Director, Commissioning

Overview

Position Overview

Suffolk is seeking a Commissioning Director to lead the expansion of commissioning services across the Southeast United States.

This role provides an opportunity for an experienced commissioning leader to build and lead a regional commissioning practice while delivering commissioning services for complex, high-performance buildings.

The Commissioning Director will work closely with Suffolk’s national commissioning leadership to deliver commissioning services across a portfolio of projects including:

• Life sciences and laboratory facilities
• Healthcare facilities
• Higher education buildings
• Large-scale commercial developments

Unlike traditional commissioning consulting roles, this position integrates commissioning leadership directly into construction delivery and high-performance building implementation, enabling commissioning strategies to influence design, construction, and operational performance.

The role combines technical commissioning leadership, regional practice development, and client engagement.

Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities 1. Regional Commissioning Practice Leadership

• Lead commissioning services across Suffolk’s Eastern Region offices.
• Establish regional commissioning practices aligned with Suffolk’s national commissioning standards.
• Build and grow a regional commissioning team, including commissioning managers and engineers.
• Refine commissioning methodologies and best practices that support complex project delivery.

2. Technical Commissioning Leadership

Serve as the commissioning lead for complex building projects in one of the following capacities:

• Commissioning Manager supporting Suffolk project delivery
• Third-Party Commissioning Authority (CxA)

Responsibilities include

Design Phase Commissioning

• Review Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and Basis of Design (BOD) documentation.
• Conduct design reviews focused on system performance, constructability, and controls integration.
• Provide technical recommendations related to building performance and operational reliability.

Construction Phase Commissioning

• Review submittals, installation documentation, start-up reports, and prefunctional checklists.
• Coordinate commissioning activities with contractors, engineers, and owners.
• Conduct site visits to verify installation readiness and system performance.

Functional Performance Testing

• Lead or witness functional performance testing of building systems, including:
• HVAC systems
• Electrical power distribution systems
• Emergency and standby power systems
• Building automation systems
• Life safety systems
• Renewable energy systems
• Identify deficiencies and support corrective actions to achieve design performance objectives.

3. High-Performance Building Delivery

• Support commissioning strategies for high-performance buildings and decarbonization initiatives.
• Verify building system performance relative to energy-efficiency and operational objectives.
• Provide technical insight into building performance optimization and operational reliability.

4. Client Engagement and Industry Leadership

• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to owners.
• Communicate commissioning strategies, findings, and recommendations to project stakeholders.
• Participate in proposal development and client pursuits for commissioning services.
• Represent Suffolk’s commissioning services in industry forums and professional organizations.

5. Team Leadership and Mentorship

• Manage and mentor commissioning managers and engineers.
• Support the recruiting and onboarding of commissioning professionals.
• Provide technical guidance and professional development opportunities for staff.
• Promote technical excellence and collaboration across project teams.

6. Digital Commissioning and Performance Verification

• Implement digital commissioning workflows.
• Utilize monitoring and data acquisition tools to validate system performance.
• Support the development of data-driven commissioning processes and building performance analytics.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Architectural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline from an ABET-accredited program.

Experience

• Minimum of 12–15 years of experience in building systems commissioning, building engineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading commissioning teams on complex projects.
• Preferred project experience includes:
• Laboratories and life sciences facilities
• Healthcare facilities
• Higher education facilities
• Central utility plants and district energy systems

Professional Certifications Preferred

• Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP)
• Commissioning Authority (CxA) certification
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
• Professional Engineer (PE) license

Technical Expertise

Strong knowledge of commissioning processes and building systems, including:

Mechanical Systems

• Air-handling systems
• Chilled water and heating systems
• Heat pump systems
• Laboratory HVAC systems
• Central utility plants

Electrical Systems

• Power distribution systems
• Emergency power and generator systems
• Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems
• Electrical acceptance testing

Controls

• Building automation systems (BAS)
• Sequence-of-operations verification
• System integration and performance optimization

Commissioning Standards Expertise

Familiarity with commissioning standards and industry best practices, including:

• ASHRAE commissioning standards, including ASHRAE Guideline 0 and ASHRAE Standard 202
• Building Commissioning Association commissioning guidelines
• National Electrical Testing Association electrical testing standards
• National Environmental Balancing Bureau testing, adjusting, and balancing procedures

Professional Competencies

• Strong technical problem-solving skills and expertise in building systems.
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to diverse project stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level.

EEO Statement

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law.

This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment. Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk

Compensation Information

Base Salary for this position is just one component of Suffolk’s total compensation package for employees. Actual salaries may be based on several factors including, but not limited to, a candidate's skill set, experience, education and other qualifications. Suffolk offers a comprehensive benefits package as part of its overall compensation strategy.