Lead Project Manager

Guitar Center • Chicago, IL

8d

About The Position

The Lead Project Manager plans, organizes, directs, and controls activities for electronic security installation projects. The role coordinates installation labor and subcontractors, estimates and prices job charges, manages project profitability and installation quality, and supervises and develops the local project management team. The Lead Project Manager works with the National PMO Manager to maintain standard practices and is accountable for customer satisfaction and project closeout.

The position plans and schedules engineering, installation, and subcontracting activities; maintains job plans and specifications; coordinates with engineering on design and drafting; oversees procurement and delivery of materials; prepares and manages installation plans and procedures; and addresses changes to project design, contract price, schedules, or other activities. It tracks job status, costs, labor and material needs, billing, financial reports, and forecasts, and implements corrective plans to support project profitability.

The role also supports employee training and development, including security concepts, ISN, installation procedures, and product training. It ensures completed as-builts and paperwork, purchase orders, notices of completion, service handover, billing, revenue recognition, and closeout reports. The Lead Project Manager conducts regular meetings with project managers and the National PMO Manager, reinforces team standards and training, and provides monthly financial reporting. Occasional travel may be required based on business needs.

Requirements

• High school education or equivalent.
• Five years of experience in engineering and installation of electronic security systems or a related field.
• At least five years of project management experience.
• Strong knowledge of engineering fundamentals, relay logic, PLCs, and operations.
• Good subcontracting skills.
• Understanding of job financial reports and ability to control costs on large projects.

Nice To Haves

• Associate degree or bachelor's degree in a technical field is desirable.
• AVIXA CTS certification strongly preferred.
• PMI PMP certification strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Plan and schedule engineering, installation, and subcontracting activities for large or complex systems and service-installed jobs.
• Maintain current job plans and specifications and coordinate with engineering on design and drafting.
• Coordinate procurement of materials, supplies, and services, and control timely delivery to job sites.
• Prepare, manage, and implement project installation plans and job procedures.
• Identify and implement necessary changes to design, contract price, installation plans, or other project activities.
• Maintain construction schedules and coordinate task scheduling with other trades.
• Select subcontractors and monitor their performance.
• Keep superiors, subordinates, and other stakeholders informed of project progress.
• Maintain job status, change, material-flow, and other control records; supervise preparation and processing of reports.
• Estimate or assist in estimating projects for company bids.
• Implement quality assurance practices to improve customer satisfaction and ensure quality installation through routine job-site visits.
• Represent the company professionally with customers and develop relationships with customer decision makers.
• Manage customer satisfaction, job status, and project costs.
• Provide monthly information on labor and material requirements and assist management with monthly forecasting.
• Review financial statements and reports to support job management, cost control, and project profitability.
• Supervise preparation of base data for monthly job billing.
• Ensure time bills are complete and accurate, approve weekly time bills, and oversee apprentice and installer timecard accuracy.
• Develop and implement plans to remedy project problems and protect profitability.
• Stay current on products, processes, and materials through literature and seminars; train installers in security concepts, ISN, installation procedures, and products.
• Ensure as-builts and closeout paperwork are completed, purchase orders are completed, notices of completion are sent, jobs are handed over to Service, jobs are fully billed, revenue is taken, and closeout reports are completed.
• Supervise the local project management team, including regular individual meetings with project managers and weekly meetings with the National PMO Manager.
• Ensure the local project management team completes required training, follows established processes and best practices, and provides monthly financial reporting to National PMO Managers.
• Lead bi-weekly local project management team meetings.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Gig leave for employee-musicians to take time off to perform and return after a tour.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Mental health support.
• Paid sick, holiday, and vacation time.
• Employee discount program.
• Tuition reimbursement options.
• Access to AVDG University and learning opportunities.
• Career growth and cross-business collaboration opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED