Principal Project Manager

Principal Project Manager

The Principal Project Manager performs highly complex projects in accordance to the SPP34 Series and delegated approval to work on projects through their respective Project Approval Board (PAB). This position is required to perform necessary training as documented in the SPP 34 series. This project manager position has SOX Control requirements for both the employee and the manager. This position is the primary point of contact for each project and assumes the leadership role in managing the project to ensure safety, environmental, quality, budget, and schedule goals are met. The Principal Project Manager will apply professional principles, practices, and techniques; will lead and supervise professionals and large complex technical teams; will set direction and prioritize resources to meet ***'s objectives; is responsible for the overall planning, coordination, monitoring and controlling, quality, implementation, execution, and completion, within cost and schedule, of assigned projects. Resource availability and project objectives will guide and inform decisions. Successful project outcomes are achieved through collaboration, negotiation, and influencing of assigned project teams, as well as internal and external stakeholders, over whom the Principal Project Manager may have no formal authority.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading and managing projects from initial planning phase to closure, including post-project analysis.
• Ensuring projects are consistent with *** project management strategy and policies, and in accordance with Federal, State, and Local regulations.
• Supporting negotiations and implementation of pre-contract agreements prior to the issue and approval of formal contract documents.
• Implementing post-contract settlements with contractors at the end of the project.
• Communicating in a tactful and sensitive manner while interfacing with external customers, news media, attorneys, and elected officials, regarding issues that may be sensitive in nature.
• Fully developing project management plans, including scope, schedule, cost, risk, safety, quality, performance measurements, etc.
• Ensuring projects are managed using required project management software tools.
• Identifying project risk and developing mitigation plans to minimize risk exposure.
• Planning and developing project schedules, including milestones.
• Employing sound cost estimating practices to prepare budget proposals.
• Coordinating with other *** organizations to ensure efficient use of *** resources.
• Ensuring qualified experienced personnel, including contractor personnel, are assigned to the project.
• Securing resources required to achieve project goals.
• Assigning responsibilities and providing direction and support to project team.
• Conducting effective performance evaluations and mentoring those with less experience.
• Working collaboratively with staff to maintain thorough knowledge of project status and ensure communications are precise.
• Tracking and managing project progress, milestones, and deliverables.
• Presenting reports defining project progress, problems, and solutions.
• Assessing project issues, identifying, and implementing solutions to meet project goals.
• Solving technical and non-technical problems throughout the life of the project.
• Proactively managing changes in project scope, identifying potential crises, and developing contingency plans.
• Issuing stop work order when an adverse risk is identified.
• Recommending and seeking approval for budget changes.
• Effectively communicating project expectations to management, end users, and stakeholders.
• Proactively communicating project status, issues, and risks to management.
• Actively directing/managing multi-discipline teams, including internal and external resources.
• Coordinating, monitoring, and controlling work performed by internal and external resources.
• Ensuring project-related documents are complete, current, stored, and archived appropriately.
• Performing other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education – Bachelor's degree in engineering, business management, technical field, or equivalent education, training and/or related work experience. Master's degree preferred, but not required.
• Experience – Requires fifteen years utility project manager experience, or equivalent functional area work experience. Proven experience in resource management, with the ability to provide leadership, manage highly complex projects, diverse teams of managers, and senior professional staff. Requires specialized extensive knowledge of project management techniques, experience to solve complex problems, and practical experience in project scoping and cost estimating. Ability to look beyond existing methodologies and own discipline to define and resolve complex problems.
• Certification/License, etc. — Project Management Institute (PMI) certification as Project Management Professional (PMP) required within 1-year of assignment to the Principal Project Manager position. Demonstrated desire to excel in professional field of study, as demonstrated by Certification/Licensure in professional field of study, e.g., PE, CPA, CFP, etc. (preferred, but not required).
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities — Project management professionals must possess a combination of communication, technical, leadership, strategic, and business management expertise, as well as the ability to learn and keep pace with technology. Personnel assigned to manage projects must have the skills, ability, and experience commensurate with the size and complexity of assigned projects. ***-SPP-34-series governs project management at ***.