Program Manager PreConstruction

ThinkingAhead; Commerce City (CO); On-site; USD 125,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Life insurance

Short-term and long-term disability

Relocation assistance

Job summary

ThinkingAhead seeks a Program Manager for Pre-Construction EPC Projects in Colorado. Lead portfolio-level pre-construction efforts across substations and transmission infrastructure, coordinating with engineering, estimating, procurement, permitting, and construction teams to ensure on-time, on-budget project development.

The role requires 8+ years in electric utility/EPC, direct substation experience, and strong Primavera P6 skills, with relocation assistance available for qualified candidates.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience within electric utility, power delivery, EPC, engineering, or utility construction.
• 5+ years managing complex infrastructure projects.
• Direct electrical substation construction experience.
• Experience with transmission and distribution line construction.
• Experience working with engineering and pre-construction teams.
• Strong understanding of EPC project delivery.
• Knowledge of substation and transmission-line design and construction practices.
• Ability to manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneously.
• Strong understanding of project budgets, forecasting, schedules, and risk management.
• Experience with project scheduling software such as Primavera P6

Responsibilities

• Lead the pre-construction phase of multiple concurrent EPC projects involving substations and transmission infrastructure.
• Establish program-level schedules, milestones, deliverables, forecasts, and reporting.
• Coordinate conceptual, preliminary, and detailed engineering activities.
• Review engineering deliverables for constructability, scope, budget, and schedule alignment.
• Work closely with estimating and pre-construction teams during project development.
• Identify design risks, scope gaps, constructability concerns, and potential project impacts.
• Coordinate between clients, utilities, engineering teams, construction leadership, procurement, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Support permitting, environmental compliance, land acquisition, easements, and regulatory approvals.
• Assist with project budgets, forecasting, cash-flow planning, contract reviews, and change management.
• Coordinate procurement strategies and identify long-lead electrical equipment.
• Develop and maintain project risk registers and mitigation plans.
• Lead cross-functional project and risk-review meetings.
• Ensure projects are sufficiently developed before transitioning from pre-construction into field execution.
• Support project execution plans, construction strategies, kickoff meetings, and project turnover

Skills

EPC program leadership

Cross-functional coordination

Risk management

Schedule development

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Construction Management/PM

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Program Manager – Pre-Construction EPC Projects | Electric Power

Location: Commerce City, CO
Salary: $125,000–$185,000
Industry: Electric Power / Utility Construction
Employment Type: Full-Time | In-Office

Position Overview

An established electric power contractor is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead the pre-construction efforts for a growing portfolio of EPC projects in Colorado.

This is a newly created position driven by significant growth, including approximately 9–11 upcoming EPC/pre-construction projects. The Program Manager will provide portfolio-level leadership across electrical substation and transmission projects while coordinating closely with project management, engineering, estimating, procurement, permitting, construction, utilities, clients, and other stakeholders.

The Colorado operation currently includes approximately 5–10 Project Managers and 3–4 Senior Project Managers. While this role will provide program-level leadership and coordination across those projects, a formal direct-reporting structure is not currently anticipated.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the pre-construction phase of multiple concurrent EPC projects involving substations and transmission infrastructure

• Establish program-level schedules, milestones, deliverables, forecasts, and reporting

• Coordinate conceptual, preliminary, and detailed engineering activities

• Review engineering deliverables for constructability, scope, budget, and schedule alignment

• Work closely with estimating and pre-construction teams during project development

• Identify design risks, scope gaps, constructability concerns, and potential project impacts

• Coordinate between clients, utilities, engineering teams, construction leadership, procurement, and regulatory stakeholders

• Support permitting, environmental compliance, land acquisition, easements, and regulatory approvals

• Assist with project budgets, forecasting, cash-flow planning, contract reviews, and change management

• Coordinate procurement strategies and identify long-lead electrical equipment

• Develop and maintain project risk registers and mitigation plans

• Lead cross-functional project and risk-review meetings

• Ensure projects are sufficiently developed before transitioning from pre-construction into field execution

• Support project execution plans, construction strategies, kickoff meetings, and project turnover

Required Experience

• 8+ years of experience within electric utility, power delivery, EPC, engineering, or utility construction

• 5+ years managing complex infrastructure projects

• Direct electrical substation construction experience

• Experience with transmission and distribution line construction

• Experience working with engineering and pre-construction teams

• Strong understanding of EPC project delivery

• Knowledge of substation and transmission-line design and construction practices

• Ability to manage multiple large-scale projects simultaneously

• Strong understanding of project budgets, forecasting, schedules, and risk management

• Experience with project scheduling software such as Primavera P6

Substation Experience Is Critical

Candidates must have genuine substation construction experience.

Experience managing solar or renewable projects where a substation was simply one component of the overall project will not, by itself, meet the requirement. The ideal candidate understands how substations are actually constructed and can effectively communicate with engineering and field construction teams.

Experience with projects ranging from approximately 15 kV through 345 kV is highly desirable.

Senior Project Managers, Project Directors, Construction Managers, or Director of Construction-level candidates may be considered if they possess the required electric-power and substation background.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Business, or a related field preferred

• PE, PMP, CCM, or similar professional certification is a plus

Work Environment & Relocation

This is an in-office position based in Commerce City, Colorado. Occasional work-from-home flexibility may be available, but there is no formal hybrid schedule.

Relocation assistance may be available for qualified candidates and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Compensation & Benefits

Base Salary: $125,000–$185,000

Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) with company match

• Paid time off

• Paid holidays

• Life insurance

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage

• Additional employee benefits

This is an opportunity to take program-level ownership of a growing portfolio of high-voltage electric-power infrastructure projects with a contractor continuing to expand its presence in the Colorado market.

Compensation:
$185,000 per year