Director, Protection & Controls Operations

$220000 - $230000 per year | Bedford Park, IL | Remote | Permanent

Lead the Protection & Controls business for a fast-growing, PE-backed leader in electrical testing. You’ll be in substations with technicians, in front of utility customers, and in the room where strategy gets made, building something special as the busine

One of North America’s leading electrical testing and services companies, with a national footprint, a strong safety culture, and a long track record of keeping critical power systems running. Our teams test, commission, maintain, and repair the electrical infrastructure that utilities, data centers, and industrial facilities depend on.

We’re backed by a leading private equity firm and growing fast, both organically and through strategic growth. Our Protection & Controls group is a specialized, utility-focused team known for technical excellence and pride in the trade. We’re looking for a leader who will protect that culture while helping it grow.

• Competitive Base Salary!
• Extremely Competitive Benefits!

Director, Protection & Controls Operations -

Location:

Central or Mountain time zone, near a major airport (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Chicago, Denver, Phoenix, Minneapolis, or similar)

Travel:
About 50%, across North America

Type:
Full-time

Our client is a leading, fast-growing electrical testing and services organization with a national footprint and a strong commitment to safety and customer service. Its Protection & Controls group is a specialized, utility-focused business that tests, commissions, and maintains high‑voltage protective relay and control systems. The work is closer to engineering than standard testing. The business is entering a period of significant growth.

The Director of Protection & Controls Operations leads the safe, consistent, and profitable execution of the P&C business across North America. Reporting to the Vice President of Protection & Controls, this leader runs day‑to‑day operations across multiple locations, leads General Managers and Area Managers, and protects what makes the team special as the business scales.

This is a hands‑on, in‑person leadership role. You’ll spend time in substations with technicians, in front of utility customers, and in leadership and strategy meetings. You’ll get on a plane when something doesn’t feel right.

• Lead day‑to‑day P&C operations across multiple branches and service locations in North America
• Translate strategy, budget, and operating priorities into clear plans, accountabilities, and execution rhythms
• Lead General Managers and Area Managers directly, including hiring, coaching, development, succession planning, and performance management
• Own operating execution for safety, quality, labor utilization, productivity, project delivery, customer service, and financial performance
• Monitor and act on labor hours, revenue, gross margin, utilization, backlog, and forecast accuracy
• Lead the operating forecast and annual budget, along with workforce, equipment, and capacity plans
• Build strong relationships with utility customers, take part in account planning and major proposals, and resolve service issues quickly
• Spend real time in the field and earn the trust of technicians
• Identify problems early, travel to them, and stabilize the situation
• Influence and align people across the organization, including peers and senior leaders who don’t report to you
• Support technician qualification, training, career progression, and retention
• Drive compliance with safe work practices, field audits, and regulatory requirements
• Improve processes, reporting, and technology to increase visibility, scalability, and…