DER Integration Project Manager I, II, or III

Xcel Energy Services Inc; Saint Paul (MN); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 159,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Incentive Program

Medical/Pharmacy Plan

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Dependent Care FSA

Health Savings Account

Transit programs

Pension

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Holidays

Volunteer Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Job summary

Xcel Energy is hiring a Project Manager at multiple levels to strengthen DER interconnection work by overseeing consultants, budgets, schedules, risks, and stakeholder communications. The role emphasizes leadership without replacing detailed engineering authority and aims to improve regulatory compliance, oversight, and delivery efficiency.

The position supports a hybrid work model with on-site collaboration typical three days a week and offers opportunities across a growing portfolio of

Qualifications

• 5+ years in operations, technology, finance, or similar function.
• BS in Engineering, Construction, Business, IT, or related field or equivalent.
• 3–5 years in project management and process improvement; PM training preferred.
• Proven ability to lead and influence others.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills; excellent written and verbal communication.
• Understanding of core business processes and industry trends.
• Knowledge of project planning and business need justification processes.
• Ability to adapt to change in a diverse, cross-functional team.
• Vendor/contract management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Project Planning: identify options, develop business cases, and secure required approvals.
• Lead requirements gathering and planning with key stakeholders.
• Develop solution designs that define scope, align with strategies, and identify dependencies.
• Define deliverables, success metrics and milestones; develop work plans and budgets.
• Project Management: ensure delivery of benefits and metrics in a dynamic environment.
• Independently manage detailed project plans to approved scope/schedule; provide cross-functional tracking.
• Establish regular status reporting to monitor progress and risks.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Financial Management: budgeting, forecasting, and actuals; RFP/contract processes.
• Resource Management: forecast, schedule, and manage internal/external resources; oversee contracts.
• Provide training and coaching to less experienced team members.
• Scope & Risk Management: manage change and mitigate risks; plan contingencies.
• Relationship Management: communicate status up to senior leadership and foster collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Vendor/contract management

Education

BS in Engineering, Construction, Business, IT or related field

Job description

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) is a leading energy provider and Fortune 500 company, dedicated to serving millions of electricity and natural gas customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas.

We make energy work better for our customers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar - delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient, and sustainable energy.

Xcel Energy is a place where you’ll have opportunities to grow, expand your skills, and help lead the clean energy transition. We offer meaningful rewards, recognition, and support to help you build your career and make an impact - both on the job and beyond. Most importantly, it means you’ll be joining a company that knows employees are the driving force behind its success and is committed to helping you be your best.

Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

This position is posted as a hierarchy at the Project Manager I, II or III level.

Successful candidate(s) will be hired at the level that is commensurate with their skills and experience.

Position Summary

The Project Manager will strengthen delivery of DER interconnection work by managing consultant contracts, costs, capacity, throughput, and performance; coordinating internal and external study activities; maintaining visibility into active projects and risks; supporting regulatory and legal activities; and ensuring stakeholders have clear decisions, owners, deadlines, and follow-up actions.

The role will not replace detailed engineering authority, but it will provide the technical project leadership needed to keep work moving, identify barriers early, and ensure appropriate engineering or management escalation.

Approval of this requisition will support improved regulatory compliance, stronger consultant oversight, better schedule and cost discipline, more consistent stakeholder communication, and increased engineering capacity for core technical work.

The position is justified as a critical enabling role to support the expanding DER interconnection portfolio, maintain accountability across multiple organizations, and improve the team’s ability to deliver required studies and project outcomes efficiently and reliably.

Standard Operations Position. Provide end-to-end project management, leadership and coordination for multiple, large complex projects or a transformational project work stream with responsibility for project initiation, approval, scope, schedule, cost, resource planning, and risk management.

Manage alignment of financial, compliance, safety, customer and operational goals between/among projects and the BU or corporation.

Lead the project team to achieve all critical financial, timing, operational, and change management metrics.

Ensure effective sourcing, management and engagement of all resources.

