Preconstruction Manager

RWE Gruppe; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 138,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) match

Flexible Spending Accounts

Parental Leave

Paid time off

Holidays

Job summary

RWE Americas, LLC seeks a Preconstruction Manager to lead and coordinate preconstruction for utility‑scale wind, solar, and storage projects. You will align engineering, permitting, interconnection, and scope development to ensure designs are robust, de‑risked, and contractually ready for construction.

The role demands strong leadership, cross‑functional collaboration, and schedule discipline, with office‑based duties and travel to RWE locations as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Construction related field from an accredited university.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Renewable Energy construction, engineering, and project management.
• PMP certification preferred; strong leadership and communication abilities.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and collaboration tools.

Responsibilities

• Drive preconstruction readiness by coordinating engineering, permitting, procurement, and O&M inputs.
• Direct internal teams and third‑party engineers on geotechnical, civil, HV, PV, and BESS designs.
• Coordinate surveys and site data collection for accurate engineering design.
• Monitor design progress and enforce milestones for bidding and award.
• Lead cost optimization and value engineering across projects.
• Develop civil permitting strategies and manage regulatory timelines.
• Coordinate interconnection plans and schedules with engineering and compliance teams.
• Integrate O&M requirements into project scope and contracts.
• Assemble scopes of work for bidding and close out gaps.
• Enable procurement by delivering complete engineering packages.

Skills

Project management

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk assessment

Planning & scheduling

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Construction related field

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

RWE Americas, LLC

To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Project Management

Remuneration: Exempt

The overall purpose of the Preconstruction Manager is to lead and coordinate all preconstruction activities for utility-scale wind, solar, and storage renewable energy projects—including engineering, permitting, interconnection, and scope development—to ensure projects are fully designed, de-risked, and contractually prepared so construction can begin and proceed efficiently without delays or gaps.

Role Responsibilities

• Drive preconstruction project readiness by coordinating engineering, permitting, procurement, and O&M inputs to ensure projects are fully prepared for construction, requiring complex planning, cross-functional alignment, and risk mitigation
• Manage engineering scope, deliverables, and timelines by directing internal teams and third‑party engineers to produce geotechnical, civil, HV, PV, and BESS designs at required completion levels, ensuring bid and construction readiness through technical oversight and schedule control
• Coordinate survey execution and site data collection by aligning with development teams to deliver topographic and ALTA surveys, enabling accurate engineering design through dependency management and data validation
• Ensure timely completion of construction drawings by monitoring design progress and enforcing milestones (e.g., 60% PV, 100% HV, IFC), enabling efficient bidding and contract award through disciplined schedule management and technical review
• Lead cost optimization and LCOE improvement efforts by facilitating cross‑functional reviews and incorporating lessons learned into design and scope, reducing project cost through analytical evaluation and value engineering
• Support site layout optimization by coordinating timelines and inputs across engineering and development teams, ensuring constructible and cost‑efficient designs that meet stormwater and permitting requirements through trade‑off analysis
• Develop and manage civil permitting strategies by defining required permits, approval processes, and timelines, ensuring regulatory compliance and schedule adherence through detailed planning and stakeholder coordination
• Facilitate acquisition of utility crossing agreements and key permits by working with legal, engineering, and external stakeholders, reducing project risk through proactive issue resolution and negotiation
• Prepare and coordinate interconnection plans and schedules by aligning engineering, transmission, and compliance teams on equipment, testing, and sequencing requirements, ensuring successful grid integration through systems‑level planning and data coordination
• Integrate O&M requirements into project scope and contracts by defining facility specifications, spare parts, and startup needs, ensuring long‑term operability through lifecycle planning and cross‑functional collaboration.
• Assemble and validate scopes of work for bidding by consolidating engineering inputs and leading cross‑functional reviews to eliminate scope gaps, ensuring bid accuracy through critical analysis and structured collaboration.
• Enable procurement and contractor engagement by delivering complete engineering packages and documentation to procurement teams, supporting competitive bidding or negotiations through organized information flow and coordination.De‑risk projects prior to construction mobilization by identifying and resolving technical, regulatory, and logistical risks, ensuring contractors can execute without interruption through systematic problem solving and risk assessment

Job Requirements and Experiences

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Construction related field from an accredited university
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Renewable Energy construction, engineering, and project management. Preferably the individual will have an engineering degree and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships
• Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space
• Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams
• Strong leadership and communication, and ability to meet deadlines
• Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables
• Ability to multi‑task, while working independently and as part of a team
• Motivated self‑starter, goal‑oriented, and strong problem‑solving abilities
• Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
• Responds well to direction, is easy to challenge and develop, and is coachable
• Is detail‑oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts
• This position is an office‑based role with some travel and visits to other RWE Americas offices and field locations
• Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Pay range

The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $ 138,000- $165,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Location

Please note that these roles are currently expected to be in‑office hybrid positions based in Austin, Chicago, or White Plains, as those are the team's primary locations, unless a different location is specified in the job posting. If you currently have a remote exception or are not located in one of these markets, please confirm whether you would be open to relocating should you be considered for the opportunity. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and understand these location expectations.

Benefits offered

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Short‑Term Disability
• Long‑Term Disability
• 401(k) match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• EAP
• Education Assistance
• Parental Leave
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• Eligible employees also participate in short‑term incentives, in addition to salary.

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states.With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects, along with natural gas‑powered generation, that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. This is complemented by RWE’s energy trading business. RWE is also a major offtaker of American liquified natural gas (LNG). Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors - Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.