Senior Substation Project Manager - Remote

WSP; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP is seeking a Substation Project Manager to oversee high voltage and EHV substation projects, manage scope, budgets, schedules, and client relationships across the Power & Energy Management Team. The role supports the South and Southwest region with travel to client sites and periodic face-to-face meetings.

The position emphasizes strong PM discipline, risk management, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field.
• 12 years of post-education experience in a project management role within Power Delivery/Utility.
• Minimum of 5 years leading engineering/construction teams for HV/EHV substations.
• Strong knowledge of PM processes: contract, risk, scheduling (Primavera P6), EVMS, change management, and financial management.

Responsibilities

• Provide PM leadership for HV and EHV substation projects, including budgets, forecasts, margins, and KPIs.
• Engage project stakeholders and report progress to clients and leadership.
• Lead contract reviews, risk mitigation, and Go/No-Go decisions for pursuits.
• Participate in or lead client presentations and negotiations as needed.
• Ensure QA/QC adherence and proper technical reviews across teams.

Skills

Project management

Client relationship management

Leadership

Budgeting & financial management

Risk management

Scheduling

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Office

Project

SharePoint

Job description

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

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing technical, schedules, quality, and financial aspects of Power and Energy Substation projects, managing and developing client relationships, and marketing WSP’s Power Delivery services to existing and new clients, particularly in the South and Southwest Region. This position will be based out of Houston, TX, Austin, TX or Fort Worth, TX with the ability to work remotely from any mutually acceptable location. You must have the ability to travel to a WSP and/or Client office for periodic face to face meetings.

This Opportunity

Provides project management for the development, execution, management, control and monitoring of high voltage and EHV substation projects in support of company, regional, and national business line goals. Ensures responsibilities throughout the project lifecycle (proposal phase, planning and project startup, project execution, reporting, and project closeout) are 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.

As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, WSP now brings world-class expertise in power delivery and project management with the recent acquisition of POWER Engineers, Inc. Our vision is to be the preeminent pure-play global consulting firm for the world’s energy transition. And we need your help.

Your Impact

• Provide PM leadership for small/medium/large scale/more complex high voltage and EHV Substation projects 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.
• 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 at times, lead the contract negotiations and client presentations
• 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.
• Manage and provide performance guidance and leadership to assigned staff.
• 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.
• Lead project kick-off meetings with key stakeholders.
• Coordinate with area/technical managers to address project resource and subcontracting requirements in a timely manner.
• Maintain regular communications with the client including reporting on monthly status, safety incidents, and major issues together with scope and budget impacts.
• 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.
• Complete formal project closeout activities, along with facilitating and documenting a lessons-learned meeting with key project staff.
• Collaborate with professionals from a variety of disciplines to provide “trusted advisor” service and future ready solutions for 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.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Engineering, Construction Management or other related field within the Power & Energy Market.
• 12 years of relevant post education experience in a project management role within the Power Delivery/Utility Industry
• Minimum of 5 years applicable industry experience working and/or providing engineering services for IOUs, IPPs, Co-Ops, Munis, etc.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading engineering and/or construction teams on medium to large electrical utility scale clients for high voltage and/or extra high voltage substation type projects.
• Knowledge and experience with project management processes and tools required, including:
  • Contract Management
  • External and Internal Team Meeting Management
  • Earned Value Management
  • Change Management
  • Risk Management
  • Schedule Management (this includes experience with CPM project schedules such as Primavera P6 or equivalent
  • Financial Management
• Highly proficient understanding of project delivery process within the Power Delivery/Utility industry and strong background and experience in project management.
• Advanced proficiency with analytical and organizational skills, with business acumen to bridge the business and project management.
• Advanced proficiency with critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make assessments and calculations involving the application of project management principles, with a sound understanding of intent, impact, and optimal outcomes.
• Advanced proficiency with interpersonal and communication skills to interact effectively, persuasively, and tactfully with leadership, subcontractors, and employees at all levels of the organization.
• Excellent self-leadership with attention to detail, multi-tasking, and adjusting readily to the changing prioritization of responsibilities in a dynamic work environment.
• Works independently and provides guidance and leadership to mid-level to senior level team or project members, with strict adherence to QA/QC.
• Advanced proficiency with technical writing, office automation, relevant software, MS Office suite products (e.g., Word, Excel, Visio, Project, SharePoint), technology, spreadsheets, and PM tools.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including senior management, subcontractors, consultants, and company-wide staff, including those with whom no formal hierarchical relationship exits.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Strong ability to quickly adapt to change and demonstrate flexibility to a variety of schedules and hours to meet project-specific needs.
• Occasional travel is required and travel frequency will depend on client and project-specific requirements.

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