Precon PM/Sr. PM - Chicago

Taylor Hopkinson; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Taylor Hopkinson is actively seeking a Senior Preconstruction Project Manager to lead the front-end phase of utility-scale renewable energy projects across the U.S., with emphasis on East Coast and Midwest markets. The role focuses on ensuring engineering, permitting, cost estimating, and contracting are aligned for seamless project handover to execution.

The Senior PM will coordinate with Engineering, Development, and Procurement, drive LCOE exercises, and manage schedules to support wind,

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7+ years in utility-scale renewable energy construction, engineering, or project management.
• Experience coordinating permitting, engineering, and contracting.
• PMP preferred.
• Willing to travel 25–50% and visit Chicago offices 3 days/week.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Engineering to ensure geotechnical, civil, HV, PV, and BESS drawings meet bidding milestones.
• Coordinate with Development to complete topographic/ALTA surveys and manage timelines.
• Ensure IFC drawings are ready before BoP contract.
• Run LCOE exercises with cross-functional teams to optimize design.
• Assist with interconnection plans and grid tie requirements.
• Facilitate permitting plans covering civil permits and milestones.
• Coordinate with O&M to capture BoP scope and initial spares.
• Close scope gaps with Engineering and Procurement for BoP bids.
• Coordinate with Procurement for bids and negotiating with contractors.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder communication

Renewable energy infrastructure

Engineering coordination

Construction management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Construction-related field

PMP certification

Job description

Taylor Hopkinson is currently in active pursuit of a Senior Project Manager and a Project Manager ifor the Precon team in Chicago, Illinois with a leading renewable energy company driving the clean energy transition with investments in wind, solar, and battery storage across nearly 30 countries. The Senior Preconstruction Project Manager is responsible for preparing utility-scale PV and BESS projects for construction across the U.S., with a strong focus on projects located on the East Coast and Midwest. The role ensures that engineering, permitting, cost estimating, and contracting processes are fully aligned and ready for seamless transition into execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate with Engineering to ensure geotechnical reports, civil engineering, and HV, PV, and BESS engineering (including fire requirements) are completed in time for bidding at minimum 60% PV and 100% HV drawings for solar/BESS, and IFC drawings for onshore wind projects
• Coordinate with Development to ensure required topographic and ALTA surveys are completed, and manage internal timelines and third-party engineers to produce necessary work
• Ensure engineering drawings are prepared in time to allow sufficient bidding and award periods, with issued-for-construction drawings finalized prior to issuing the BoP contract
• Run LCOE exercises and lessons-learned sessions with Engineering, Development, Construction, and Preconstruction teams to ensure efficient design
• Participate in site layout optimization, providing timelines per the project schedule while Solar Engineering leads coordination with Development, with attention to Storm Water Management requirements
• Prepare a permitting plan with Engineering and Development covering civil work-related permits (DOT driveway, grading, drainage, utility crossing, O&M building), including required permits, application steps, and timelines
• Coordinate with Engineering, Legal, and Development on SWPPP and building permit documentation, and assist with road use agreements and other discretionary permits as needed
• Prepare the interconnection plan with Engineering, Transmission, Global Data Management, and Compliance, covering all tasks, equipment, and testing required for grid interconnection and substation control, and turn over the schedule to Project Execution upon mobilization
• Coordinate with O&M to ensure proper facility specifications, initial spares lists, and setup requirements are captured in the BoP scope of work
• Assemble scopes of work from Engineering teams, review jointly with Project Execution and Engineering to close scope gaps, and turn over to Procurement for inclusion in the BoP bid
• Coordinate with the Procurement Team to ensure necessary engineering, scopes of work, and documentation are available for bidding or contract negotiations with partner contractors

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Construction-related field
• MUST have 5-7+ years of experience within utility scale renewable energy construction, engineering, or project management
• Strong experience with renewable energy infrastructure, project coordination, permitting, engineering management, and stakeholder communication is required, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• PMP certification is preferred.
• Able to go to the Chicago offices in downtown 3 days a week and able to travel between 25%-50%