Project Manager - Cold Storage

Just Construction Recruitment
Chicago, IL

ABOUT THE CLIENT

  • Most Industrial PMs are bored. They’re building "dry" warehouses big, empty boxes with zero technical complexity. My client doesn’t do "dry." They do heavy-process, high-thermal, and automated cold storage.
  • With over 90% repeat business, they don’t spend their time bidding against 20 other firms on low-margin projects. They are the trusted advisors for the biggest food producers and logistics firms in the country. If you want to manage $100M+ projects where your technical expertise actually matters, this is it.


ABOUT THE ROLE

  • The Experience: 7–10+ years in Project Management. You must have a portfolio that includes Cold Storage, Food Processing, or high-tech Industrial projects.
  • The Technical IQ: You understand the pressure differentials of a freezer, the importance of heated floor slabs, and the logistics of NH3 systems.
  • Client-Facing Prowess: You can sit in a C-suite boardroom and explain why a certain insulated panel is worth the extra $200k in long-term energy savings.
  • The "Generalist" Skills: Master of Procore, P6, and the ability to mentor junior APMs into the next generation of specialists.


ABOUT THE CANDIDATE

  • Pre-Construction Strategy: Partnering with clients early to consult on refrigeration options (CO2 vs. Ammonia), slab-on-grade designs, and thermal efficiency.
  • Specialized Procurement: Managing long-lead items unique to cold storage—refrigeration racks, high-speed doors, and specialized IMP systems.
  • Thermal Integrity Oversight: Ensuring the design eliminates all "thermal bridges" and that the vapor barrier is 100% continuous.
  • Financial Leadership: Total P&L responsibility for projects where "getting it right the first time" is the only option. One leak in a cold room can cost millions in ruined product.