Construction Manager, Substations

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Construction Manager, Substations for our New York City and surrounding area for the duration of the project, estimated at two years. Be involved in projects with our Power Constructors Inc Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.

WSP brings global expertise in power delivery, power generation, and program management—anchored by the acquisition of POWER Engineers, Inc. TRC Companies have now joined WSP, deepening our power practice and expanding our energy advisory and intelligent grid services. We're partnering with clients to shape how energy systems evolve around the world—and we need your help.

This Opportunity

Provides high level technical project leadership, and guidance with managing the administrative, commercial, and technical components of assigned project(s) or portfolio of projects in accordance with WSP’s core values, and the level of project services agreed upon in the contract by WSP and the client(s). Tasks include responsibility for the overall performance of assigned project(s) that are moderate and larger size/complexity and regional in scope, and includes oversight for financial, technical, client satisfaction, quality, safety, and schedule. Ensures that responsibilities throughout the project lifecycle (proposal phase, project startup and planning, project execution, reporting, and project closeout) are adhered to, delivered, and audited with a level of quality that meets or exceeds acceptable corporate standards for safety, execution, profitability, and operational purpose.

Serve as the Owner’s Representative and provide full-time field construction management oversight for large substation construction projects in New York City and New York State. Oversee station facility construction, including safety, quality, environmental compliance, schedule tracking, installed quantity verification, change management, pay application review, owner-furnished material care, custody, and control, stakeholder coordination, and project closeout. This role is responsible for managing the assigned project area to confirm contractor compliance with contract requirements, budgetary goals, schedule commitments, Article VII conditions, and all applicable New York State environmental requirements, and project quality expectations. The Construction Manager will coordinate with owners, contractors, engineers, inspectors, vendors, and other stakeholders to identify and resolve field issues, maintain reliable reporting, and support uninterrupted construction progress. This is a dedicated field position; travel and overtime may be required. The successful candidate will have at least 10 years of proven field experience, strong written communication skills, the ability to complete and review daily and weekly reports, experience with photo documentation, and working knowledge of Word and Excel.

Your Impact

• Support implementation of the Project Management Plan and confirm that field activities are managed in accordance with project procedures, contract requirements, and owner expectations.
• Review, understand, and confirm that project specifications, drawings, standards, and contract requirements are available to contractors and followed in the field.
• Develop, implement, and monitor quality control processes to confirm that work is performed in accordance with Owner’s Engineer specifications, approved drawings, material requirements, and project expectations.
• Provide weekly reports documenting progress against schedule, installed quantities, change management status, safety performance, environmental compliance, quality observations, risks, and required corrective actions.
• Review contractors pay applications, pre-approved field change cost adders, and change orders, and provide recommendations to the owner.
• Monitor contractor means and methods, construction sequencing, logistics, and field execution to confirm conformance with contract documents, approved work plans, and material specifications.
• Ensure the team completes daily reports and executes its responsibilities as required.
• Work with owner and contractor representatives to address delays, adverse weather, or emergencies at construction sites.
• Confirm that site personnel follow established safety processes, OSHA requirements, project safety plans, and site‑specific work controls.
• Lead the project team in maintaining compliance with environmental regulations, permit conditions, OSHA safety regulations, the project quality plan, and other applicable requirements.
• Facilitate the project team’s understanding of contract terms, project procedures, change management requirements, documentation expectations, and owner reporting needs.
• Lead and direct internal project team members, inspectors, and field support personnel assigned to the project.
• Steward the investigation of damage, accidents, or delays at construction sites to ensure proper procedures are carried out.
• Guide contractors and site personnel in following quality construction methods, safe work practices, approved work plans, and schedule delivery requirements.
• Serve as the Owner’s Representative onsite and provide total project management oversight of the work performed.
• Administer contract-related field processes and support negotiation or resolution of revisions, changes, and additions to contractual agreements with contractors. Provide the owner with recommendations on pay applications, change orders, and pre-approved field change cost adders.
• Monitor and document care, custody, and control of owner‑furnished or owner‑provided material.
• Prepare and/or validate submitted pay applications, budget estimates, and progress reports.
• Oversee, manage, and mediate the change management process as necessary. Provide owner recommendations on change order validity, cost, schedule impact, and scope.
• Confirm that required submittals, construction documentation, compliance records, and closeout materials are completed by required deadlines.
• Work with senior contractor site management to plan logical work sequences, coordinate site logistics, resolve interface issues, and maintain schedule progress.
• Oversee and verify that the contractor has obtained and maintains all required permits, licenses, approvals, work authorizations, and access requirements needed for field work to proceed without interruption.
• Confer with supervisory personnel, owners, contractors, engineers, inspectors, and design professionals to resolve work procedures, construction problems, complaints, and field coordination issues.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management or closely related discipline, or demonstrated proven equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in substation construction, operations, engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and field experience.
• Experience managing and directing quality inspectors and construction inspectors while assuring compliance with environmental, safety, and health requirements.
• Ability to develop reporting tools to track contractor progress, installed quantities, schedule status, change items, and field issues.
• Detailed knowledge and a proven record of successful substation construction work, including foundations, structures, bus work, equipment setting, installation, and all aspects of transmission substations and facilities, are strongly preferred.
• Experience with Article VII requirements, New York State environmental permit conditions, and field implementation of permit compliance requirements.
• Report on construction schedules and detailed construction sequence documents to ensure facilities are constructed and operated in accordance with the Owner’s design and specifications.
• Oversee the reporting of installed quantities and the progression of the work.
• Experience tracking and verifying construction progress, change orders, field change items, and as-built documentation.
• Review and respond effectively to project critical issues.
• Assist with system outage planning, line and equipment coordination, work sequencing, and construction interface planning.
• Ability to read and review drawings and identify the required bill of materials.
• Communicate overall project status effectively and maintain productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to resolve construction, coordination, access, logistics, and interface issues.
• Monitors, reports and provide recommendations to the owner on tasks needed to maintain project schedules.
• Coordinate and participate in plan of the day, pre-construction, progress, customer, stakeholder, and coordination meetings. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the potential impact construction activities can have on project schedule, cost, and environmental risks.
• Must have a current and valid driver’s license.
• Proficient in reading, interpreting, and enforcing plans, specifications, standards, and contract documents.
• Proficient in both verbal and written communication, with the ability to communicate effectively with others at all levels of the organization.
• Prepare detailed reports and present construction status, risks, issues, and recommendations to management in an organized, clear, and concise manner.
• Intermediate knowledge of MS Project and Primavera P6.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Transmission substation construction experience.
• Experience and knowledge of concrete, soils, structural steel, construction standards, means, and methods.
• Experience documenting and reporting construction progress.
• Strong people management, leadership, and interpersonal skills.

Physical Requirements Includes, but is not limited to:

• May require shifts of up to 12 hours and work up to seven days per week when project conditions require.
• Ability to work outdoors in extreme weather and urban roadside construction environments for extended shifts.
• Ability to wear required PPE throughout site visits and field assignments.
• Ability to lift at least 30 pounds and walk approximately three or more miles per day over uneven terrain, excavated areas and active construction sites.
• Ability to enter and exit a 3/4-ton pickup truck multiple times daily and safely access authorized work areas, subject to site-specific access controls.

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation:

Expected Salary: $160,00 - $213,200

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of California, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.