Essential Responsibilities

• Project Planning: Identify quality project options, develop business cases, and secure required approvals.
• Lead requirements gathering and planning process while engaging all key stakeholders.
• Develop solution designs that define appropriate project scope, align with corporate strategies, ensure coordination with key initiatives, and assure dependencies are identified/addressed.
• Define deliverables, success metrics and key milestone schedules. Develop work plans, budgets, and cost/benefit analysis.
• Project Management: Ensure successful delivery of committed project benefits and operational metrics in a dynamic/complex environment.
• Independently manage detailed project plans to approved scope/schedule and provide cross-functional tracking as needed. Define and manage a regular status reporting process to monitor progress and resolve risks to goal.
• Continuously identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Financial Management: Function as project controller. Manage project financials including budgeting, forecasting, and actuals tracking. Facilitate RFP and contract management processes. Review actuals versus planned budget throughout project life cycle to identify variances and recommend corrective action.
• Resource Management: Forecast, schedule, and manage resources, both internal and external. Manage assigned contracts and associated payments/performance requirements. Develop and adapt a comprehensive resource plan for a matrixed team of diverse talent to maximize skills and minimize cost.
• Provide training and coaching to less experienced project team members.
• Scope & Risk Management: Manage scope change process for large transformational project or best practices for business area in addition to own projects. Identify risks and issues throughout the project and create mitigation strategies/contingency plans.
• Relationship Management: Communicate project status to all levels of the organization. Establish effective, collaborative working relationships up to senior leader level to maximize project efficiency, responsiveness and resource allocation.

Project Manager I Minimum Requirements (Salary Range: $84,900 to $120,567)

• Minimum 5 years work experience in operations, technology, finance, or comparable function; utility experience preferred
• BS Engineering, Construction, Business, Information Technology or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3 -5 years' experience in project management and process improvement; some formal project management training preferred
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence others
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills; excellent written/verbal communications skills required
• Understanding of core business processes/ industry trends with ability to understand/apply ongoing changes
• Knowledge of project planning and business need justification process and methodology
• Ability to adapt to change quickly and work within a diverse, cross-functional team environment
• Vendor/contract management experience preferred

Project Manager II Minimum Requirements (Salary Range: $97,600 to $138,600)

• Minimum 8 years work experience in operations, technology, finance, or comparable function; utility experience preferred
• BS Engineering, Construction, Business, Information Technology or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5-7 years' experience in project management and process improvement; some formal project management training preferred
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence others, informal leadership experience and training skills preferred
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills; excellent written/verbal communications skills required
• Understanding of core business processes/ industry trends with ability to interpret/apply ongoing changes
• Knowledge of project planning and business need justification process and methodology
• Ability to adapt to change quickly and work within a diverse, cross-functional team environment
• Vendor/contract management experience preferred

Project Manager III Minimum Requirements (Salary Range: $112,200 to $159,400)

• Minimum 10 years work experience in operations, technology, finance, or comparable function; utility experience preferred
• BS Engineering, Construction, Business, Information Technology or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 10 years' experience in project management and process improvement; project management certification preferred
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate, train, lead and influence others, and adapt to change quickly
• Experience with providing work direction to diverse/distributed work teams
• Understanding of core business processes/industry trends with ability to interpret/apply ongoing changes
• Knowledge of project planning and business need justification process and methodology
• Vendor/contract management experience preferred
• Preferred DER experience
• Experience with renewables
• Utility experience

Our culture is grounded in shared values and employee commitments that guide how we work, support one another, and grow together. Our Values Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe Our Employee Commitments Work that makes a difference A team you can count of Opportunities to grow Rewards that help you thrive Xcel Energy provides job applicants reasonable accommodations for disabilities throughout the application process.

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $84,900.00 to $159,400.00 per year

Benefits

• Annual Incentive Program
• Medical/Pharmacy Plan
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
• Transportation Reimbursement Account
• Short-term disability (STD)
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit programs
• Employee recognition program
• Pension
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
• Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

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You. Us. Together. At Xcel Energy, we’re more than an energy company. We’re reinventing how we power communities. Redefining how we care for customers. Reaffirming our commitment to the planet. We’re committed to leading with equity and inclusion. You’re not waiting for change – you’re creating it. You’re driven to protect the environment, support your community, and seek innovation. You want a career that grows with you and an employer who values you. You are reliable, trustworthy and bring integrity to everything you do. We are leading the way in clean energy. We’re using technology and innovation in every facet of our company. We’re providing safe, stable jobs with robust benefits. We keep our customers at the center of all we do. We’re committed to hiring a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can provide carbon-free electricity by 2050. Together, we can take care of the environment and our communities. Together, we can create a place where everyone belongs. Together we’re building a better tomorrow.