Sr Program Director - Project Management (Generation)

New York Power Authority; Town of Marcy (NY); On-site; USD 168,000 - 242,000; Full time

Job summary

New York Power Authority is seeking a Sr. Program Director to lead a diverse team delivering safe, high‑quality capital projects that advance NYPA’s mission.

You will oversee planning, scheduling, resource planning, and performance tracking for projects across a major portfolio, aligning with governance standards. Role requires extensive leadership, program management, and engineering insight to inform design decisions and drive outcomes while maintaining strict safety and quality standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a relevant engineering field.
• Advanced degree preferred; professional licensure or MBA valued.
• Minimum 10 years in project/construction management in utilities or related industries.

Responsibilities

• Execute NYPA's strategic vision across capital projects.
• Oversee portfolio programs to meet scope, cost, and schedule objectives.
• Ensure policies and procedures are followed and updated as needed.
• Maintain up-to-date project management baselines for scope, schedule, and cost.
• Identify risks and develop mitigation strategies at program level.
• View portfolio progress and coordinate cross-stakeholder collaboration.
• Develop KPIs and reporting; forecast costs, schedules, and resources.
• Coach and develop staff; manage onboarding and career planning.
• Lead performance reviews, salary discussions and resource balancing.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Risk management

Engineering background

Budgeting

Team building

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or Energy Engineering

Master's degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or Energy Engineering or MBA

PE License preferred / within 2 years

Tools

PM systems

Job description

Summary

The Sr. Program Director leads and energizes project teams to deliver safe, reliable, and high‑quality capital projects that advance NYPA's mission. Oversees project planning and execution across the full lifecycle, including team assignments, scheduling, resource planning, and performance tracking. The Sr. Program Director is accountable for ensuring that all projects meet NYPA's rigorous standards for safety, quality, scope, budget, schedule, and risk management, and that they align with the organization's project governance framework. This role spans both general project/program management, requiring strong business and project acumen, and technical project/program leadership, where foundational engineering knowledge supports informed decision‑making on technical scope, design considerations, and complex engineering challenges. The Sr. Program Director leads NYPA's Generation capital project portfolio and is responsible for driving successful outcomes across multiple large‑scale initiatives. Performance is measured by the consistent delivery of projects on scope, on budget, and on schedule—while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality. #LI-AE1

Responsibilities

• Execute on NYPA's strategic vision.
• Responsible for overseeing the execution of projects located within one or more program portfolios to ensure projects comply with approved scope, cost, and schedule objectives including any licensing, environmental, permitting, safety, compliance, etc. requirements.
• Ensure projects and programs within the portfolio(s) are managed in compliance with appropriate department and company policies and procedures and that new procedures are incorporated as required.
• Ensure NYPA project management system(s) of record are up to date on scope, schedule and cost.
• Responsible for reviewing, advising and providing input on project plans, and identifying, assessing, determining risk mitigation strategies, and escalating at the portfolio, departmental or company level.
• Ensures portfolio progress is being appropriately monitored.
• Manage, facilitate and drive collaboration between all stakeholders and resources (internal and external) in activities related to all phases of projects in assigned portfolios and programs including ideation, feasibility, scoping, planning & design, delivery and closeout.
• Support the development of key performance indicators and reporting to ensure portfolio and/or program objectives are met. Execute assigned portfolio(s) and/or program within approved KPIs.
• Lead the development and review of programmatic forecasts of cost, schedule, resources including updates at regular intervals.
• Coach, mentor, and develop staff, including overseeing new employee onboarding and providing career development planning and opportunities.
• Management of staff including the appropriate communication of regular interpersonal and organizational information as well as performance reviews, salary administration, succession planning and resource balancing.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to assemble and lead a diverse team of administrative, technical, engineering and construction resources to accomplish program objectives.
• Excellent understanding of current project management, project controls, and construction management best practices.
• Ability to interpret organizational and asset management objectives into a scope of work that accomplishes strategic objectives and be able to efficiently adjust plans to meet critical shifts to overall strategy.
• Subject matter expertise in project delivery and overall project lifecycle.
• Broad understanding of engineering & design in area of expertise.
• Broad understanding of project management principles and construction activities.
• Strong project collaboration and effective communication skills.
• Strong leadership ability and technical background to develop staff and maintain a highly skilled workforce.
• Broad knowledge of NYPA's mission, policies and procedures and the interaction and responsibilities of the various NYPA business units.
• Ability to produce clear and concise reports, presentations, and other documentation.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with other leaders internal and external to NYPA.

Education, Experience and Certifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or Energy Engineering or related field.
• Master of Science Degree in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical or Energy Engineering or Master of Business Administration preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in Project / Construction Management, preferably in the utility, commercial or related heavy mechanical/electrical industries preferred.
• New York State Professional Engineer (PE) License or ability to obtain within 2 years preferred (Customer) / required (Utility)

Preferred Qualifications

• Project or Program Management Professional certification or ability to obtain within 2 years.
• Design Build Institute of America certification or ability to obtain within 2 years.
• Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
• Certified Energy Manager (CEM) certification
• Experience in or demonstrated ability to manage diverse and/or complex portfolios across multiple sectors.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in a leadership role, managing teams, direct staff and/or contractors required.
• Coaching/mentoring and performance evaluation experience required.

Physical Requirements

• Approximately 25% travel primarily within NY State.
• Willingness to enter confined spaces and climb/scale power system apparatuses is required.
• Ability to lift 30 to 50 pounds.
• Ability to travel to vendor facilities (worldwide) to support construction activities and to inspect equipment fabrication and commissioning for length of time needed.

The New York Power Authority is committed to providing fair, competitive, and market‑informed compensation. The estimated salary range for this position in the White Plains area is: $194,000 - $242,000 and $168,000- $231,000 for this position in the Upstate regions.

The New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign‑born residents and veterans to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, NYPA/Canals is committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect communities across New York and enthusiastically serve them. We proudly celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race/color, creed/religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, disability, military status, gender/sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy and related conditions, familial/marital status, domestic violence victim status, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest/criminal conviction record or any other category protected by law. NYPA/Canals will also provide reasonable accommodations during the hiring process related to candidates' disabilities, pregnancy‑related conditions, religious observances/practices and/or domestic violence concerns. To request an accommodation, please email [e-mail].