Sr Project Manager Battery & Solar Storage (Flexible Carolina's East Location Options)

Duke Energy; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance provided

Job summary

Duke Energy is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead utility-scale solar and battery storage projects from approval to full operation. You will own project performance across safety, scope, cost, schedule, and quality, while coordinating a matrix of internal teams and EPC partners to ensure successful delivery.

You will manage risk, budgets, forecasts, and commercial matters, drive stakeholder alignment, and ensure timely execution through commissioning, turnover, and lessons learned for

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 11 years of related work experience in lieu of degree.
• Experience delivering utility-scale solar, battery energy storage, or major infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing EPC, design-build, or similar contracting from owner or contractor perspective.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects from approval through commercial operation and closeout.
• Own overall project performance including safety, scope, cost, schedule, quality, risk, and stakeholder alignment.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage EPC contractor relationships, contractual commitments, safety, quality, schedule, and outcomes.
• Oversee integration, asset readiness, turnover, and long-term asset performance.
• Provide executive reporting on project risks, opportunities, decisions, and recommendations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Decision-making

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Project Management, or a related field

Job description

More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives. Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.

The preferred location for this position is Raleigh, NC but the hiring manager will consider other locations from Greensboro, NC and eastwards.

The Senior Project Manager (SrPM) has single-point accountability for the safe, predictable, and successful delivery of utility-scale solar and battery energy storage (BESS) projects from project approval through commercial operation and project closeout.

Reporting to a General Manager within Duke Energy's Project Management & Construction (PMC) organization, the SrPM serves as the owner's lead representative and is responsible for overall project performance, including safety, quality, scope, schedule, cost, risk management, stakeholder alignment, commissioning, operational readiness, and asset handover.

Projects are primarily executed through Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts and range in value between $100M and $500M.

The SrPM leads a matrixed team of internal subject matter experts, manages the EPC contractor relationship, and integrates all owner responsibilities required for successful project delivery.

This includes coordination with development, engineering, construction, transmission, operations, plant integration, project controls, supply chain, environmental, permitting, stakeholder engagement, and other support organizations to ensure owner-furnished equipment, grid interconnection requirements, operational readiness, and contractual obligations are successfully delivered.

The successful candidate will maintain an owner's mindset, providing effective oversight and governance while ensuring both internal stakeholders and external contractors remain aligned on achieving project objectives.

Build a Smarter Energy Future at Duke Energy Project Management & Construction (PMC) is responsible for building Duke Energy's next generation of power infrastructure and is supporting one of the largest capital investment programs in the company's history.

As Duke Energy works to meet growing customer demand and advance a reliable, affordable, and increasingly cleaner energy future, PMC is actively constructing utility-scale solar generation, battery energy storage facilities, natural gas generation, advanced nuclear, pumped storage hydro, and other emerging energy technologies across the company's service territories.

PMC serves as Duke Energy's owner organization for project execution, bringing together multidisciplinary teams to transform approved investments into operating assets.

Our project leaders are responsible not only for construction delivery, but also for integrating engineering, operations, transmission, supply chain, regulatory, and commercial requirements necessary to safely place assets into service and deliver long-term value for customers.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership

• Lead utility-scale solar and battery energy storage projects from project approval through commercial operation and closeout.
• Own overall project performance, including safety, scope, cost, schedule, quality, risk, and stakeholder alignment.
• Lead multidisciplinary matrixed project teams and drive effective coordination across the organization.

EPC Contractor Management

• Serve as Duke Energy's primary interface with EPC contractor leadership. Establish strong working relationships while holding contractors accountable for contractual commitments, safety performance, quality, schedule, and project outcomes.
• Lead resolution of project issues, recovery plans, claims, and commercial matters.

Project Integration & Asset Readiness

• Coordinate owner scope, owner-furnished equipment, grid interconnection requirements, and operational readiness activities.
• Partner with receiving asset owner organizations, plant integration teams, and operations personnel to ensure successful turnover and long‑term asset performance.
• Manage critical interfaces among EPC contractors, suppliers, transmission organizations, original equipment manufacturers, and internal stakeholders.

Commercial & Risk Management

• Manage project budgets, forecasts, contingencies, change management, and contract compliance.
• Identify and mitigate project risks and ensure timely escalation of significant issues.
• Support resolution of commercial matters, contractor claims, and key business decisions.

Commissioning & Operational Turnover

• Lead commissioning, testing, startup, and commercial operation activities.
• Ensure assets are delivered safely, meet contractual acceptance requirements, and are ready for reliable operation.
• Support project closeout, warranty management, and lessons learned activities.

Executive Communication

• Provide transparent and accurate project reporting to senior leadership.
• Present project risks, opportunities, decisions, and recommendations clearly and effectively.
• Build confidence through proactive communication and issue management.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 7 plus years work related experience OR, In lieu of Bachelors degree(s) AND 7 year(s) related work experience listed above, High School/GED AND 11 year(s) related work experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, Project Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience leading complex capital projects.
• MBA, Master's degree, PMP, PE, AACE, or other relevant professional certification.
• Experience delivering utility-scale solar, battery energy storage, power generation, transmission, industrial, or other major infrastructure projects.
• Experience managing EPC, design-build, or similar contracting arrangements from an owner or contractor perspective.
• Experience managing grid interconnection, commissioning, and operational turnover of utility-scale generation assets.
• Familiarity with utility operations, project controls, commercial management, and contract administration.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and decision-making skills.

Travel Requirements

Regular travel is an essential function of this role. The Senior Project Manager is expected to maintain a visible presence at assigned project sites, contractor offices, equipment manufacturing facilities, and key stakeholder locations throughout the project lifecycle.

Travel will primarily be within the geographic region supported by assigned projects; however, periodic travel outside the region should be expected to support project, supplier, portfolio, or business needs.

The successful candidate must be willing and able to travel as required to effectively lead project execution and maintain strong field engagement.

Mobility Classification – Field #LI-PG1 #LI-Field

The Senior Project Manager may have relationships with individuals in the following organizations ranging from individual contributors to Senior Department/Enterprise Leadership (i.e. individual contributors up to executive management): Community Relations Finance Engineering Environmental, Health and Safety Enterprise Security Global Risk Management and Insurance Human Resources Quality Development Project Controls Construction Management Supply Chain Legal Department Project Management Center of Excellence (PMCoE) Operations Corporate Communications Regulatory and Compliance Stakeholder Engagement Fuels Others Travel Requirements 50+% Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable) Yes Represented/Union Position No Visa Sponsored Position No. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position.

Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.

This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.

Duke Energy values ideas that come from a diverse and inclusive workforce, and we’re dedicated to providing a work environment where all people are valued, respected and able to reach their full potential.

Duke Energy is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including but not limited to lactation, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military status, or protected veteran status. Duke Energy complies with all applicable state, federal and local laws, regulations and ordinances prohibiting discrimination.