Project Manager II

SMUD; Sacramento (CA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

SMUD is seeking a Project Manager II to lead cross-functional initiatives around electrification, grid modernization, and sustainability, driving high-impact projects from planning through execution to deliver reliable, affordable, and future-ready energy solutions for customers.

In this role you will coordinate complex programs across internal teams and external partners, manage schedules and budgets, develop project plans and status reports, and mentor junior staff to sustain SMUD's strategic

Job description

SMUD is committed to leading the way in sustainable energy solutions, innovative grid technology, and exceptional customer service. To advance these priorities, we're seeking a Project Manager II to lead and support cross-functional initiatives critical to our goals around electrification, grid modernization, and sustainability. This role will drive high-impact projects that shape how we serve growing electric demand, integrate emerging distributed energy technologies, and deliver reliable, affordable, and future-ready solutions to our customers.

Key to this role is managing foundational projects primarily focused on Transportation Electrification and Vehicle-Grid-Integration technologies, such as the Flexible Service Connection and Electric School Bus Vehicle-to-Grid projects. These initiatives help us connect customers faster in constrained areas, maximize existing grid assets, and enable cleaner transportation and grid-interactive capabilities. Both projects are pivotal in advancing SMUD's strategic goals of accelerating electrification, modernizing the grid, and supporting sustainability.

As an advanced journey-level project management professional, you'll coordinate complex projects across multiple internal teams and external partners, manage schedules and resources, and ensure strategic initiatives move smoothly from planning through execution. Your leadership will be essential to maintaining momentum on these emerging programs that inform SMUD's future operational models, customer offerings, and grid capabilities.

Purpose

Provides project management and professional skills and services in assigned area including to plan, organize, manage, coordinate, and execute activities related to assigned projects to ensure adequate, reliable, efficient, and cost effective systems and projects for SMUD.

Nature and Scope

Serves as an advanced journey level resource in a relevant professional discipline; works independently on projects of moderate complexity; exercises independent judgment and discretion; may serve in a Lead role and assist in planning, coordinating, prioritizing, monitoring and evaluating the work results in assigned area and in selecting, training, motivating, evaluating and developing lower-level personnel.

This role typically oversees or leads multiple small projects, or at least one large complex project. May manage a smaller portfolios of projects with budgets of up to $5,000,000.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates activities and projects in assigned area; develops necessary project plans, cost estimates, project budgets, work breakdowns and schedules, and project summary descriptions and justifications for department review.
• Coordinates project planning with other staff through meetings and shared written and oral reporting and communications.
• Ensures assigned work activities successfully contribute to the overall completion of assigned projects; plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, guides, reviews, and conducts work activities associated with assigned projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule as outlined in the project plans.
• Reviews the work of project team members; ensures work methods meet SMUD policies and quality standards; provides project guidance to project team; prepares employee performance evaluations, conducts one-on-one feedback sessions, and identifies and implements development actions to improve employee performance and skill base.
• Negotiate, prepare, and manage participation agreements and other contracts with outside contractors as needed; directs contractor activities in accordance with contract requirements.
• Develop and monitor project resources as necessary to complete project tasks ensuring proper and efficient use of SMUD and other participant resources and smooth coordination with external parties.
• Ensures the availability of timely and accurate project status and related information on assigned projects; collects, verifies, organizes, and maintains data; prepares and provides written summaries, reports, and recommendations for SMUD projects; responds verbally or in writing to inquiries on projects from SMUD management, Board of Directors, regulatory bodies, other utilities, public agencies, and other SMUD departments.
• Performs related duties as required.

Required Education

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field directly related to area of assignment or equivalent experience. If no degree, nine (9) years of relevant work experience required.

Required Experience Qualifications

• Five or more (5+) years of progressively responsible relevant project management work experience in one or more of the following technical areas: financial/economic analysis, marketing and customer research, technical and engineering analysis, or planning and business development to include at least one year in a responsible project leadership role.

Knowledge Of

Project management principles and practices; SMUD operations; SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs, and other special agreements; federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations pertinent to area of assignment; cost control, scheduling, and budgeting principles and practices; performance measurement techniques; proposal preparation techniques; contractual mechanisms and common terms and conditions; accounting fundamentals; management reporting; management control system fundamentals; total quality management philosophies, tools and techniques; practices for reviewing work assignments; safety policies, practices, and procedures; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.

Skills To

Manage, plan, and coordinate diverse functions within assigned projects; provide effective reporting to executive management including written and oral communications, presentations, and reports; evaluate and resolve complex technical or management issues within a project; develop funding for projects; maintain adherence to budget and schedule using a matrix organization; negotiate with internal management personnel; identifying multiple solutions and objectively assess advantages and disadvantages of each; provide coaching, motivation, and skills development to assigned staff; set project goals/objectives and define activities that must be performed to accomplish them; utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally/externally.

Desirable Qualifications

• 5 years' experience managing complex, cross-functional projects in the utility, energy, engineering, or government sectors.
• Proven track record leading pilot projects involving grid modernization, electrification, distributed energy resources, electric vehicle infrastructure, or vehicle-grid integration (VGI).
• Experience managing government programs, grants, or public agency collaborations related to energy and transportation projects.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating stakeholder relationships across diverse internal teams and external partners.
• Hands-on expertise with vehicle-grid integration (VGI), flexible service connection programs, or electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure projects.
• Strong ability to develop and manage project budgets and schedules with documented success maintaining adherence to targets.
• Experience preparing and negotiating contracts and participation agreements with external vendors, contractors, public agencies, or government entities.
• Ability to analyze and resolve complex technical, operational, and programmatic issues.

Required Licenses/Certificates

Incumbent must obtain a Project Management Institute PMP Certification - within 12 months of appointment to this classification

Acceptable alternative education or certification include:

• Engineering Degree, and requisite experience
• Construction Mgmt Degree, and requisite experience
• Professional Engineer Certification, and requisite experience
• Construction Mgmt Certification, and requisite experience

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Hybrid Work

This position may be eligible for SMUD's hybrid (office/home) work employee benefit, the schedule of which will be determined by the successful candidate and the Hiring Manager. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to hybrid work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD’s business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.