Project Manager

Actalent; Chesterton (IN); Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 83,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) plan

Life Insurance

PTO / Time Off

Job summary

Actalent in Chesterton, IN is seeking a Project Manager – Electrical Utility Construction to lead substation and transmission projects from pre-planning through closeout. The role is hybrid, with office and field work, and requires coordinating with clients, field leadership, and crews to meet safety, quality, and schedule goals.

This contract-to-hire position offers a pay range of $43.27 - $60.10 per hour, with regional travel and a collaborative, safety-focused team environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1+ years PM experience on substation or transmission projects.
• Total 3+ years as a Project Manager, with independent project leadership.
• Direct experience supporting T&S projects and utility contracting.
• Hands-on PM experience in utility construction and budgeting.
• Strong communication and field-visit capabilities.
• Ability to manage scope, budget, and schedule end-to-end.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the single point of management for electrical utility construction projects from pre-planning through total construction administration.
• Coordinate and direct construction activities for substation and transmission projects.
• Develop and refine processes to deliver projects on schedule and within budget.
• Ensure design specifications, budget, and schedule compliance across the project.
• Collaborate with clients, owners, and field crews to meet milestones and safety targets.
• Quote and manage change orders from drawings, RFIs, and customer requests.
• Forecast project profitability and actively manage budgets.
• Communicate with client/owner representatives, subcontractors, and unions to align goals.
• Ensure adequate resources and field support to meet schedule and safety expectations.
• Oversee full lifecycle: scope, budget, and schedule management.
• Provide updates, resolve issues, and maintain stakeholder relationships.
• Travel regionally as needed, including occasional overnights.

Skills

Project management

Substation projects

Transmission projects

Budget management

Communications

Field coordination

Change management

Safety focus

Scheduling

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Tools

PMP (Certification)

Job description

Job Title: Project Manager – Electrical Utility Construction

Job Description

This role leads the coordination and direction of electrical utility construction projects, with a focus on substation and transmission work. The Project Manager serves as the single point of management from pre-planning through project closeout, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with design requirements. The position involves close collaboration with clients, field leadership, and onsite construction crews to achieve project milestones and maintain high standards of quality and safety.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the single point of management for electrical utility construction projects from pre-planning through total construction administration.
• Coordinate and direct construction activities for substation and transmission projects in a project management capacity.
• Participate in the development and refinement of processes, procedures, and systems to deliver projects on schedule and within budget.
• Work closely with the project team to ensure projects are constructed in accordance with design specifications, budget constraints, and schedule requirements.
• Collaborate with clients/owners and onsite construction crews to ensure safety, quality, schedule, and other project milestones are consistently met.
• Quote and manage change orders resulting from drawing changes, RFIs, and customer requests.
• Report on and forecast project profitability while actively managing project budgets.
• Coordinate and communicate with client/owner representatives, subcontractors, and union members to maintain alignment on project goals and expectations.
• Partner with field leadership to ensure projects have adequate resources to maintain budget, meet schedule commitments, and exceed safety expectations.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle, including monitoring and managing scope, budget, and schedule.
• Communicate effectively with contractors, clients, and stakeholders to provide updates, resolve issues, and maintain strong working relationships.
• Travel regionally as needed, including occasional overnight stays, to support field visits and onsite project needs.

Essential Skills

• Minimum 1+ years of experience working in a project management capacity on substation or transmission projects.
• Overall 3+ years of experience as a Project Manager, including experience running projects independently.
• Direct experience supporting transmission and substation (T&S) projects, with at least 1+ years directly supporting T&S.
• Hands-on project management experience in utility construction, including substation and transmission projects.
• Experience with construction, construction management, substation construction, transmission repair, and substation equipment.
• Experience supporting a utility directly on the contracting side (for example, large electric utilities).
• Proven ability to manage the full project lifecycle, including monitoring and managing scope, budget, and schedule.
• Ability to work on site when needed and conduct field visits as required.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to effectively coordinate and manage a project team.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with contractors, clients, and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage project budgets, forecast profitability, and control costs.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills to ensure projects meet safety, quality, and schedule expectations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, construction management, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is a plus.
• Experience working with electric utility clients on distribution, transmission, or substation projects.
• Experience coordinating with union labor and subcontractors on construction projects.
• Ability to contribute to the development and improvement of internal processes, procedures, and systems.
• Comfort working in a collaborative, tight-knit office environment with a strong team-oriented culture.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt to changing project requirements.

Work Environment

This position is based in a centralized office in Downers Grove, IL, convenient to multiple suburban areas and close to a variety of shopping, restaurants, and entertainment options. There is an option to work out of a satellite office in Northwest Indiana, with space currently under review and expected to be near the NW IN area. As a Project Manager, you will conduct field visits during the day in the greater Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana regions. Some field visits may require occasional overnight stays a few times per year, but regular weekly overnight travel is not expected. The office environment is tight knit and fosters a family-like atmosphere, with many team members having long tenures and a strong sense of collaboration and support.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chesterton, IN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $43.27 - $60.10/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Chesterton,IN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 18, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.