Complex Project Lead

Actalent; United States; Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Complex Project Lead to oversee large capital infrastructure projects within a transmission-focused PMO. You will coordinate schedules, risks, and deliverables across utility, construction, and right-of-way initiatives, leading cross-functional teams to ensure on-time, within-scope outcomes.

The role requires strong leadership, communication, and governance experience, with hybrid office/field work in Dallas, TX. Prior PMO and grid modernization exposure is highly valued.

Qualifications

• Experience leading large infrastructure, utility, energy, transmission, or capital project programs.
• Proven project management and construction management skills across multiple initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management, coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Experience managing integrated project schedules and dependencies.
• Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate project risks and issues.
• Experience with executive reporting and governance processes.
• Ability to influence outcomes without direct authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in schedules and docs.
• Background in transmission, substation, utility, or land-related projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex infrastructure projects within a transmission-focused PMO environment.
• Coordinate project execution from initiation through completion, including planning and changes.
• Develop and monitor integrated project schedules with dependencies across workstreams.
• Identify and manage project risks with mitigation strategies.
• Drive deliverables and milestones through stakeholder follow-up and issue resolution.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Planning, Engineering, Construction, Right-of-Way, Land Services, and Operations.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement across utility, transmission, substation, and land activities.
• Influence outcomes and decisions through relationships and alignment.
• Support executive reporting, dashboards, and governance processes for status updates.
• Track performance: schedule adherence, risk status, and deliverables; recommend actions.
• Ensure right-of-way, land acquisition, and easement activities are integrated into plans.
• Align project efforts with broader capital programs and grid modernization goals.
• Facilitate regular project meetings; document decisions and follow-through.
• Maintain organized project docs per PMO standards.

Skills

Infrastructure leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Scheduling & planning

Risk management

Executive reporting

Stakeholder influence

Communication

Documentation & governance

Hybrid field/office work

Job description

Job Title: Complex Project Lead

Job Description

The Complex Project Lead oversees the execution of large capital infrastructure projects within a transmission-focused Project Management Office (PMO). This role coordinates project schedules, stakeholders, risks, and key deliverables across complex utility, construction, and right-of-way initiatives. The position requires strong communication and organizational skills, proven project leadership experience, and the ability to drive outcomes across cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage complex infrastructure projects within a transmission-focused PMO environment, ensuring alignment with program objectives and timelines.
• Coordinate project execution from initiation through completion, including planning, scheduling, tracking progress, and managing changes.
• Develop, maintain, and monitor integrated project schedules, identifying dependencies, critical paths, and potential conflicts across multiple workstreams.
• Identify, assess, and manage project and program risks, implementing mitigation strategies and contingency plans to protect scope, schedule, and quality.
• Drive key project deliverables and ensure milestones are achieved by proactively following up with stakeholders and resolving issues that impact progress.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Planning, Engineering, Construction, Right-of-Way, Land Services, and Operations teams to ensure cohesive project delivery.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement across utility, transmission, substation, right-of-way, and land acquisition activities, maintaining clear and consistent communication.
• Influence project outcomes and decision-making without direct authority by building strong relationships and aligning stakeholders around common goals.
• Support and participate in executive reporting and governance processes, preparing status updates, dashboards, and presentations for leadership.
• Track and report on project performance, including schedule adherence, risk status, and key deliverables, and recommend corrective actions when necessary.
• Ensure right-of-way, land acquisition, and easement-related activities are integrated into project plans and timelines, coordinating with relevant internal and external parties.
• Collaborate closely with PMO leadership to align individual project efforts with broader capital program and grid modernization initiatives.
• Facilitate regular project meetings, document decisions and action items, and follow through to ensure accountability and closure.
• Maintain organized project documentation, including plans, schedules, risk registers, and stakeholder communications, in accordance with PMO standards.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated experience leading large infrastructure, utility, energy, transmission, or capital project programs.
• Proven project management and construction management skills, with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Strong stakeholder management capabilities, including experience coordinating cross-functional teams and diverse project participants.
• Experience managing integrated project schedules, including identification of dependencies and coordination of timelines across multiple workstreams.
• Ability to identify, assess, and manage program and project risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Experience with executive reporting and governance processes, including preparing and delivering project updates to leadership.
• Ability to influence outcomes and drive decisions without direct authority by leveraging communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to convey complex project information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational skills with a high level of attention to detail in managing schedules, documentation, and stakeholder communications.
• Background in transmission, substation, utility, capital projects, right-of-way, land acquisition, or easements.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Transmission project experience preferred, including familiarity with grid modernization and large-scale transmission initiatives.
• Experience in utility construction, infrastructure projects, land services, or right-of-way project management.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification preferred but not required.
• Experience working within a PMO environment and following established project governance frameworks.
• Comfort working in a hybrid office/field setting, including occasional visits to project sites or field locations.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment supporting major utility capital programs.

Work Environment

This role operates in a hybrid office and field environment, with work primarily based in an office setting and occasional travel to project sites or field locations as needed. The Complex Project Lead works within a collaborative PMO structure and partners closely with Planning, Engineering, Construction, Right-of-Way, Land Services, and Operations teams. The environment is fast-paced and driven by utility capital programs and major grid modernization and transmission initiatives. Team members engage in cross-functional coordination, participate in governance and reporting activities, and gain exposure to large-scale transmission projects in a professional, project-focused setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Dallas, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $75.00 - $100.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:Medical, dental & visionCritical Illness, Accident, and Hospital401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions availableLife Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)Short and long-term disabilityHealth Spending Account (HSA)Transportation benefitsEmployee Assistance ProgramTime Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Dallas,TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 16, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.