Senior Program / Project Manager

Senior Program / Project Manager

Houston, Texas 77056

Type: Contract to hire with possibility of conversion to a permanent full‑time position after 520 hours worked.

Compensation: $90 - $100/hr. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Work Model: Hybrid (70-80% in-person coordination).

Hours: Mon-Fri (hours TBD but approx. 7:30am-4:30pm).

As soon as possible

US Citizenship required

Weekly pay

Benefits after 30 days: health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, etc.

401k after 30 days.

Job offer will be contingent on drug screen and background check.

Overview

System One is seeking a Senior Program/Project Manager to support delivery of Owner’s Engineer services for a major utility transmission and substation capital portfolio. This is a senior leadership role requiring deep experience in owner-side program/project delivery, EPC oversight, and utility infrastructure execution across large, complex capital programs. The successful candidate will serve in an Owner’s Engineer capacity, operating as an extension of the client’s office to support project leadership, coordination, oversight, and decision‑making across multiple concurrent projects. This role requires a leader who can bring structure, clarity, and momentum across engineering, project controls, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout activities while maintaining close alignment with client goals, standards, and governance processes.

This is not a conventional project management role. The position requires strong executive presence, sound judgment, proactive leadership, and the ability to identify risks and opportunities early, communicate clearly, drive alignment, and add value beyond baseline scope. The ideal candidate is collaborative, highly responsive, solutions‑oriented, and comfortable leading in a fast‑paced environment with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior owner-side program/project management lead supporting a portfolio of transmission and substation projects delivered under an EPC model.
• Act as an extension of the client’s office, coordinating with internal stakeholders, EPC contractors, consultants, and support teams to align project objectives, priorities, and execution activities.
• Lead project readiness, stage‑gate coordination, action tracking, and decision‑support activities to help ensure projects advance with complete, accurate, and timely information.
• Provide owner-side technical oversight of the client’s multidiscipline team and independent oversight of EPC contractor engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities to ensure deliverables and execution are aligned with project requirements, company standards, and quality expectations.
• Oversee EPC contractor performance across scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, and contract compliance, and work with project teams to identify risks, gaps, and corrective actions early.
• Support review of cost, schedule, risk, change, and open‑book pricing information to inform owner‑side decisions and improve project execution outcomes.
• Lead communication, coordination, and issue resolution across engineering, project controls, procurement, construction, and client leadership teams.
• Support construction readiness, commissioning readiness, turnover, and closeout activities, including documentation, punch list, and handover coordination.
• Provide leadership in client meetings, executive briefings, and working sessions, and mentor supporting team members across project management, technical, controls, and field functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or related field.
• 15+ years of relevant experience in utility infrastructure, major capital project delivery, or program management.
• Demonstrated experience in Owner’s Engineer, owner advisor, utility owner-side, or EPC oversight roles.
• Demonstrated experience supporting large, complex transmission and substation projects.
• Experience with mega projects or major capital programs involving multiple stakeholders, complex interfaces, and high levels of coordination.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidiscipline technical teams and provide effective owner‑side oversight of EPC contractor engineering and technical deliverables for transmission and substation projects.
• Strong experience overseeing or integrating project scope and execution planning; cost and schedule performance; project controls, risk, and change management; engineering and design coordination; procurement and construction interfaces; commissioning, turnover, and closeout.
• Strong leadership, collaboration, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to work with initiative, operate independently, solve problems proactively, and bring forward recommendations that improve outcomes.
• Ability to function effectively in a client‑facing environment requiring diplomacy, responsiveness, accountability, and sound judgment.

System One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, family care or medical leave status, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.