Assistant Project Manager - Lighting Dept.

Shepherd Electric Company•SES Frederick, MD

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Project Manager keeps projects moving. Behind every project that ships complete and on time is disciplined coordination — submittals tracked, orders released on schedule, documentation current, and stakeholders informed before they have to ask. This role owns that coordination. This is not a passive support role. You are the Project Manager’s partner in execution: chasing submittal approvals, tracking long-lead items, keeping project files accurate, and flagging risks before they become delays. When you do this well, projects stay on schedule, the Project Manager stays focused on the highest-value work, and customers never wonder if Shepherd will come through. You will work closely with Project Managers, outside sales, purchasing, and vendors — and increasingly with customers directly. For someone who takes ownership and learns the business, this is a structured path toward becoming a Project Manager.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent required; associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business, construction management, or a related field a plus
1–3 years of experience in project coordination, order management, inside sales, customer service, or a related role — attitude and reliability matter as much as years
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to track multiple projects and deadlines at once
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams); familiarity with ERP or project management systems a plus, Eclipse experience a plus
Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills
Self-motivated and comfortable working in a fast-moving team environment
Electrical, lighting, or construction supply industry experience a plus
Ability to successfully complete pre-employment screening requirements

Nice To Haves

associate’s or bachelor’s degree in business, construction management, or a related field a plus
familiarity with ERP or project management systems a plus, Eclipse experience a plus
Electrical, lighting, or construction supply industry experience a plus

Responsibilities

Project Coordination & Documentation Support Project Managers across the full project lifecycle — from quote and submittal through procurement, tracking, and delivery
Maintain accurate, organized project files so anyone on the team can pick up where you left off without asking where things are
Enter and update orders, releases, and project records accurately in Eclipse and related systems
Keep project timelines, checklists, and status trackers current so nothing slips between updates
Submittal & Order Tracking Prepare, submit, and track submittal packages, following up with vendors and customers to keep approvals moving on time
Monitor long-lead items and open orders, flagging risks to the Project Manager and sales team before they become schedule problems
Coordinate order releases, phased deliveries, and job site staging with attention to sequencing and site readiness
Verify order details and documentation for accuracy before releases go out — catch errors here, not at the customer site
Customer & Vendor Communication Communicate proactively with customers on status updates, lead time changes, and next steps — before they have to ask
Support vendor and rep coordination on lead times, availability, substitutions, and delivery exceptions, following through until resolved
Represent Shepherd professionally and reliably in every interaction, especially when things do not go as planned
Flag quality, delivery, or documentation issues clearly and promptly so they can be resolved early
Product & Process Learning Build working knowledge of electrical and lighting product lines, project workflows, and Shepherd’s systems
Learn how experienced Project Managers scope, sequence, and execute projects — and apply it to your own work
Take on increasing responsibility and ownership as your product knowledge and judgment grow
Stay current on the manufacturers, processes, and tools relevant to the projects you support
Team Support & Improvement Step up when the team needs coverage and take ownership of assigned tasks without being asked twice
Surface recurring errors, bottlenecks, or friction — and bring them forward with proposed solutions, not just complaints
Contribute to knowledge sharing so what you learn makes the next project easier for the whole team
Support continuous improvement in how Shepherd manages projects across branches and departments