HVAC Director of Installation
Cline's Heating and Air
Spokane, WA
JOB SUMMARY:
We're looking for a strong, hands-on HVAC Director of Installation to lead and elevate our install department. This is a leadership role focused on running projects, supporting our installers, and protecting the quality and reputation Cline's has built since 1988.
You will own the full install process, from the moment a job is handed off by sales through equipment and parts ordering, jobsite execution, quality control, and final walkthrough. You'll make sure every installer is set up for success with the right materials, the right plan, and the right support to do the job correctly the first time. You'll be responsible for reducing callbacks, controlling shop cleanliness and organization, and ensuring smooth coordination between sales, the warehouse, and the field.
Beyond running projects, you'll be the leader who develops our install team. You'll own hiring and exiting decisions, build and document the written SOPs and processes our install department runs on, and hold every installer accountable to those standards. You'll coach installers into leaders and build a culture where craftsmanship, accountability, and pride in the work are non-negotiable. The ability to assist with quoting new construction and design-build residential projects is a strong plus.
This role is built for a strong leader, strong communicator, and team player who thrives in a high-performance culture and wants to help build something elite inside a fast-moving, locally owned company.
ABOUT US:
At Cline's Heating and Air, we don't just install HVAC systems. Follow us on social media to see what we are all about! We walk it how we talk it and set the standard for quality, expertise, and customer satisfaction. As Spokane's most reliable HVAC company, we have been serving homeowners, businesses, and contractors since 1988 with a commitment to excellence that goes beyond just getting the job done. We believe in building lasting relationships, not just with our customers, but with our employees and industry partners. Our team is made up of high performers who take pride in their craft, support each other, and never settle for average. We invest in ongoing training, the best tools and technology, and a work culture that values accountability, growth, and teamwork. At Cline's, we offer competitive wages, career advancement opportunities, and a company culture that feels like family. Whether it's a company BBQ, team outings, or simply celebrating wins together, we believe in creating an environment where people love to work.
If you're looking for a company that values excellence, integrity, and the pursuit of being the best, Cline's AC is the place for you.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Project Management & Execution:
- Manage all retrofit and new construction install projects from sales handoff through final walkthrough, ensuring delivery on time, on budget, and to Cline's standards.
- Partner closely with the sales team to ensure clean handoffs by verifying scope, equipment selection, jobsite details, and customer expectations before the job hits the field.
- Ensure all equipment, materials, and parts are ordered, staged, and ready before installers arrive on the jobsite.
- Coordinate all permitting for install projects, including pulling permits, tracking approvals, scheduling inspections, and ensuring every job is properly permitted and inspected before close-out.
- Coordinate daily with installers, suppliers, and subcontractors to keep projects moving and remove roadblocks before they impact the schedule.
- Conduct jobsite visits to verify quality, support installers, solve problems in real time, and confirm work meets our standards.
- Track milestones, job changes, and overall progress with clear communication to sales, ownership, and the customer.
- Identify, document, and manage all change orders to protect margins and eliminate liability.
- Maintain organized project documentation including job folders, schedules, equipment lists, and change orders.
Installer Support & Operations:
- Make sure every installer is set up for success with the right job info, right materials, right tools, right plan, and right support.
- Own the cleanliness, organization, and readiness of the shop. The shop should reflect the standard of work we deliver in the field.
- Manage parts and equipment ordering, inventory, and staging so jobs are never delayed by missing components.
- Build and maintain scalable install processes, SOPs, and checklists that make excellence repeatable.
- Optimize labor efficiency, job costing, and crew utilization to drive profitability without sacrificing quality.
Quality Control & Callback Reduction:
- Hold the line on quality. Every install should reflect Cline's reputation.
- Build and enforce quality control checklists and post-install inspection processes.
- Track, analyze, and drive down callbacks through training, accountability, and root-cause problem solving.
- Identify recurring issues in the field and put systems in place to prevent them from happening again.
Install Department Leadership:
- Lead, coach, and develop the install team by setting performance expectations and holding installers to a high standard.
- Own the full hiring lifecycle for the install department: recruit, interview, hire, and onboard high-performing install talent.
- Make and execute exit decisions when team members are not meeting Cline's standards, performance expectations, or culture fit.
- Create, document, and maintain written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and processes for every part of the install operation.
- Train the team on all SOPs and hold every installer accountable to following written processes. No shortcuts, no exceptions.
