Project Manager / Senior Project Manager

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of large-scale HVAC and mechanical construction projects, typically valued at $25M or more, within an active airport environment.
• Own HVAC mechanical scopes independently, including planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout across multiple airport terminal projects.
• Manage Central Utility Plant (CUP) systems and associated infrastructure such as chiller plants, chilled water systems, and district cooling/heating loops.
• Take full financial ownership of assigned projects, including P&L management, forecasting, budgeting, and ensuring overall project profitability.
• Develop and manage change order strategies, including identifying, pricing, negotiating, and documenting changes to scope.
• Cookordination and lead union labor, with a particular emphasis on sheet metal trades, ensuring effective labor planning and alignment with project schedules.
• Build strong working relationships with superintendents, foremen, and field leadership to drive safe, efficient, and high-quality field execution.
• Oversee multiple concurrent airport terminal projects, balancing resources, schedules, and priorities in a complex, multi-project environment.
• Represent the organization professionally with owners, airport stakeholders, general contractors, design partners, and field teams.
• Collaborate closely with project engineers, other project managers, and field supervisors to resolve technical issues and maintain project momentum.
• Review, interpret, and manage work in accordance with contract drawings, specifications, and engineering documents.
• Monitor construction progress, schedule adherence, and cost performance, and take proactive action to address risks and issues.
• Prepare, review, and manage RFIs and other project engineering documentation to ensure clarity and alignment among all parties.
• Ensure compliance with project requirements, engineering principles, mechanical system standards, and internal procedures.
• Support design-build efforts by collaborating with designers and engineers to optimize constructability and system performance.
• Foster a collaborative, low-ego team culture that emphasizes communication, shared problem-solving, and mutual support.
• Mentor and support project engineers and junior team members, helping them develop technical, financial, and leadership skills.
• Maintain accurate project records, including cost reports, schedules, change logs, and other documentation required for project controls.
• Travel regularly across multiple airport terminals and project sites to maintain a strong field presence and direct engagement with on-site teams.

Requirements

• Proven experience leading large-scale HVAC and mechanical construction projects, ideally with project values of $25M or more.
• Mechanical subcontractor project management experience (as opposed to general contractor experience), with demonstrated ownership of mechanical scopes.
• Strong HVAC and mechanical systems expertise, particularly in complex infrastructure such as Central Utility Plants, chiller plants, and large chilled water systems.
• Demonstrated financial ownership of projects, including P&L responsibility, forecasting, budgeting, and project profitability management.
• Hands-on experience managing change orders, including strategy, pricing, negotiation, and documentation.
• Field leadership experience with union labor, preferably including sheet metal trades, labor planning, and coordination with superintendents and foremen.
• Able to represent the organization professionally with owners, airport stakeholders, general contractors, and field teams.
• Strong understanding of construction and engineering design concepts related to mechanical systems.
• Extensive knowledge of construction costs, scheduling, estimating, engineering principles, mechanical systems, and accounting systems.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting contract drawings, specifications, and related technical documents.
• Proven management, leadership, and interpersonal skills with a collaborative, low-ego leadership style.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to resolve conflicts and solve problems effectively.
• Above-average computer skills, including proficiency with Word and Excel, and the ability to use scheduling, cost, and project management software.
• Experience using Autodesk Build/ACC Build, Navisworks, Revit, and Bluebeam for project coordination and controls.
• Physical ability to climb ladders and access trenches, attic spaces, and confined spaces as needed for field inspections.
• Valid driver’s license in good standing, with the ability to travel regularly to multiple project locations.

Qualifications

• Direct Central Utility Plant experience, including ownership of CUP operations and construction, is strongly preferred.
• Experience with hospital central plants, chiller plant infrastructure, and district cooling or heating systems.
• Background in mission-critical HVAC infrastructure, such as large chilled water systems or high-reliability cooling environments.
• Airport project experience, particularly within multi-terminal or large campus environments.
• Healthcare project experience, especially involving complex mechanical systems and stringent operational requirements.
• Design-build mechanical construction experience, including collaboration with design teams to enhance constructability and performance.
• Experience working in union environments and familiarity with union work rules and practices.
• Construction Management degree or a related degree in a construction or engineering discipline.
• Mechanical engineering, piping, and plant systems experience, particularly in commercial or infrastructure construction.
• Experience with RFIs, project engineering processes, and construction documentation workflows.
• Background in commercial construction and mechanical construction involving chilled water systems and plant systems.
• Demonstrated longevity and stability in prior roles, such as multiple years with a single employer.
• Collaborative, low-ego leadership style with strong relationship-building skills, especially with craft labor and field leadership.
• Experience working on long-term, large-scale infrastructure programs with complex stakeholder environments.
• Comfort working within an employee-owned (ESOP) culture that emphasizes ownership mindset, continuity, productivity, and quality of work.

Skills

• Proven experience leading large-scale HVAC and mechanical construction projects, ideally with project values of $25M or more.
• Strong HVAC and mechanical systems expertise, particularly in complex infrastructure such as Central Utility Plants, chiller plants, and large chilled water systems.
• Hands-on experience managing change orders, including strategy, pricing, negotiation, and documentation.
• Field leadership experience with union labor, preferably including sheet metal trades, labor planning, and coordination with superintendents and foremen.
• Strong understanding of construction and engineering design concepts related to mechanical systems.
• Extensive knowledge of construction costs, scheduling, estimating, engineering principles, mechanical systems, and accounting systems.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting contract drawings, specifications, and related technical documents.
• Proven management, leadership, and interpersonal skills with a collaborative, low-ego leadership style.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to resolve conflicts and solve problems effectively.
• Above-average computer skills, including proficiency with Word and Excel, and the ability to use scheduling, cost, and project management software.
• Experience using Autodesk Build/ACC Build, Navisworks, Revit, and Bluebeam for project coordination and controls.
• Physical ability to climb ladders and access trenches, attic spaces, and confined spaces as needed for field inspections.
• Valid driver’s license in good standing, with the ability to travel regularly to multiple project locations.

Benefits

The pay range for this position is $130,000.00 - $180,000.00/yr. Murray Company offers a comprehensive benefits package anchored by a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and profit-sharing. Key perks for Southern California employees include 100% company-paid medical coverage for the employee, subsidized family health plans, dental, vision, life insurance, and a matched 401(k).

Pay and Schedule

This is a salaried role in the mechanical construction industry, supporting a union workforce in a field-and-office hybrid environment based at a major airport campus. The typical schedule is Monday through Friday, with a minimum of 40 hours per week, and additional time as needed to meet project demands and schedule pressures. The role requires regular travel across multiple airport terminals and project sites within the LAWA campus, with a primary talent focus on the Los Angeles area and secondary consideration for candidates from Orange County, the Inland Empire, and San Diego. Relocation is open for candidates who are a strong fit. You will work primarily within a construction site environment, splitting time between field operations and office-based project management activities. The work involves close collaboration with an acting project executive, a team of project managers (including plumbing-focused PMs), project engineers, superintendents, and general foremen. The culture emphasizes a collaborative, field-driven approach rather than a heavily corporate structure, and it values strong relationship-building with craft labor and field leadership. The organization operates as a 100% employee-owned ESOP, offering strong ownership upside, a high bonus structure, and a long-term backlog of large, high-impact airport projects, including multi-terminal modernization work driven by major events and tight schedules. A vehicle allowance and gas card are provided to support travel between project locations. The environment rewards team-oriented, low-ego professionals who prioritize the work, the team, and long-term success over short-term gains.