L10s running consistently, scorecard metrics trending upward, and P&L tracking toward profitability by month 12

Beyond 24 Months:

• The BU is Mature: operating as a profitable, independently functioning unit within the national ETG network, recognized for its technical quality and reliability

Qualifications

• 7+ years in power systems testing, commissioning, or utility operations
• Proven leadership experience managing people, budgets, and project delivery
• Strong understanding of protective relaying, automation, and SCADA systems
• Entrepreneurial mindset — thrives in building structure from scratch
• Excellent communication, organization, and conflict-resolution skills
• Experience with EOS or similar operating systems preferred
• Willingness to travel regionally and work in a dynamic field environment

Why This Role is Exciting

You'll lead one of the most exciting phases of ETG's national expansion — bringing our brand of technical excellence and culture of accountability to a new region. You'll have the chance to build a business with your own imprint while being part of a nationwide team of leaders doing the same.

This role offers the energy of a startup with the stability and support of a 40-year engineering powerhouse — and the satisfaction of watching a blank slate become a thriving, mature operation under your leadership.

• 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

Salary range is 160,000 - $190,000 annually depending on location and qualifications plus a discretionary bonus and employee stock program.

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.