Commissioning Facilities Manager

This is a long-term commissioning and capital project management role overseeing a major multi-floor renovation and systems upgrade within a complex facility. The role serves as the critical bridge between continuous facility operations and the integration of new equipment and building automation systems, ensuring seamless incorporation into existing infrastructure and efficient operation at turnover.

About the role

This position focuses on technical integration, commissioning oversight, and coordination across multiple stakeholders to support a 1.5–2 year project with the potential for permanent conversion. The role supports a large-scale, multi-floor renovation project within a complex facility operated under a federal agency framework, involving a capital investment of approximately $177 million. The work centers on upgrading and integrating building automation systems and mechanical infrastructure, including transitioning the boiler room from a steam plant to a hot water configuration.

The facility spans 10 floors, with active construction, integration, and commissioning occurring throughout, requiring regular on-site presence in mechanical spaces, boiler rooms, and areas where new equipment and controls are installed. The culture values thorough documentation, strong stakeholder coordination, and proactive problem-solving to ensure continuous, seamless facility operations while new systems come online.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the commissioning process for new equipment and building systems, ensuring they are properly integrated into existing facility infrastructure and operate reliably at system turnover.
• Collaborate closely with facility management and engineering staff to verify the functionality, stability, and operational readiness of newly installed equipment and systems, including boilers, chillers, pumps, piping, and building automation components.
• Serve as the primary liaison between project teams, property management, facility operations, and engineering staff, ensuring clear communication of project requirements, system performance, and operational impacts.
• Work alongside another project manager and the chief engineer to monitor project progress, identify risks, and ensure alignment between design intent, installation practices, and operational needs across all 10 floors of the facility.
• Call out and address problems in design and installation, providing technical guidance and recommendations to ensure systems are installed correctly and in accordance with codes, standards, and project specifications.
• Coordinate the activities of external contractors and vendors involved in equipment installation, building automation revamp, and related infrastructure modifications, focusing on scope verification, quality control, and performance monitoring.
• Assist with planning and overseeing facility improvements and maintenance activities required to support new equipment integration, including modifications to electrical infrastructure, HVAC systems, mechanical systems, and physical space.
• Ensure that all facility modifications and upgrades adhere to relevant building codes, safety standards, and compliance requirements while minimizing disruption to ongoing facility operations.
• Support the replacement and upgrade of the building automation system and the boiler room transition from a steam plant to a hot water setup, ensuring seamless integration and reliable operation.
• Develop, review, or ensure comprehensive documentation for new systems, including standard operating procedures and technical manuals, and confirm that computerized maintenance management systems are updated to reflect removed and added equipment.
• Coordinate and assist in delivering training to facility management, operations staff, and engineering teams so they clearly understand system components, operation, sequencing, and maintenance requirements at turnover.
• Monitor project timeframes and phasing requirements, ensuring that commissioning activities are aligned with construction schedules and that system turnovers occur smoothly and on time.
• Engage internal operations and maintenance resources for in-progress review of installed items, ensuring a clear understanding of system operation and sequencing before final acceptance.
• Communicate effectively at all levels within the organization to confirm that work is being completed correctly and that commissioning and integration objectives are met.
• Support project cost and capital planning activities as they relate to commissioning, system upgrades, and facility improvements, providing technical input on scope and implementation impacts.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Construction Management, or a related technical field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in facilities operations, technical project coordination, or systems integration within complex operational environments.
• Strong technical knowledge of building systems, including electrical infrastructure, HVAC, mechanical systems, and their integration with existing facility operations.
• Hands-on experience with boilers, chillers, pumps, and piping, particularly in the context of commissioning and system upgrades.
• Proven experience managing and executing commissioning processes for building systems and equipment, including verification of functionality, stability, and operational readiness.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate with multiple internal and external stakeholders, such as contractors, vendors, engineering teams, and property management professionals.
• Experience working with facility management information systems or computerized maintenance management systems, including data entry, updates, and documentation management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to serve as a primary liaison between technical teams, operations staff, and project stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent activities while minimizing disruption to ongoing facility operations.
• Solid understanding of relevant building codes, safety standards, and compliance requirements related to facility infrastructure modifications and system upgrades.
• Ability to identify and call out design and installation issues and provide practical, technically sound recommendations to resolve them.
• Capability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels to ensure that work is performed correctly and commissioning objectives are achieved.

Skills

• Experience working in mission-critical environments such as data centers, laboratories, or healthcare facilities where operational continuity is essential.
• Background in developing standard operating procedures and technical documentation for complex building systems and equipment.
• Experience coordinating or delivering technical training programs to facilities management and engineering staff.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies and tools for tracking deliverables, schedules, and stakeholder communication.
• Experience managing vendor and contractor relationships, including scope verification, quality control, and performance monitoring.
• Knowledge of electrical systems design, power distribution, backup power systems, and critical infrastructure.
• Experience with boiler and chiller systems, including commissioning and optimization in large facilities.
• Knowledge of piping systems design, installation, and performance considerations in mechanical and HVAC applications.
• Experience with building automation system upgrades or revamps, including integration with existing mechanical and electrical systems.
• Background in project monitoring and reporting, particularly in large-scale renovation or capital projects.
• Interest in long-term projects with potential for conversion to a permanent role.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, multi-phased project environments that require careful coordination between operations and construction teams.

Schedule

The position primarily follows a day shift schedule and offers flexibility during various phases of the project to accommodate commissioning activities and system turnovers.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $55.00/hr.

Benefits

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite, contract position based in Chicago, IL.