Operational Planning & Support Manager
Salaried-Exempt
Position Home Location
Norfolk, VA
Position Overview
The Operational Planning & Support Manager provides direct support to the Operations Manager and broader leadership team, ensuring effective project planning, cost control, and execution oversight across all active work. This role is responsible for maintaining financial accuracy, supporting project setup and forecasting, coordinating staffing plans, and validating physical progress to ensure alignment between field execution and financial performance.
The position serves as a critical link between operations, finance, and field teams, enabling disciplined project delivery and operational efficiency in support of financial, operational, and execution performance objectives.
Duties and Responsibilities
Project Cost Control & Forecasting
- Perform ongoing validation of Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate to Complete (ETC) for all assigned projects
- Track and analyze actual costs vs. budget, identifying variances and supporting corrective action plans
- Support gross and net margin tracking and analysis across projects
- Provide insight into cost-to-revenue alignment and forecast accuracy
- Assist in identifying margin risk and recovery opportunities
- Ensure accuracy and consistency in cost reporting across labor, materials, subcontractors, and other project expenses
- Support monthly and periodic project financial reviews with Operations leadership
Schedule & Execution Support
- Support monitoring of project schedule performance vs. plan
- Identify and flag schedule risks impacting cost, manpower, or delivery
Project Planning & Setup
- Lead and support project kick-off activities, including budget setup, job cost structure, and administrative setup
- Establish and maintain project folders, cost tracking tools, and reporting systems in alignment with company standards
- Assist in pre-planning activities, ensuring projects are properly scoped, structured, and positioned for successful execution
Growth Work & Estimating Support
- Assist in the development and review of growth work estimates, including change orders and scope expansion opportunities
- Work closely with the Operations Manager to ensure estimates reflect field conditions, resource requirements, and execution strategy
- Support documentation and tracking of approved changes to maintain alignment with project financials
Staffing & Resource Planning
- Develop and maintain integrated manpower plans across all active work
- Identify staffing gaps, conflicts, and over/under-utilization risks
- Provide forward-looking staffing projections based on backlog and pipeline
- Align manpower plans with project schedules, workload demands, and operational priorities
- Monitor labor utilization and productivity, providing insight to Operations leadership
Physical Progress Validation
- Conduct field and data-based validations of physical progress
- Ensure reported percent-complete aligns with actual work in place and incurred costs
- Support accurate progress tracking for forecasting, billing, and operational decision-making
- Support alignment of project tracking with contract requirements, including billing milestones, revenue recognition, and deliverables
General Operational Support & Special Projects
- Provide ongoing operational support to the Operations Manager and VP of Operations
- Proactively identify and communicate project financial, schedule, and execution risks to Operations leadership
- Lead or assist with special projects and process improvement initiatives as assigned
- Develop and enhance reporting, tracking tools, and operational processes to improve efficiency and visibility
- Support preparation of executive-level reporting packages
- Develop, maintain, and standardize operational and financial performance dashboards and metrics across all programs
- Support tracking and reporting of safety and quality performance metrics
Experience & Other Requirements
- Five (5) years of experience in project controls, operations support, planning, or project management within shipboard electrical installation and repair services business
- Bachelor's degree with (3) years' experience can be substituted for the above
- Strong understanding of project budgeting, forecasting, and cost tracking methodologies
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and project management/accounting systems
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including field personnel, finance, and leadership
- Understanding of NAVSEA Standard Items, ABS and other industry-related guidelines as applicable to various programs
- Understanding of EIMB, EPISM and Electrical MIL standards
- High School Diploma or equivalent
- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be able to pass Waveforce Electrical pre-employment drug and background screening
- Must be able to obtain government facility and/or shipyard access, to include a DBIDS credential, as required by work locations
- Ability to work extended hours, as required
Reports To
- Reports directly to: Operations Manager
- Provides support to: VP of Operations and Project Teams