- Identify rising talent and develop installers into crew leads and future leaders within the company.
- Create a culture of pride, craftsmanship, and accountability where the team wants to win.
- Represent Cline's with professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to setting the standard in HVAC.
Estimating Support (not required but a plus):
- Assist with quoting and take-offs on new construction and design-build residential projects as needed.
- Provide install perspective during pre-construction to flag scope gaps, jobsite risks, and constructability issues early.
- Collaborate with builders, GCs, and the sales team to ensure quoted scopes match what the field can actually deliver.
Reporting & Accountability:
- Provide consistent reporting on install performance, job status, callback trends, and labor efficiency.
- Take full ownership of install department results, including quality, profitability, team development, and customer experience.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 5+ years of HVAC installation, project management, or install leadership experience.
- Strong knowledge of HVAC systems, mechanical codes, and residential and light commercial installation practices.
- Proven leadership experience with the ability to coach, develop, and hold a team accountable to a high standard.
- Experience hiring, onboarding, and making exit decisions; comfortable having hard conversations when standards aren't being met.
- Track record of creating and documenting SOPs and written processes, then holding a team accountable to them.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to coordinate across sales, the field, suppliers, GCs, and customers.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to run multiple jobs, schedules, and crews at the same time without losing the details.
- Experience managing parts and equipment ordering, inventory, and staging.
- Working knowledge of HVAC permitting, inspections, and local jurisdictional requirements (Spokane County, City of Spokane, Spokane Valley, Kootenai County, etc.).
- Ability to read and interpret blueprints, construction plans, and technical documents.
- Estimating and take-off experience for new construction or design-build residential is a plus.
- High attention to detail with a process-driven mindset and documentation discipline.
- Proficiency in project management and estimating software (e.g., Bluebeam, Microsoft Excel, ServiceTitan, or similar).
- Team player with the maturity to lead, support, and develop others.
- Organized, dependable, solutions-focused, and committed to getting it done right.
- Valid driver's license and clean driving record required.
BENEFITS & CULTURE:
- Competitive $85,000 to $120,000 per year dependent on experience, plus performance bonuses.
- Company-provided vehicle, cell phone, and laptop.
- Dynamic team environment with real opportunities for advancement.
- Paid holidays.
- Paid vacation time.
- Our family of employees participates in weekly workouts, hunting trips, camping trips, BBQs, and other fun activities throughout the year.
- Employee Recognition Program that provides bonuses and/or paid time off when employees deliver exceptional service to the company and our customers.
WHY JOIN US:
- Stability and Growth: As part of our team, you'll have the security of working for an established company with an impeccable reputation that's been leading the charge in the HVAC space since 1988. With a solid foundation and a track record of success, you'll have ample opportunities for growth and advancement.
- Community Impact: At Cline's Air Conditioning, we believe in giving back to the communities that have supported us over the years. By joining our team, you'll be contributing to our mission of creating meaningful jobs and preserving the integrity of our industry in the face of increasing corporate consolidation.
- Training and Development: We understand that staying ahead in the HVAC industry requires continuous learning and skill development. That's why we offer extensive training opportunities to ensure our team members have the knowledge and expertise they need to excel in their roles.
- Family-Owned Values: As a family and veteran owned business, we prioritize the well-being and success of our team members. When you join Cline's Air Conditioning, you're not just an employee, you're part of our family, and we'll do everything we can to support you in your career journey.
OUR MISSION:
Setting the standard in the HVAC industry by delivering unparalleled quality, technology, and customer service excellence.
OUR VISION:
To be the undisputed household name for HVAC excellence in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene.
OUR CORE VALUES:
- Inspirational: Everything we do is bigger than us. We show up to work not just for ourselves but to impact our team, create the best solutions for our customers, and chase our full potential.
- Disciplined: We do what we say we are going to do. No exceptions. We train every day to continue learning and growing.
- Accountable: We hold ourselves and our team accountable because true growth doesn't happen by accident. Extreme accountability leads to extraordinary results.
- Transparent: We have big goals and move quickly. Our team operates with transparency to prioritize the work that gets us closer to those goals.
- Aligned: We hire growth-oriented individuals because our business can't grow if our people aren't growing. We align our business goals with every team member's personal, professional, and financial goals. When our team wins, the company wins.
- GSD: We get sh*t done.