Nuclear Project Leader - Large-Scale EPC (Senior)

Sargent & Lundy; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 135,000 - 206,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision

Life & Accident Insurance

Disability Coverage

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

401(k)

Job summary

Sargent & Lundy’s Nuclear Power Group seeks a Project Manager with extensive nuclear leadership experience to guide multi-discipline projects from planning through closeout. You will coordinate with managers, manage client relationships, and own scope, schedule, and budgets while driving safety and quality.

The role emphasizes strong communication, risk management, and team leadership, with travel as needed and a focus on delivering on schedule and within budget for complex nuclear programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited institution, plus relevant nuclear experience.
• 12+ years in the nuclear industry with progressive leadership; at least 5 years managing multiple projects and/or leading teams.
• PMI PMP Certification or the ability to obtain within 1 year of appointment.
• Experience delivering under EPC and general contractor (GC) contract models.
• Proven supervision of project teams and management of clients, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly with stakeholders, vendors, teammates, and business partners; strong client relationship-building.
• Workforce planning experience, including determining staffing plans/levels and interviewing/selection.
• Knowledge of project labor practices and labor planning.
• Hands-on use of project controls (cost, schedule, change, risk) on large projects.
• Understanding of process-based project management and start-up testing.
• Knowledge of quality, safety, and health requirements.
• OSHA 10 or OSHA 30 skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Core skills: project governance, scheduling, cost management, risk/issue tracking, vendor management, process improvement, team leadership, stakeholder communication, and organizational alignment.

Responsibilities

• Lead large, multi-discipline nuclear projects from early planning and design through implementation, commissioning, turnover, and closeout.
• Coordinate with lead managers, discipline leads, and project teams across business units to ensure alignment on technical scope, priorities, and deliverables.
• Manage client relationships and expectations; provide timely progress, risk, and cost updates; lead regular performance and status review meetings.
• Own project scope, schedule (integrated master schedule with phasing and lookaheads), budget/forecasts, and key performance metrics; maintain project baselines and critical path.
• Manage scope changes and change orders, assessing impacts on cost and schedule and integrating approved changes into project plans, schedules, and budgets.
• Develop project-specific project management and commissioning/testing plans with clear acceptance criteria, verification/validation requirements, and turnover deliverables.
• Perform front-end project planning and readiness activities (work sequencing, interfaces, resource planning, outage and operational integration) prior to execution.
• Lead and coach project management and commissioning teams; provide clear direction, prioritization, and constructive feedback to support effective execution.
• Monitor project execution and commissioning performance, including progress, cost, quality, scope, and risk; ensure project documentation is accurate, complete, and compliant.
• Conduct risk assessments throughout the project lifecycle; implement mitigation and contingency plans; lead readiness and go/no-go reviews for key milestones.
• Oversee subcontractor and supplier performance and contract conformance, supporting claims and dispute resolution in coordination with the commercial team.
• Report progress, forecasts, and variances to leadership and the client; drive issue resolution, milestone completion, turnover documentation, and project closeout.
• Conduct post-project reviews to capture lessons learned and systematically improve future nuclear project execution.
• Promote a strong safety and quality culture across all project activities, ensuring adherence to applicable nuclear, regulatory, and organizational standards.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication

Project governance

Scheduling

Cost management

Risk/issue tracking

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

Team leadership

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Sargent & Lundy’s Nuclear Power Group seeks a Project Manager with extensive nuclear leadership experience to guide multi-discipline projects from planning through closeout. You will coordinate with managers, manage client relationships, and own scope, schedule, and budgets while driving safety and quality.

The role emphasizes strong communication, risk management, and team leadership, with travel as needed and a focus on delivering on schedule and within budget for complex nuclear programs.