Power Program Manager

HDR; Bismarck (ND); On-site; USD 165,200 - 230,725; Full time

Job summary

HDR is seeking a Power Program Manager to lead the planning and execution of programs and projects for our power clients. The role involves leading multidisciplinary teams of technical and non‑technical professionals and serving as a trusted advisor to client leadership.

You will manage scope, contract performance, staffing, schedule, and budget for transmission, distribution, generation, and renewable energy projects, while traveling ~25% of the time and collaborating with HDR staff and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Planning, Sciences, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Program management experience as described with capital values and years of responsibility.
• Strong leadership and cross-location team management.
• Excellent communication; comfortable presenting to client executives.
• Experience with alternative delivery methods (design-build, CM at risk).
• Familiarity with PMIS/CMIS, scheduling, cost control, risk management, dashboards.
• Commitment to an employee-owned culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver power projects across transmission, distribution, generation, and renewables.
• Serve as primary client contact for scope, contracts, program performance, planning, staffing, and related matters.
• Advise clients on technical, regulatory, strategic, delivery, and financial aspects of power programs.
• Direct and manage HDR staff and sub-consultants to meet contract scope and program size.
• Assess staffing needs and secure resources to deliver contracted services.
• Facilitate risk workshops and develop risk management plans.
• Develop and implement program management plans, processes, and tools.
• Monitor scope, schedule, and budget with project controls and adjust as needed.
• Prepare monthly program reports and dashboards for stakeholders.
• Collaborate with business development to identify growth opportunities.
• Support proposals including approach, staffing, fees and schedule.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Delivery management

Team collaboration

Risk management

Public speaking

Employee ownership culture

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field

Master’s degree in Engineering/Construction Management/Business Administration or related field

PE license or PMP certification

Tools

PMIS tools (E-Builder, ProCore, Kahua, Oracle Primavera)

Job description

HDR is seeking a Power Program Manager to lead the planning and execution of programs and projects for our power clients. The role involves leading multidisciplinary teams of technical and non‑technical professionals and serving as a trusted advisor to client leadership.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver transmission & distribution, power generation, and renewable energy projects that achieve strategic outcomes defined by clients.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients regarding scope, contract management, program performance, work planning, staffing, and related matters.
• Advise clients on technical, regulatory, strategic planning, delivery strategies, and financial aspects of power programs.
• Direct and manage the services provided by a program team comprising HDR staff and sub‑consultants—including engineering, project controls, routing and siting, environmental, real estate, strategic communication, and data management—based on program size, complexity, and phase.
• Assess staffing needs and secure resources required to deliver services specified in the contract scope, focusing on contract compliance, team alignment, and performance monitoring.
• Facilitate risk workshops with clients and subcontractors; collaborate with internal risk professionals to develop qualitative and/or quantitative risk management plans.
• Develop and implement program management plans, business processes, and tools to drive efficiencies, accountability, alignment, and transparency.
• Work closely with the project controls team to monitor scope, schedule, and budget performance of the program against pre‑established metrics and adjust as necessary to meet budget and control losses.
• Prepare monthly program reports or dashboards to communicate program health and progress to internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the internal business development team to identify clients with growth prospects.
• Champion program management pursuits and support development of proposals, including project approach, staffing plan, fees and schedule.
• Travel on average 25% of the time.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or closely related field.
• Professional Engineers License and/or PMP Certification.
• Experience implementing PMIS tools such as E‑Builder, ProCore, Kahua, Oracle Primavera, etc.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Planning, Sciences, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Program management experience consistent with one of the following:
  • Minimum three (3) years in a deputy role to a Program Manager for one or more programs, with cumulative capital value of $200 million or more;
  • Minimum five (5) years as a Project Manager or Project Controls Manager for one or more programs, each with capital value of $200 million or more;
  • Minimum ten (10) years as a Project Manager directing multi‑disciplinary teams for at least two (2) projects, each with capital value of $50 million or more.
• Strong leadership skills with experience building cohesive team culture and managing team members across locations.
• Excellent communication skills; comfortable presenting to client executives and in large‑audience public settings.
• Management experience implementing projects or programs using alternative and collaborative delivery methods, including design‑build, progressive design‑build, and construction management at‑risk.
• Familiarity with tools for managing large programs—PMIS, CMIS, scheduling, cost control, document management, risk management, asset management, dashboard analytics, etc.
• Commitment to being an active participant in our employee‑owned culture.

The expected compensation range for this position is $165,200 – $230,725, based on skills, experience, education, and geographical location.

At HDR, we are committed to the principles of employment equity. We are an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants, regardless of criminal histories, arrest and conviction records.