Automation Project Manager - ACE Projects Division, Waterworks

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage waterworks-focused automation projects from initiation through completion, ensuring delivery on time, within scope, and on budget.
• Tackle EPC, contractor, municipal, and end-user projects, recognizing that each requires a different approach to be successful.
• Review waterworks project specifications and help build compliant automation packages, including valves, electric motor operators, pneumatic actuators, mounting kits, controls, and related components.
• Support projects involving motor-operated valves (MOVs), including packages with electric operators such as Limitorque, Rotork, EIM, AUMA, and similar products.
• Support pneumatic valve automation packages when required, including actuator, accessory, and control package coordination.
• Leverage resources from documentation and quotation specialists to support project requirements, including submittals, testing documentation, O&M manuals, and formatting in the way customers expect to receive.
• Collaborate with ACE, Projects Quotation Team, Project Execution Team, Waterworks teams, and Management to continue building best practices for handling waterworks, EPC, contractor, and end-user projects as the division grows.
• Partner with ACE teammates, project managers, and technical specialists to execute projects that combine engineered automation packages with complex documentation and submittal requirements.
• Recommend products and solutions that align with client needs, including valves, actuators, electric motor operators, mounting kits, accessories, and engineered automation systems.
• Establish and maintain strong customer relationships, serving as a key point of contact for major accounts and strategic project opportunities.
• Coordinate with inside sales, outside sales, vendors, valve shops, fabrication teams, and waterworks stakeholders to ensure accurate quotes, timely builds, and seamless delivery.
• Conduct project meetings, track milestones, and prepare status updates for customers and leadership.
• Drive alignment with Ferguson’s Intentional Product Strategy (IPS) to maximize gross margin, standardization, and efficiency.
• Partner with field teams, customers, and vendors to resolve technical or project challenges quickly and minimize delays.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and support ACE’s mission of standardization, collaboration, and shared best practices across districts and business groups.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of project management, valve automation, engineered products, waterworks, or related industry experience preferred.
• Valve automation experience is highly preferred, including experience with actuated valve packages, engineered automation packages, or complex valve assemblies.
• Electric motor operator experience is highly preferred, including familiarity with Limitorque, Rotork, EIM, AUMA, or similar MOV products.
• Waterworks project experience is highly preferred, including familiarity with waterworks specifications, valves, actuators, controls, and related package components.
• Project experience is highly preferred, especially with EPC, contractor, municipal, end-user, or specification-driven project work.
• Ability to review project specifications, identify exceptions or gaps, coordinate with vendors, and help develop compliant project solutions.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, submittals, and project timelines.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent industry experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, Project).
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across inside sales, outside sales, vendors, customers, and cross-functional project teams.
• Ability to travel occasionally as required by projects and/or training.