Senior Project Manager - EPC Power Delivery

WSP; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP seeks a Power Delivery Senior Project Manager to lead engineering projects within the Power & Energy Power Delivery Management Team in the United States. The role covers Substation, Transmission and Distribution Line projects with emphasis on EPC clients, delivering high-quality project outcomes.

The successful candidate will manage day-to-day project leadership, oversee planning, scheduling, cost control, and reporting, while promoting WSP’s culture and practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Engineering, Construction Management or related field.
• PMP certification will be considered; PMP certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for project management across Substation, Transmission and Distribution Line projects in the US.
• Oversee project lifecycle from proposal to closeout, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, and risk management.
• Lead and mentor project management staff to ensure compliance with PM best practices and earned value management.
• Coordinate with area managers and technical leads to address staffing, subcontracting, and specialty support needs.
• Maintain regular client communications with monthly progress reporting and risk/budget updates.

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering, Construction Management or related field

Job description

WSP is seeking a Power Delivery Senior Project Manager for our Power & Energy Power Delivery Management Team.

The Senior Project Manager (SPM) is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the project management team to produce a product consistent with WSP mission statement and our culture. The SPMis expected to lead by example in adhering to WSP's culture and defined project management and business practices and to achieve the goals of the business plan, maintain WSP's high-quality standards, promote internal teamwork and meet the needs of our clients. The position requires a focus on division goals to enhance client connection, maintain uncompromising quality and build a better future together. Building a team atmosphere is critical to the success of our department.

The successful candidate may work from a mutually acceptable location within the United States and will be based out of any WSP local office with the ability to work remotely in a hybrid office arrangement. You must have the ability to travel to a WSP and/or Client office for periodic in-person meetings.

This Opportunity

The SPM provides technical, administrative, and commercial project management leadership and project management oversight for the development, execution, delivery, management, control and monitoring of Substation, Transmission and Distribution Line projects throughout the US in support of company, regional, and national business line goals. This position will focus on managing engineering projects for Engineer, Procure, Construction (EPC) clients. Ensures all responsibilities throughout the full project lifecycle including proposal phase, planning and project startup, project execution, procurement, construction support, schedule, cost control, reporting, and project closeout are executed, adhered to, delivered, and audited with a level of quality that meets or exceeds corporate and client project excellence and delivery standards. Provides innovation, administration, and pragmatic direction to address current and future project management challenges in a rapidly changing and complex business and operations climate. Provide engineering team guidance on providing engineering solutions that not only meet codes and standards but also provide total installed value to the client and ultimate owner/operator of the facility.

Your Impact

• Provide Project Management leadership for all small/medium/large scale/more complex high voltage and EHV projects throughout the US including pursuit and development of opportunities, initiation, planning, execution, controlling, and closing, ensuring support for preparing and overseeing project detailed design, budgets, forecasts, margins and KPIs, monitoring external events and risk contingencies, ensuring satisfactory performance, and managing the contractual obligations to deliver the project or assigned portfolio of assigned project(s) as defined in the contract and client's expectations.
• Supporting the mentoring of all project management staff for compliance with internal process and best practices, as well as earned value management and associated PMBOK standard practices.
• Participate in company-wide training and in-person training events for Division development and growth.
• Develop and foster effective strategies to engage project stakeholders at all levels, maintain effective relationships, and report on project progress.
• Provide guidance with pursuit/initiation activities for projects meeting defined criteria or risk profile; including "Go / No-Go" decisions, contract reviews, risk mitigation strategies, pricing reviews, etc.
• May participate, and many times, lead the contract T&C negotiations, rate schedule development, and client presentations.
• Actively drive and coordinate the completion of appropriate levels of internal risk review required for all projects associated with your reporting staff, adhering to company RDOA requirements and procedures.
• Actively drive the appropriate levels of technical review required for the project, selecting appropriately qualified staff to perform the required reviews, and adherence to the QA/QC plan.
• Provide verbal and/or written inputs to multi-disciplinary project teams and contribute to providing high level strategic advice to clients.
• Ensure updates occur with system and process documentation including: Risk (REF/RMP), Project Management Plan (PMP), Project Quality Plan (QP), Project Safety (PSP), and Communications Plan where applicable.
• Facilitate and lead project kick-off, safety, and execution alignment meetings with key internal and external stakeholders to establish roles, responsibilities, and delivery expectations.
• Coordinate with area managers, technical leads, and resource managers to address staffing, subcontracting, and specialty support needs in a timely manner.
• Maintain regular client communications, including monthly progress reporting, safety performance, major risks/issues, and scope or budget impacts, reinforcing WSP's role as a trusted advisor.
• Participate in and oversee problem project reviews, providing input about root cause issues and potential solutions. Assist with developing project recovery plans.
• Ensure regular project reporting and updates are provided to clients, technical areas, and business unit managers, identifying any emergent issues with scope, risk, and/or budget.
• Monitor and manage accounts receivable (AR), unbilled revenue, cash flow, and invoicing, coordinating with project accounting and finance teams to resolve issues and maintain financial health of projects.
• Complete formal project closeout activities, including financial closeout, documentation archiving, client acceptance, and lessons-learned workshops to support continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with cross-disciplinary professionals to deliver integrated, future-ready power delivery solutions, strengthening WSP's position as a trusted advisor to clients.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP's Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Develop new and existing clients and seek opportunities for Division growth.
• Ensure EPC clients and ultimate owner/operators of the facility expectations are met and/or exceeded.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Engineering, Construction Management or other related field within the Power & Energy Market, or equivalent experience in a technical or engineering firm. Candidates with PMP certification will be considered.