BAS Director of Operations – Hartford Connecticut

Job Title: Director of Operations – Building Automation
Job Location: Greater Hartford, CT Area
Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Opportunity 
The client is a well-established, growth-focused building automation and energy management firm. This company delivers intelligent building solutions for commercial, industrial, institutional, and healthcare facilities, helping clients reduce energy use, improve comfort, and gain real-time visibility into their building systems.

This position is intentionally designed with a clear, structured path to executive-level leadership, providing the right candidate with the platform to help shape regional strategy, influence enterprise-wide standards, and play a central role in scaling the BAS business unit over the next several years.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all operational aspects of the BAS division within the Cromwell, CT region, including project delivery, service operations, programming, commissioning, and customer support.
• Oversee a multidisciplinary team of project managers, engineers, programmers, and field technicians (typically 10–25 team members depending on seasonal workload).
• Implement and enforce standardized processes for project execution, quality assurance, safety compliance, documentation, and commissioning.
• Drive performance metrics such as project profitability, labor efficiency, on-time delivery, customer satisfaction, and service contract renewals.
• Collaborate closely with sales, engineering, and executive leadership to forecast workload, allocate resources, and support strategic growth initiatives.
• Mentor and coach team members, supporting professional development, certifications, and role progression throughout the division.
• Maintain strong client relationships, including involvement in key project meetings, escalations, and long-term strategic accounts.
• Develop annual budgets, manage P&L performance, and control operational expenses for the BAS division.
• Oversee vendor relationships related to BAS platforms, ensuring ongoing certification, training, and alignment with company standards.
• Ensure consistent delivery quality across all BAS platforms, including but not limited to Distech, Niagara, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, and KMC.
• Lead strategic planning for the BAS business unit, including market positioning, team growth, technology adoption, and cross-discipline integration.
• Support enterprise-wide standardization efforts for programming templates, graphics libraries, reporting tools, and commissioning checklists.
• Introduce continuous improvement initiatives, leveraging data analytics to enhance efficiency and reduce operational bottlenecks.
• Participate in senior leadership committees, contributing to long-term organizational planning and multi-year capital investment decisions.
• Provide guidance in evaluating emerging technologies, potential partnerships, and software/hardware platforms that will shape future offerings.
• Assist in developing training programs to upskill new hires and elevate advanced programmers and technicians.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, business, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in building automation, HVAC controls, MEP project management, or related technical operations roles.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing teams responsible for BAS installation, programming, and system commissioning.
• Strong understanding of HVAC systems, controls integration, and BAS communication protocols (BACnet, Modbus, LON).
• Working knowledge of one or more BAS platforms such as Distech, Niagara, Johnson Controls, Honeywell, and/or KMC.
• Proven ability to manage operational budgets, resource planning, and P&L responsibilities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to interface effectively with customers, executives, contractors, and internal teams.
• Strong decision-making ability in fast-paced environments with multiple concurrent priorities.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel locally as needed.
• Experience managing multi-office or multi-regional BAS operations.
• Advanced knowledge of Distech, Niagara (N4), Johnson Controls FX/Metasys, Honeywell WEBs, or KMC Controls platforms.
• Vendor or industry certifications such as Niagara N4, PMP, LEED, CEM, or similar credentials.
• Background in optimizing service operations, including service agreements, preventive maintenance programs, and recurring revenue strategies.
• Experience implementing digital tools for workflow management, field service coordination, or dashboard reporting.
• Prior involvement in M&A integration or scaling operations during high-growth phases.

Work Environment and Leadership Path

• Office-based leadership role with regular coordination across field teams and regional management.
• Direct oversight of 10–25 BAS operations personnel, with expected team growth of 10–20% annually depending on pipeline and backlog.
• This role is intentionally structured to transition into a regional operations executive, divisional VP, or enterprise director-level role as the BAS business expands.
• Access to executive mentorship, cross-functional leadership committees, and strategic growth initiatives.