Sr Program Manager - Smart Utility

coreandmain; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Core & Main is seeking a Sr Program Manager to oversee a portfolio of Smart Utility projects, aligning strategy, budgets, and cross-team communication with contractual standards. You will coordinate with internal teams, customers, OEMs and subcontractors to ensure on-time delivery, risk management, and governance across large, strategic programs.

A strong background in public-sector programs, contract negotiations, and stakeholder management is required, with a Bachelor's degree and relevant

Qualifications

• Must be eighteen years of age.
• Must pass pre-employment background check and screening.
• Experience leading large, complex public-sector programs with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience serving municipalities, counties, utilities, or public-sector entities.
• Knowledge of utility infrastructure, AMI, smart utility technologies, or large-scale metering programs.
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, change management, and executive communication skills.
• Ability to establish customer confidence, build credibility with executive stakeholders, and navigate high-visibility programs.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: Connect daily work to company goals and align with contractual requirements.
• Project Coordination: Interface between customers, internal cross-functional teams, and partners.
• Resource and Budget Control: Manage funds and tools across projects and programs.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate project risks and drive issue resolution.
• Administrative Interface: Lead change management and conflict resolution to meet goals.
• Contract Management: Support terms and compliance for large contracts and negotiations.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Change management

Stakeholder management

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

PMP/PE/ CCM certifications preferred

Job description

Based in St. Louis, Core & Main is a leader in advancing reliable infrastructure™ with local service, nationwide®. As a specialty distributor with a focus on water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products and related services, Core & Main provides solutions to municipalities, private water companies and professional contractors across municipal, non-residential and residential end markets, nationwide. With over 370 locations across the U.S., the company provides its customers local expertise backed by a national supply chain. Core & Main's 5,700 associates are committed to helping their communities thrive with safe and reliable infrastructure. Visit coreandmain.com to learn more.

Job Summary

Core & Main is seeking a Sr Program Manager who oversees a group of related projects handling high-level strategy, budgets, and cross-team communication for project delivery meeting contractual standards for large and strategic Smart Utility projects. Insures alignment of specific project interconnected efforts with big-picture goals and long-term business strategy. Role acts as lead CNM Smart Utility contract negotiator for large and strategic contracts, interfacing between internal cross-functional teams, partners, OEM and sub-contractors and customer stakeholders and support teams. Sr Program Manager may have direct reports that are involved as second tier program managers.

Program Management Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: Connect daily work to company goals. Align plans with customer expectations, expected deliverables and contractual requirements. Establish initial Program Governance Plan at launch of project.
• Project Coordination: Interface between external customers (ownership, ownership representation, political stakeholders), internal cross functional teams - Project Management Teams, Sales Teams, OEM representation, and internal/external AR/AP representatives and any partners, sub-contractors or OEM participants involved in project delivery.
• Resource and Budget Control: Manage funds and share tools across projects; develop/source tools needed for successful project delivery.
• Risk Management: Fix big problems and handle overlapping project needs. Serve as a resource for Project Management teams to smooth processes related to customer satisfaction and project success.
• Administrative Interface: Lead in areas of needed conflict resolution and internal/external change management to meet project and company goals.

Contract Management Responsibilities

• Lead Negotiations: Act as the primary spokesperson to secure favorable terms, control costs, and manage risk for CNM and team when providing Smart Utility work. Interface with internal business support teams (legal, financial, regional) to align company goals with project goals.
• Draft and Review Agreements: Write/negotiate clear contract terms, service level agreements, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) while ensuring strict compliance with local, state, and federal laws. Ensure contract terms are acceptable for realization of overall company goals.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with city departments, elected officials, and legal counsel to align their contract goals with company goals and capabilities.
• Administer and Enforce Contracts: Monitor ongoing vendor or labor performance, track critical milestones, and handle dispute resolutions or grievances that are covered by contract terms. Utilize conflict resolution efforts to address any disputes arising from activities that are not explicitly addressed in the contract.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be eighteen years of age
• Must pass pre-employment background check and screening

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success leading large, complex public-sector programs involving multiple stakeholders, subcontractors, consultants, and customer organizations.
• Experience serving as the primary point of contact for municipalities, counties, utilities, or other public-sector entities.
• Knowledge of utility infrastructure, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), smart utility technologies, or large-scale metering programs.
• Water utility experience is strongly preferred; electric or gas utility experience will also be considered.
• Background with a utility, engineering consulting firm, infrastructure contractor, technology provider, or metering manufacturer.
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, change management, and executive communication skills.
• Ability to establish customer confidence, build credibility with executive stakeholders, and successfully navigate high-visibility programs.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Public Administration, Project Management, Utility Management, or a related field.
• Master's degree preferred (MBA, Engineering Management, Public Administration, or related discipline).
• PMP, PgMP, CCM, PE, or other relevant professional certification preferred.

Core & Main is an Equal Employment Opportunity empl