Construction Manager (BESS)

About Us Irby Construction Company has been building infrastructure for the power industry for more than 75 years. Our business values and performance-driven mindset guide our actions. Our approach to work starts with safety, puts people first, seeks to innovate, and promises to perform. Irby is proud of its inclusive work environment, family-oriented culture, excellent benefits, and clear pathways for career growth. We strive to provide every employee with clear expectations and opportunities for advancement. What’s more, Irby has long long-valued tenure. In fact, many of our executive leaders started with Irby early in their careers and in the field. When you join our team, you join an established firm, with a culture centered around its people. Teamwork is how we work. There is no other way. Pride is ever-present inside our offices and the bond of brotherhood runs strong among our crews.  Irby Construction is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Quanta Services. That means team Irby gets the benefits of the company culture we’re known for along with the stability and resources of a Fortune 500 organization. (NYSE: PWR).  Build your career at Irby Construction. About this Role The Construction Manager is the primary field authority on a BESS construction project. This position owns all day-to-day construction operations, crew performance, field safety, and site quality from mobilization through commissioning and turnover. The CM executes the Project Manager’s plan in the field across civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, and controls scopes, and is the last line of accountability for how the work is built. The role requires thorough technical knowledge of battery energy storage installation — enclosures, power conversion systems, DC cabling and battery management systems, medium-voltage equipment, thermal management, and fire suppression — together with a strong focus on safety, quality, schedule, cost, and customer satisfaction. What You'll Do Daily Field Operations & Crew Management Own and manage all daily field construction activities across civil, electrical, mechanical, and structural trades. Organize and deploy crews; assign foremen to tasks based on project phase, priority, and skill requirements. Generate and maintain daily manpower plans, crew rotation schedules, and equipment utilization logs. Conduct daily field walks to verify productivity, quality of work, and adherence to the project schedule. Identify and resolve field conflicts, scope gaps, and trade coordination issues in real time. Maintain daily construction logs capturing crew counts, work performed, weather, equipment usage, and incidents. Subcontractor Field Management Direct, supervise, and hold accountable all subcontractor field operations on site. Lead weekly foreman meetings to communicate priorities, resolve issues, and align crews with schedule milestones. Review and verify subcontractor daily reports, manpower logs, and production tracking. Identify subcontractor performance issues early and escalate to the Project Manager with documented field evidence. Confirm subcontractors are working within approved drawings, specifications, and safety plans; stop work on observed non-conformances. Coordinate and sequence trades to eliminate conflicts, ensure material availability, and maintain continuous workflow. Assess the operational effectiveness of contractors and subcontractors and support their coordination across civil, structural, electrical, controls, and commissioning phases. BESS Equipment Installation Own all field installation activities for Battery Energy Storage System components, including: Battery energy storage enclosures (BESS modules and containers) Inverters and Power Conversion Systems (PCS) DC cabling assemblies, battery management systems (BMS), and controls wiring Medium-voltage transformers and associated electrical infrastructure Thermal management systems and fire suppression integration Ensure all BESS installations comply with OEM specifications, project drawings, and NFPA 855. Verify equipment pad elevations, anchor bolt placement, and structural readiness prior to module delivery and setting. Coordinate equipment delivery and rigging logistics for containers, transformers, and switchgear. Maintain strict control over OEM torque specifications, cable termination records, and installation checklists — no deviations without written engineering approval. Commissioning, Startup & Energization Serve as the on-site field lead during all BESS commissioning, startup, and energization activities. Coordinate with OEM vendor representatives and commissioning engineers through Factory Acceptance Testing hold points, Site Acceptance Testing, and initial charge/discharge testing. Coordinate with the utility owner, AHJ, and engineering team on energization and interconnection procedures. Ensure all pre-energization punch list items are closed before commissioning sequences begin. Maintain field commissioning logs, startup checklists, and OEM sign-off documentation. Field Safety — Primary Enforcement Authority Own and enforce the project safety plan in the field as the highest-ranking safety authority on site. Stop work immediately upon observation of imminent danger conditions — no exceptions. Conduct and document daily safety observations, toolbox talks, and pre-task planning reviews. Enforce BESS-specific safety protocols, including thermal runaway prevention and emergency response per NFPA 855, DC arc flash boundary compliance and PPE enforcement, Lockout/Tagout for all BESS, MV, and electrical work, and hazardous materials handling per SDS requirements. Review and approve site-specific safety plans, job hazard analyses, and confined space entry permits. Investigate all near misses, first aid incidents, and recordable injuries; complete incident reports within 24 hours. Chair monthly job safety revie