Position Summary
Blackstone is seeking two experienced Project Managers or Construction Managers, Mechanical/Controls to support the delivery of the Brock University SPARK program. The positions will provide hands-on project and site leadership for controls and/or mechanical work in an active campus environment. Candidates may bring a stronger project-management or construction-management background, but these roles require practical construction knowledge, disciplined planning, and confidence coordinating consultants, contractors, trades, client representatives and internal technical resources.
The successful candidates will manage assigned work packages from design coordination and procurement through construction, commissioning and closeout. The work includes building automation and controls modernization, HVAC and hydronic retrofits, equipment replacement, piping, heat-recovery and electrification measures, shutdowns, temporary services, hazardous-material interfaces and related enabling work.
Key Accountabilities
- Manage assigned controls and/or mechanical work packages through planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, turnover and closeout.
- Maintain clear accountability for scope, schedule, cost, quality, safety, risk, change and stakeholder commitments.
- Provide a visible on-site presence and coordinate day-to-day activities with Brock University, consultants, subcontractors, trades, manufacturers and internal project resources.
- Develop practical execution plans, look-ahead schedules, resource plans, logistics plans and communication plans for concurrent work across multiple campus buildings and systems.
- Identify constraints early, drive decisions, escalate material risks promptly and follow actions through to closure.
Principal Duties
- Coordinate multiple concurrent scopes and measures, including controls/BAS retrofits, HVAC upgrades, hydronic piping, heat pumps, air-handling systems, terminal units, pumps, heat exchangers, valves, sensors, actuators, VFDs and associated electrical interfaces.
- Lead or support constructability reviews, site investigations and field verification of dimensions, routing, access, equipment handling, shutdown requirements and existing conditions before procurement or installation.
- Coordinate design deliverables, RFIs, submittals, shop drawings, control sequences, point lists, equipment schedules and technical approvals so that procurement and field work remain aligned with the project schedule.
- Prepare and maintain detailed schedules and short-term look-aheads that integrate engineering, procurement, permits, client approvals, site access, abatement, shutdowns, temporary services, installation, testing and commissioning.
- Plan building-by-building and system-by-system sequencing to minimize disruption to teaching, research, athletics, residences, facilities operations and other campus activities.
- Coordinate contractors and trades, monitor productivity and progress, resolve field conflicts, and confirm that work is completed in accordance with approved drawings, specifications, codes, permits and quality requirements.
- Work with the project team to plan outages, tie-ins, cutovers and after-hours activities, including contingency and rollback requirements where systems must remain operational.
- Support health and safety planning, including project/site safety documentation, hazard assessments, work-area controls, lockout and isolation planning, designated-substance interfaces, emergency procedures and contractor compliance.
- Maintain accurate project records in Procore and other approved systems, including daily/site reports, meeting minutes, photographs, deficiencies, RFIs, submittals, change documentation, decisions and action logs.
- Monitor budgets, commitments, forecasts, invoices, progress claims and cost-to-complete for assigned work packages; identify variances and support timely change management.
- Coordinate procurement and subcontract administration, including scope development, tendering, bid review, purchase orders, lead-time tracking, delivery planning and verification of materials received.
- Lead or participate in project, construction, technical, risk and stakeholder meetings and provide concise, accurate updates on progress, upcoming work, constraints, decisions and recovery actions.
- Coordinate testing, start-up, BAS verification, functional performance testing, training, deficiency correction, as-built documentation, O&M manuals and turnover to Brock University.
- Support continuous improvement of project-delivery practices, templates, reporting, work-package planning and site coordination.
Qualifications and Experience
- Approximately 5-8 years of progressive experience in project management, construction management, building systems, controls, mechanical construction, commissioning or a related field.
- Diploma or degree in mechanical engineering, building systems, controls, construction management, engineering technology or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating subcontractors and multiple trades on retrofit, renovation, energy or infrastructure projects.
- Practical understanding of construction sequencing, drawings and specifications, site safety, quality control, change management, procurement and commissioning.
- Experience working in active institutional environments such as universities, colleges, healthcare, municipal or similar facilities is strongly preferred.
- Controls candidates should have working knowledge of BAS/DDC systems, control sequences, field devices, BACnet-based integration and commissioning processes.
- Mechanical candidates should have working knowledge of HVAC, piping/hydronic systems, equipment replacement, shutdowns, tie-ins and construction logistics.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and project documentation. Experience with Procore is preferred; working knowledge of Microsoft Project or comparable scheduling tools is an asset.
- PMP, GSC, C.E.T., P.Eng. or related credentials are considered assets but are not mandatory.
Core Competencies
- Hands-on project and construction coordination
- Planning, scheduling and sequencing
- Controls and/or mechanical technical literacy
- Client and stakeholder communication
- Contractor and consultant management
- Health, safety and quality leadership
- Cost, change and risk awareness
- Clear documentation and action follow-through
- Sound judgment and practical problem-solving
- Collaboration in a multidisciplinary team
Working Conditions
- This is primarily a site-based role at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, with regular movement between campus buildings, mechanical rooms, service areas and active construction zones.
- Occasional early-morning, evening or weekend work may be required to support shutdowns, tie-ins, equipment deliveries, crane lifts, commissioning and other activities that must occur outside normal campus hours.
- A valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation are required.
- Personal protective equipment and compliance with Blackstone, Brock University and legislative health and safety requirements are mandatory.
What Success Looks Like
The successful candidates will bring structure and momentum to assigned work packages, provide reliable on-site coordination, improve the quality and timeliness of project communications, and help the broader Brock project team convert design and planning activities into safe, well-sequenced construction and commissioning results.
