Campus Project Lead

NextGenEnergyJobs; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 190,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Generous PTO

Parental leave

Hybrid office setup

Phone and internet reimbursement

Wellness programs

Legal & pet insurance options

Job summary

NextGenEnergyJobs seeks a Campus Project Lead to steer a 1.2 GW gas turbine campus in Texas from construction through commissioning to commercial operation. You will direct the Owner's Team, drive safety and quality, and manage scope, schedule, and budget while coordinating with EPCs, regulators, and key stakeholders.

The role requires 15+ years in power/infrastructure, proven large-project leadership, and strong negotiation and risk-management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in power generation, energy infrastructure, industrial facilities, data center infrastructure, or large capital projects.
• Demonstrated leadership responsibility for projects exceeding $500 million in capital value.
• Experience managing EPC contractors and large multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong commercial, financial, contract negotiation, and risk management capabilities.
• Experience leading organizations through construction, commissioning, and operational startup.
• Preferred experience in combined-cycle power generation, ERCOT market experience, data center development, large industrial campuses or infrastructure platforms
• Preferred experience in leading owner organizations through major construction and startup programs

Responsibilities

• Lead the successful completion, commissioning, and startup of the 1.2 GW CC gas turbine facility.
• Direct the Owner's Team through construction, commissioning, testing, and commercial operation.
• Maintain accountability for project safety, quality, schedule, budget, and overall project performance.
• Lead executive engagement with EPC contractors, owner's engineers, OEMs, transmission providers, and major suppliers.
• Drive resolution of critical project risks, change orders, contract negotiations, claims management activities, and commercial decisions.
• Establish governance processes, performance metrics, and reporting systems for project execution.
• Lead transition from construction to operations and oversee implementation of operations and maintenance strategies, reliability programs, compliance programs, and outage planning.
• Manage annual operating and capital budgets and support long-term strategic planning activities.
• Oversee commercial agreements related to fuel supply, transmission, operations, maintenance, and major service contracts.
• Maintain relationships with ERCOT, PUCT, FERC, environmental agencies, utilities, local governments, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with all permits, regulatory requirements, and reporting obligations.
• Develop and execute the long-term vision and master plan for the central Texas Campus.
• Evaluate and advance future development opportunities including hyperscale data centers, AI infrastructure, additional gas-fired generation, reciprocating engine facilities, renewable energy projects, battery energy storage systems, transmission infrastructure, water infrastructure, and related industrial developments.
• Lead customer, developer, utility, and strategic partner engagement activities associated with future campus development.
• Oversee coordination of permitting, land use, utility planning, infrastructure expansion, and entitlement activities for future phases of development.
• Build and lead a high-performing on-site management team and establish accountability, performance management, and organizational development processes.
• Lead executive transition and knowledge-transfer activities to ensure continuity of operations and project execution.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related discipline

Job description

The Campus Project Lead will serve as the senior on-site leader responsible for the successful completion, commissioning, and transition to commercial operation of the approximately 1.2 GW combined-cycle gas turbine power plant currently under construction in Lee County, Texas.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the successful completion, commissioning, and startup of the 1.2 GW combined-cycle gas turbine facility.
• Direct the Owner's Team through construction, commissioning, testing, and commercial operation.
• Maintain accountability for project safety, quality, schedule, budget, and overall project performance.
• Lead executive engagement with EPC contractors, owner's engineers, OEMs, transmission providers, and major suppliers.
• Drive resolution of critical project risks, change orders, contract negotiations, claims management activities, and commercial decisions.
• Establish governance processes, performance metrics, and reporting systems for project execution.
• Lead transition from construction to operations and oversee implementation of operations and maintenance strategies, reliability programs, compliance programs, and outage planning.
• Manage annual operating and capital budgets and support long-term strategic planning activities.
• Oversee commercial agreements related to fuel supply, transmission, operations, maintenance, and major service contracts.
• Maintain relationships with ERCOT, PUCT, FERC, environmental agencies, utilities, local governments, and community stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with all permits, regulatory requirements, and reporting obligations.
• Develop and execute the long-term vision and master plan for the central Texas Campus.
• Evaluate and advance future development opportunities including hyperscale data centers, AI infrastructure, additional gas-fired generation, reciprocating engine facilities, renewable energy projects, battery energy storage systems, transmission infrastructure, water infrastructure, and related industrial developments.
• Lead customer, developer, utility, and strategic partner engagement activities associated with future campus development.
• Oversee coordination of permitting, land use, utility planning, infrastructure expansion, and entitlement activities for future phases of development.
• Build and lead a high-performing on-site management team and establish accountability, performance management, and organizational development processes.
• Lead executive transition and knowledge-transfer activities to ensure continuity of operations and project execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related discipline.
• 15+ years of experience in power generation, energy infrastructure, industrial facilities, data center infrastructure, or large capital projects.
• Demonstrated leadership responsibility for projects exceeding $500 million in capital value.
• Experience managing EPC contractors and large multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong commercial, financial, contract negotiation, and risk management capabilities.
• Experience leading organizations through construction, commissioning, and operational startup.
• Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and make decisions in a fast-paced project environment.
• Preferred experience in combined-cycle power generation, ERCOT market experience, data enter development, large industrial campuses or infrastructure platforms
• Preferred experience in leading owner organizations through major construction and startup programs
• Location: On-site, Austin, TX (Elgin, TX) or Portsmouth, OH
• Base Pay - $190,000 - $220,000
• The pay range mentioned above is a guideline. We tailor each offer based on your unique skills, experience, location, and market benchmarks—while ensuring internal parity across our teams. In addition to competitive base pay, total compensation may include a discretionary annual bonus and a market leading comprehensive health and wellness benefits package. Final details will be discussed during the later stages of the hiring process.
• At SB Energy, we invest in our people and their families with benefits designed for flexibility, support, and peace of mind. Full-time employees enjoy:
• 100% Company-Paid Medical, Dental & Vision (for employees and dependents)
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Generous Paid Time Off + 11 Paid Holidays
• 12 Weeks Paid Parental Leave
• Life, AD&D & Long-Term Disability Coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Medical, Dependent Care, Transit & Parking (with company contributions)
• Mental, Physical & Social Wellness Support (with company contributions)
• Flexible Work Arrangements & Hybrid Office Setup Benefits
• Monthly Reimbursement for Phone, Internet & Data
• Optional Legal & Pet Insurance Plans
• Device Purchase Support
• At SB Energy, the success of our projects is driven by a desire to see our projects benefit as many people as possible. We work to serve local communities through volunteering, fundraising, and much more. For example, we’re proud to support access and opportunity in engineering and clean energy through impactful mentorship programs and workforce training. When you join SB Energy, you can become a part of these efforts, collaborating with team members who share a vision of building a better future now!
• To learn more about us, visit www.sbenergy.com .