Project Manager I

Duke Energy; Wilmington (NC); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke Energy in the Carolinas East region seeks a Project Manager I to lead Substation Optimization projects. You will coordinate planning, execution, and reporting to ensure scope, schedule, cost, safety, and quality goals are met across multiple teams.

Responsibilities include stakeholder engagement, risk management, and directing project activities from initiation to close. Hybrid work options may be available with periodic travel.

Qualifications

• Associates degree and 2 years related work experience or High School/GED and 5 years related work experience.
• Desire for project management certification (CAPM/PMP) or similar.
• Experience in project planning, risk management and cross-functional coordination.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, oversight, and coordination with internal and external teams.
• Interface with functional leaders to place, develop and resolve conflicts.
• Plan scope, schedule, cost, safety and quality aspects for projects.
• Prepare monthly status reports and ensure effective communication with stakeholders.
• Execute projects within approved scope, cost and schedule.

Skills

Project management

Risk management

Leadership

Communication

Scheduling/Cost controls

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory compliance

Education

Associate degree

High School/GED

CAPM / PMP certification

Bachelor's degree in related field

Job description

Please submit your application by 11:59 PM on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives. Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.

This position will be supporting Substation Optimization projects in the Carolinas East. Substation Optimization enables Duke Energy to build a better energy future for our customers by making smart investments to strengthen the distribution electrical grid.

Project Manager I position has single point accountability or can be under general direction of a Project Director or Senior PM. Project Manager I position is responsible for management, or assisting management, of all phases of project planning and execution to ensure project success factors are met. These include but not limited to scope, schedule, cost, quality, environmental, safety, communications, security, and integration. The position is typically assigned a portfolio of "White" or "Green" ranked projects per the Project Management Center of Excellence Risk-Informed Project Ranking Process. Higher ranked projects with greater risk may also be assigned when accompanied with an Enhanced Support and Oversight Plan (ESOP). The position is accountable for a portfolio of assigned projects with Low to Moderate levels of risk that impact various levels of the Company, Senior Management or External Agencies. Project Manager I may be assigned projects with specific risk-informed requirements based on specific experience and skill sets. Project Manager I serve as unifying agents providing leadership, decision making, management, guidance, coordination, and control of overall projects in accordance with established policies, procedures, systems, and requirements of the Company. Entry to this level is based on experience, knowledge, skills and abilities.

Responsibilities

• Project Manager I provide leadership, oversight, delegation, and coordination with various internal and external organizations providing services to the project (Development, Engineering, Project Controls, Estimating, Construction Management, Supply Chain, Legal, EHS, QA/QC, Operations, Communications, Stakeholder Engagement, Regulatory, Security, Fuels, Transmission, etc.).
• Project Manager I guide matrixed members of the team daily.
• They interface with functional leaders of matrixed team members regarding placement, development and conflict resolution.
• Establish and maintain communications among project/programs stakeholders.
• Structure, lead, or assist in project related meetings to ensure open communication between team members, key stakeholders, and management.
• Prepare, communicate or report monthly project status, kickoff meetings, weekly and monthly required communication.
• Assure Project Plans and appropriate reporting means are developed and communicated.
• Effectively communicate with appropriate management.
• Plan assigned project(s) including scope, schedule, cost, safety, and quality aspects.
• Champion the process of project planning including scope and work definition, estimating, schedule formation, monitoring, cost control measures, procurement/contracting strategies, equipment selection, vendor selection, start-up and commissioning plans, turnover to operations, warranty management, and integration processes as applicable.
• Execute projects according to plans within approved scope, cost and schedule constraints.
• Includes objectives, stakeholders, scope, roles and responsibilities, assumptions and constraints, deliverables, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), schedule, external communication, regulatory strategy, procurement strategy, contractor and supplier strategy, resource plan, budget, lessons learned, risk plan, quality plan, safety plan, environmental plan, security plan, integration plan, data management plan, communications and reporting plan, change management, and project close out.

Required/Basic Qualifications

• Associates degree 2 years related work experience
• In lieu of Associates degrees AND 2 years related work experience listed above, High School/GED AND 5 years related work experience

Desired Qualifications

• Associates degree in Project management or Bachelors degree in Project management, or Bachelors degree in Accounting or Bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance or Bachelors degree in Other Related Degree
• In addition to desired degree, 10 years related work experience
• Certified Associate of Project Management and/or Project Management Professional and/or Utility Technical Certifications or Training - Varies and/or PMP Certification

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Working Knowledge to Proficiency in Project Management, Decision Making, Critical Thinking, and Problem Solving
• Project related work experience
• Risk Management, Project Leadership, Proven Collaborative Team Member
• Gas Utility Experience, Construction Management knowledge
• Working knowledge to proficiency in project related Scheduling/ Cost Controls

Working Conditions

Hybrid Mobility Classification

Specific Requirements

The Project Manager I may have relationships with individuals in the following organizations ranging from individual contributors to Department Leadership (i.e. individual contributors up to executive management): Community Relations Enterprise Security Finance Engineering Environmental, Health and Safety Global Risk Management and Insurance Human Resources Stakeholder Engagement Quality Development Project Controls Construction Management Supply Chain Legal Department Operations Corporate Communications Regulatory and Compliance Fuels Others Sales/Marketing Leadership of external Suppliers/Vendors Project teams of external Suppliers/Vendors Regulatory agencies

Travel Requirements 5-15%

Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)

No Represented/Union Position

No Visa Sponsored Position. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position.

This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.

Diversity & Inclusion Read about our commitment to supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Duke Energy values ideas that come from a diverse and inclusive workforce, and we’re dedicated to providing a work environment where all people are valued, respected and able to reach their full potential.

Duke Energy is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including but not limited to lactation, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military status, or protected veteran status.

Duke Energy complies with all applicable state, federal and local laws, regulations and ordinances prohibiting discrimination.