Project Manager

Veltrus; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 105,000 - 168,000; Full time

Job summary

Veltrus is seeking an experienced project manager for electric utility projects in Chicago. You own a portfolio from intake through energization and closeout, coordinating with the utility, customers, engineering, permitting agencies, and construction partners.

The role emphasizes keeping projects on time and on budget, building schedules, tracking costs, and surfacing delays early. Travel to project sites as needed; a degree in engineering and 5+ years of relevant experience are required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of project management experience in electric utility or contractor setting.
• Strong knowledge of electric distribution and service connections.
• Experience with permits, schedules, and project cost control.
• Excellent written and spoken communication.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel to sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project delivery from intake to energization and closeout.
• Coordinate with engineering, permitting, and construction partners.
• Maintain schedules, budgets, and risk registers with integrated change control.
• Manage client relationships, set expectations, and surface delays early.

Skills

Project management

Electrical distribution knowledge

Permits & cost management

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Who we are

Veltrus manages, designs, and delivers electric utility projects, and builds the platform that runs them. We started as Caliber Engineering Solutions, built by people who learned the work inside the utility. We are a growing company, and the people who join now shape how we work.

The role

You own a portfolio of electric utility projects, from service request through energization and closeout. The work spans new business and service upgrades, capital and reliability programs, EV charging and large load connections, DER interconnection, joint use, and public way work. You are the single point of contact between the utility, its customers, engineering, permitting agencies, and construction partners, and you keep every project moving on time, within scope, and on budget.

What you own

Project delivery

• Run each project through intake, site walk, design, permits, construction, energization, and closeout
• Build and keep the schedule, budget, and risk register, with scope, cost, schedule, and change control run as one system
• Give every open item a named owner and a committed date, and surface delays while there is still time to act
• Lead a weekly cadence with the utility on progress, risks, and decisions

Engineering, permits, and construction

• Coordinate designs, materials, and utility design approvals with our engineering team
• Track city and utility permits and resubmittals through to approval
• Plan construction with partners, including switching requests, outage coordination, site access, customer readiness, and metering
• Keep as builts and project records current in the utility’s systems of record

Client relationships and project controls

• Act as the main contact for the utility, its customers, contractors, and permitting agencies
• Set clear expectations and answer concerns quickly and plainly
• Keep cost loaded baselines and forecasts current, review change orders, and support accurate billing and closeout
• Prepare estimates, proposals, and project documentation

Continuous improvement

• Find better ways to run our projects, and put them into practice
• Work with our platform team to shape the tools you use every day

What you bring

• Degree in electrical, civil, or mechanical engineering, construction management, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of relevant project management experience for an electric utility or utility contractor, including large or high budget programs
• Working knowledge of electric distribution systems, new service connections, and utility construction
• Experience managing permits, schedules, and project costs
• Strong organization and clear written and spoken communication
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel to project sites

Preferred

• Experience with a large investor owned utility in the region
• Experience with EV charging, large load, DER interconnection, or joint use programs
• Primavera P6 or similar scheduling software
• PMP or a similar certification

Compensation

The total compensation range for this role is $105,000 to $168,000 a year, including base salary and an estimated discretionary bonus. Final compensation depends on experience, education, and qualifications.