Current positions in the electrical industry

General Manager / Building Automation Controls – Wisconsin

I am seeking a General Manager to lead a growing Building Automation and Controls operation serving customers throughout Wisconsin. This business has experienced tremendous growth over the last several years and continuing to gain momentum. The foundation is in place. The team is talented. The market opportunity is significant.

Now the organization is looking for a leader who can bring structure, accountability, operational discipline, and strong technical credibility to help drive the next chapter.

This is not a sales management role disguised as a General Manager position. Nor is it a hands-on programming or project management job. This is a true business leadership role responsible for the overall performance of a controls operation with approximately 30 employees and annual revenue ranging from $9 million to $12 million.

The successful candidate will oversee the financial performance, operational execution, project delivery, estimating discipline, workforce development, and long-term growth of the business while ensuring the team continues to execute at a high level.

The Controls Group serves customers throughout Wisconsin, with most of its work concentrated in the Fox Valley, Milwaukee, and Madison markets.

The team delivers building automation and controls solutions across a wide range of commercial and institutional facilities.

This role reports directly to the Regional General Manager and will serve as the operational leader of the controls business.

The environment is collaborative, highly organized, and process driven. The company has invested heavily in improving estimating practices, project management standards, reporting structures, and operational consistency over the past two years. The next General Manager will play a critical role in reinforcing those improvements while continuing to elevate the performance of the team.

On any given day, your focus may shift between operational leadership, financial oversight, customer relationships, team development, and business planning.

You will review project performance, monitor schedules, evaluate financial results, participate in bid reviews, support strategic pursuits, and work closely with leaders throughout the organization to ensure projects are executed successfully.

You will not be expected to personally program systems, manage every project, or review every estimate. Strong leaders already exist within those functions. Your role is to provide direction, accountability, coaching, and support while ensuring the business operates efficiently and consistently.

You will oversee:

Preconstruction and Estimating

Led by an experienced manager responsible for estimating strategy, bid development, and project pursuits.

 Project Management and Contract Execution

Led by a senior project management leader responsible for project delivery, financial performance, and execution.

Engineering, Design, Programming, and Service Operations

Led by a manager overseeing programmers, designers, engineers, and service personnel responsible for system delivery, software updates, commissioning, and ongoing customer support.

Success requires balancing the big picture with operational detail. You need to understand what is happening inside the business without feeling the need to personally own every task.

This is a close-knit team that values collaboration and strong relationships. The General Manager must become woven into the fabric of the group while establishing credibility through technical knowledge, consistency, and follow through.

Over time, success will be measured by:

• Maintaining and improving profitability across the operation
• Ensuring estimating and project management processes are consistently followed
• Improving operational discipline and accountability
• Supporting continued revenue growth while protecting margins
• Strengthening customer relationships throughout Wisconsin
• Developing future leaders within the organization
• Creating alignment across estimating, project management, engineering, programming, and service teams
• Driving predictable project execution and customer satisfaction

This role carries full responsibility for the performance of the controls business, but success is not tied to any single metric. Financial performance, operational excellence, team development, customer satisfaction, and execution quality all matter.

The ideal candidate brings a combination of technical building controls expertise, operational leadership experience, and strong relationship building skills.

I’m looking for a person who has built their career within building automation systems, controls contracting, mechanical contracting, systems integration, energy management, or related technical environments. You understand what it takes to deliver controls projects successfully because you’ve lived it. Most importantly, you possess the leadership maturity to hold people accountable while maintaining strong relationships.

You should have:

• Building automation or controls industry experience
• Strong technical understanding of BAS platforms and controls systems
• Experience leading project driven organizations
• Financial and operational management experience
• Strong communication and relationship building skills
• Experience managing teams through managers
• A disciplined and process oriented leadership style
• The confidence to stand your ground when necessary while remaining collaborative and approachable

Few companies combine the stability of a large organization with the culture and values of a family-owned business.

For more than a century, this organization has built a reputation for quality, integrity, and long-term thinking. Decisions are made with the future in mind. Employees are developed, customers are valued, and profits are reinvested back into the business.

People join because of the opportunity. They stay because of the culture. The company remains family owned, financially strong, and growth focused. There is no private equity ownership. No short term mindset. No constant restructuring. Just a commitment to building a great business and investing in great people.

For the right leader, this is an opportunity to take ownership of a successful operation, make a lasting impact, and help shape the future of one of the most respected controls businesses in Wisconsin.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Base salary of $160k to $180k
• Annual bonus opportunity tied to company, business unit, and individual performance
• Vehicle allowance and fuel card
• Relocation assistance available
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Long term career growth within a highly respected organization

If you are a technically strong building controls leader who enjoys building teams, driving accountability, and leading a business rather than simply managing tasks, we need to talk!