Substation Project Manager

Company Overview

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Our employees are the heart of our company. As an employer of choice, our goal is to provide a challenging, progressive and inclusive work environment which fosters personal leadership, career growth and development for every employee. We value passionate individuals who challenge the norm, deliver world-class solutions and bring diverse perspectives. Join our team, and together we will make a difference and change the world.

Job Description

CDM Smith (Industrial Division) is seeking to fill an exciting Substation Project Manager (Substation PM) position in our established and growing business supporting electric utility and substation clients across the United States. The Substation PM will lead multi-discipline engineering teams delivering critical substation programs and projects across the utility and mission-critical markets, including consulting, engineering, design-build, and EPC (engineer, procure, construct) delivery. Experience should include physical substation design and protection and control for brownfield and greenfield substations up to 345 kV, as well as the ability to execute safely, compliantly, and with a strong focus on constructability and operational readiness.

CDM Smith’s Industrial Division serves Utility, Data Center, Power, Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Food & Beverage, Metals & Mining, Manufacturing, and other industrial clients. In this role, the Substation PM will support portfolio-style substation capital programs for investor-owned utilities (IOUs) as well as fast-paced, schedule-driven substation and interconnection projects for data center clients—often with accelerated timelines, parallel workstreams, and highly coordinated stakeholder expectations.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience managing consulting, engineering, design-build, and/or EPC (engineer, procure, construct) substation projects and programs for investor-owned utilities and mission-critical clients. Experience should span all project phases, from site feasibility and front-end planning through detailed design, procurement, engineering services during construction, commissioning, and closeout. This individual will help clients plan and deliver multi-project portfolios and rapid-turn projects by managing scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk; aligning deliverables to client standards and operating requirements; and coordinating internal and external stakeholders to achieve safe, high-quality outcomes.

As an integral member of our dynamic Industrial Team, the Substation Project Manager (Substation PM) will contribute by:

• Managing small to large complex substation engineering projects from early concept development through detailed design and construction support, including breaker and transformer replacements, new bay additions, and protection relay upgrades.

• Leading proposal development by defining scope, schedule, staffing, and cost, partnering with the Sales Leader and marketing team to produce compliant, competitive submissions.

• Directing multi-discipline substation engineering teams (e.g., physical, P&C, civil/structural) and coordinating compliance deliverables to meet quality, schedule, and budget objectives.

• Managing quality, risk, schedule, and change management.

• Serving as a mentor and leader of multi-discipline project teams.

• Performing guidance and review at the project level while assuring discipline and quality standards are adhered to.

• Serving as the main client contact and liaison during project execution to deliver a legendary client experience to grow the account.

• Applying experience and innovation to solve problems of high complexity in area of expertise with support from the engineering team.

For more information about our Project Management roles, tools and culture, please visit this website

Skills & Abilities

Experience working with project management methodology including budget development, project planning, control and assurance methodologies, project management software and finance and accounting concepts and practices. Demonstrates excellent communication skills both verbal and written. Possesses in-depth knowledge of project goals, drivers, strategies, risks and opportunities. Good interpersonal and presentation skills for interacting with team members and clients. Ability to interact with many people and process a large volume of requests as necessary. Excellent personal computer skills including strong knowledge in MS Word and Excel. Demonstrates strong organizational skills to balance and prioritize work.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree.

• 10 years of related experience.

• PMP (PMI), CCM or DBIA certification is required (within 12 months of hire or promotion onto the Approved Project Manager list).

• Domestic and/or international travel may be required. The frequency of travel is contingent on specific duties, responsibilities, and the essential functions of the position, which may vary depending on workload and project demands.

• Equivalent additional directly related experience will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field.

• Design-build and/or EPC project delivery experience, including procurement coordination, construction oversight, and commissioning/turnover support.

• Experience with portfolio-level substation program planning and execution (e.g., multi-site capital programs), including managing and coordinating substation engineering teams (physical, P&C, civil/structural) to deliver consistent, on-time design packages.

• Data center / mission-critical substation experience delivering under accelerated schedules (fast-track design cycles, parallel engineering/procurement, multi-vendor coordination) with a focus on energization readiness, turnover, and schedule certainty.

• Registered Professional Engineer (PE) preferred (discipline aligned to project needs, e.g., electrical or mechanical).

• Additional relevant credentials (e.g., CCM, DBIA) and/or mission-critical commissioning training/certifications are a plus.

Amount of Travel Required

10% or less

EEO Statement

We attract the best people in the industry, supporting their efforts to learn and grow. We strive to create a challenging and progressive work environment. We provide career opportunities that span a variety of disciplines and geographic locations, with projects that our employees plan, design, build and operate as diverse as the needs of our clients. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, childbirth and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression), national origin, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, veteran status, citizenship status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Background Check and Drug Testing Information

CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries (hereafter collectively referred to as “CDM Smith”) reserves the right to require background checks including criminal, employment, education, licensure, etc. as well as credit and motor vehicle when applicable for certain positions. In addition, CDM Smith may conduct drug testing for designated positions. Background checks are conducted after an offer of employment has been made in the United States. The timing of when background checks will be conducted on candidates for positions outside the United States will vary based on country statutory law but in no case, will the background check precede an interview. CDM Smith will conduct interviews of qualified individuals prior to requesting a criminal background check, and no job application submitted prior to such interview shall inquire into an applicant's criminal history. If this position is subject to a background check for any convictions related to its responsibilities and requirements, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history. Criminal history will not automatically disqualify a candidate. In addition, during employment individuals may be required by CDM Smith or a CDM Smith client to successfully complete additional background checks, including motor vehicle record as well as drug testing.

Massachusetts Applicants

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Pay Range Min

USD $126,734.00

Pay Range Max

USD $221,790.00

Additional Pay Range Information

CDM Smith is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. This pay range is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels for the geographic location assigned to the position. In addition to geographic location, a candidate’s salary is determined by several other factors including, but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, relevant work experience, skills, required certifications, and education/training.

Additional Compensation

All bonuses at CDM Smith are discretionary and may or may not apply to this position.

Visa Sponsorship Available

No-We will not support sponsorship in the United States, i.e. H-1B or TN Visas for this position

Agency Disclaimer

All vendors must have a signed CDM Smith Placement Agreement from the CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Manager to receive payment for your placement. Verbal or written commitments from any other member of the CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries staff will not be considered binding terms. All unsolicited resumes sent to CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries and any resume submitted to any employee outside of CDM Smith Talent Acquisition Team will be considered property of CDM Smith. CDM Smith Inc. and its divisions and subsidiaries will not be held liable to pay a placement fee.