When Manager Stephen Kenny's contract was terminated at the beginning of December 2007, Jim was asked to take over as the Caretaker Manager. During that tenure the team drew twice and then won four matches in a row. On 3rd January 2008 he was named the new Manager of Dunfermline Athletic and in December 2009 his contract was extended to June 2011.

He took the team up to the SPL after winning the First Division in 2010-11. Unfortunately with the Pars bottom of the SPL and without a home win all season, the Board decided to terminate his contract on Friday 16th March 2011.

A former pupil of St Patrick's High School in Dumbarton, Jim originally from Westcliff, was a ballboy at Boghead Park when the Sons clinched promotion to the top flight in 1984. He started out in football with Dumbarton United and began his senior career in 1991 in England at Bristol City and while there, he had a three month loan spell with Exeter City . Airdrie signed him in September 1993 and he played there for almost three seasons appearing for the Diamonds in the 1995 Cup Final before he joined Kilmarnock the following March. He was a member of Killie's Scottish Cup winning side in 1997.

Former boss Tommy Burns took Jim to Reading in March 1998 but after Burns left, Jim was less prominent as a first team regular during Alan Pardew's tenure at Elm Park/Madejski Stadium. Reading paid a fee of £440,000, and just a month after joining them he appeared for Scotland alongside the Pars Andy Smith, in a 'B' international against Norway . However, his career at Reading failed to take off, and he was released at the end of his contract in 2001. This led to another return to Scotland with Jim McIntyre signing for Dundee United in July. He made a good start to his United career with five goals from his first nine SPL games. He was proving to be a superb signing but in November 2001 he was sidelined with an injury and didn't return until early January 2002. Although his initial contract was for a two year period, he twice extended his stay at Tannadice.

In March 2004 when he scored his first hat trick at senior level ironically against his old club, Kilmarnock . Jim finished as United's top scorer three seasons in a row as he scored 14 goals during the 2004-05 season.

After his debut match for Dunferrmline fell awkwardly in the next pre season friendly at Cowdenbeath and missed the start of the 2006-07 season. Was influential after recovering from surgery, returning in January and scoring the late penalty that sent Hibs out of the Cup and the Pars into Europe.

Dunfermline appearances - 14, goals 3.
Last goal v Inverness Caley Thistle 12/05/07