Branch Operation Manager - Richmond

Position Summary

Lighting Maintenance Inc. (LMI) is seeking an experienced Branch Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day operations of our Richmond office. This role is responsible for ensuring the branch is properly staffed, organized, equipped, and prepared to safely and efficiently execute roadway lighting, electrical maintenance, transportation, municipal, and related infrastructure work throughout the Richmond market.

The Branch Operations Manager serves as the operational leader for the Richmond location and works closely with field supervisors, project management, executive leadership, Human Resources, Safety, Finance, customers, vendors, and other LMI departments. The ideal candidate combines strong field leadership with business discipline and understands how staffing, scheduling, equipment readiness, documentation, safety, customer service, and cost control directly affect branch performance and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the daily operations of the Richmond branch and maintain accountability for safe, organized, efficient, and responsive field execution.

Coordinate branch staffing, crew assignments, schedules, priorities, and resource needs in partnership with project managers and field leadership.

Ensure crews are properly prepared before mobilization, including labor, materials, equipment, vehicles, traffic-control requirements, documentation, and job information.

Monitor active work, backlog, productivity, overtime, labor utilization, equipment usage, project needs, and branch operating performance.

Partner with project management and executive leadership to address schedule concerns, staffing gaps, cost issues, customer needs, and operational risks before they affect performance.

Provide direct leadership, coaching, accountability, and support to supervisors and field employees assigned to the Richmond branch.

Coordinate with Human Resources on recruiting, onboarding, employee performance, attendance, training, corrective action, succession planning, and workforce development.

Maintain a strong safety culture and partner with Safety leadership to ensure compliance with company policy, work-zone requirements, DOT requirements, customer standards, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Ensure company vehicles, bucket trucks, specialized equipment, tools, and branch resources are maintained, inspected, available, and assigned appropriately.

Coordinate equipment repairs, preventative maintenance, fleet readiness, and replacement needs with the appropriate internal teams.

Oversee material, inventory, tool, and supply needs to support branch operations and reduce avoidable downtime.

Build and maintain strong working relationships with customers, inspectors, engineers, government representatives, vendors, and subcontractors.

Support roadway, street-lighting, maintenance, emergency, and infrastructure operations, including work that may require lane closures, traffic control, after-hours response, or specialized equipment.

Ensure timekeeping, field documentation, work tickets, production records, incident documentation, and other required branch records are accurate and submitted on time.

Monitor branch financial drivers including labor cost, overtime, equipment cost, productivity, revenue support, operating expenses, and profitability; partner with leadership and Finance on corrective action when needed.

Assist with branch budgets, forecasts, staffing plans, equipment planning, and operational goals.

Support the implementation of companywide systems, procedures, training programs, and standardized operating practices within the Richmond branch.

Identify recurring operational problems and implement practical solutions that improve safety, quality, efficiency, communication, and accountability.

Provide regular updates to executive leadership regarding staffing, safety, customer concerns, operational performance, equipment, project risks, and branch priorities.

Take ownership of the Richmond branch and ensure operational commitments are followed through from planning to completion.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum of 5 years of progressive operations, field-management, branch-management, construction-management, or related leadership experience.

Experience in electrical construction, roadway operations, utilities, transportation infrastructure, lighting, public works, or a closely related field.

Demonstrated experience leading field employees, supervisors, and multiple crews or work locations.

Strong understanding of field scheduling, manpower planning, labor productivity, equipment coordination, and day-to-day construction or maintenance operations.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond effectively to changing field conditions, customer needs, staffing issues, and operational demands.

Experience monitoring labor cost, overtime, productivity, equipment utilization, operating expenses, and other business-performance measures.

Strong leadership, communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and follow-through skills.

Ability to hold employees and supervisors accountable while maintaining professional and productive working relationships.

Comfort working with customers, government agencies, inspectors, vendors, subcontractors, and internal leadership.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, email, timekeeping, project-management, and cloud-based business systems.

Valid driver's license and ability to travel to jobsites and other company locations as required.

Preferred Experience

VDOT, roadway, street-lighting, highway-lighting, or transportation-infrastructure operations.

Government, municipal, public-works, or unit-price contracts.

Electrical or lighting maintenance operations.

Traffic-control coordination, lane closures, and work-zone operations.

Bucket trucks, digger derricks, cranes, service vehicles, or other specialized field equipment.

DOT-regulated fleet operations and commercial-vehicle compliance.

Emergency response, on-call, or after-hours field operations.

Branch-level budgeting, forecasting, cost control, or profit-and-loss accountability.

Employee development, supervisor coaching, and performance management.

Process improvement and implementation of standardized operating procedures.

Leadership Expectations

The Branch Operations Manager is expected to be visible, responsive, organized, and accountable. This position requires someone who can move comfortably between the office and the field, understand what crews need to be successful, and make timely decisions that protect safety, customer commitments, employee performance, and company resources.

The successful candidate will be expected to think ahead, communicate clearly, address problems early, hold the team accountable, and create structure within a fast-moving operational environment. Strong branch leadership at LMI means ensuring the right people, equipment, materials, information, and expectations are in place before work begins - not after problems occur.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in both office and field environments.

Frequent visits to active jobsites and branch operational areas are expected.

Position may involve exposure to traffic, construction equipment, outdoor weather conditions, and active work zones.

Occasional early-morning, evening, weekend, emergency, or after-hours availability may be required based on operational needs.

Ability to travel locally and regionally as required to support branch operations.

Benefits

401(k) with company match

Health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Life insurance

Health savings account

Flexible spending account

Employee assistance program

Paid time off

About Lighting Maintenance Inc.

Lighting Maintenance Inc. is a commercial electrical, roadway-lighting, and lighting contractor serving the Mid-Atlantic region. Our work i