Commissioning Manager North America

About the role

Location: Project sites (US) + local office support. Employment type: Full-time, site-based (≥50% on site). Reports to: Operational – Construction Manager North America; Functional – Extra EU Logistics Coordinator.

The Commissioning Manager is a senior leadership position responsible for the end-to-end management of commissioning activities across AB Energy USA’s portfolio of CHP and industrial energy projects. The role encompasses the strategic planning, organization, execution, and continuous improvement of all commissioning operations, ensuring projects are safely started, fully tested, optimized, and successfully handed over to customers. The Commissioning Manager will also build and develop a scalable commissioning organization, establishing procedures, methodologies, resource planning models, technical standards, and performance metrics to support the company’s long-term growth.

Responsibilities

• Commissioning Leadership & Organizational Development
  • Support the Construction Manager to establish, structure, and lead the Commissioning Department within AB Energy USA.
  • Recruit, develop, mentor, and manage commissioning engineers, technicians, and field specialists.
  • Define organizational roles, responsibilities, competency frameworks, and career development paths.
  • Develop commissioning strategies aligned with business growth objectives and EPC execution needs.
  • Implement standardized processes, procedures, checklists, reporting systems, and commissioning governance models.
  • Build a culture of technical excellence, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Resource Planning & Operational Management
  • Develop short-, medium-, and long-term commissioning resource plans, validated with the Construction Manager.
  • Forecast manpower requirements, technical competencies, vehicle fleets, tools, instrumentation, and training needs.
  • Manage department budgets, operational expenditures, and investments.
  • Ensure efficient allocation of resources across multiple simultaneous projects.
  • Monitor departmental KPIs, productivity, utilization, and performance metrics, reporting to the Construction Manager.
• End-to-End Commissioning Management
  • Lead commissioning activities from mechanical completion through final customer acceptance, in coordination and reporting to the project PM.
  • Coordinate pre-commissioning, commissioning, start-up, performance testing, and handover phases.
  • Ensure commissioning execution is aligned with engineering, procurement, construction, and project schedules defined by the PM.
  • Drive commissioning readiness reviews and project risk assessments.
  • Lead troubleshooting and resolution of technical issues during start-up and testing phases.
  • Ensure successful achievement of contractual performance guarantees and project acceptance criteria.
• CHP & Industrial Energy Systems Commissioning
  • Oversee commissioning of:
    • CHP (Combined Heat and Power) plants
    • Natural gas and biogas power generation systems
    • Heat recovery systems
    • Electrical generation and synchronization systems
    • Biomethane upgrading units (RNG)
    • Gas treatment and conditioning systems
    • Industrial utility systems
    • Process and energy efficiency applications
    • Control and automation systems
  • Validate mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control installations.
  • Coordinate system integration activities and performance optimization.
• Stakeholder & Customer Management
  • Serve as the primary commissioning representative during start-up and handover phases, in coordination with the project PM.
  • Manage relationships with project teams, vendors, OEMs, subcontractors, and consultants.
  • Lead escalation management and critical issue resolution.
  • Support commercial, contract, and warranty-related discussions when required.
  • Build customer confidence through professional and proactive project execution.
• Safety, Quality & Compliance
  • Champion a strong safety culture across all commissioning activities.
  • Ensure compliance with company policies, HSE requirements, regulatory standards, and industry best practices.
  • Implement and monitor commissioning quality plans and inspection protocols.
  • Lead lessons learned initiatives and continuous improvement programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Energy Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in commissioning, start-up, operations, or project execution within industrial or energy sectors.
• Proven experience leading commissioning activities for complex industrial plants and power generation projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary field teams across multiple project locations.
• Experience in CHP, distributed generation, power plants, biogas, or industrial energy applications strongly preferred.
• Experience within EPC project environments highly desirable.
• Strong leadership, coordination, and project execution skills.
• Ability to work effectively in dynamic, site-driven environments.

Benefits

• Values-driven and inclusive environment built on transparency, respect, and inclusion.
• Structured onboarding and mentorship with a dedicated induction program and support from experienced professionals.
• Professional development and growth through clearly defined career paths, annual performance reviews, continuous feedback, and training opportunities.
• Job rotation and knowledge sharing to develop cross-functional skills and a broad business perspective.
• International environment and potential for international mobility over time.
• Focus on employee well-being via Workplace Health Promotion initiatives promoting balance, health, and quality of working life.