Owner Construction Manager- New Power Generation

NiSource•Valparaiso, IN

2d•$133,400 - $200,100

About The Position

The Owner Construction Manager (OCM) serves as the owner's on-site representative and leads the planning, execution, monitoring, and delivery of power generation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, and related infrastructure projects. The OCM protects the owner's interests by directing contractors, consultants, engineering firms, suppliers, and internal partners; aligning engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and operations; and ensuring work is completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with contracts, approved designs, permits, regulatory and environmental requirements, and quality standards. The role provides project governance, resolves field issues, manages cost, schedule, risk, and change, communicates project status to leadership and stakeholders, and supports operational readiness, turnover, and final closeout. As a public utility providing essential services 24/7, NiSource may require employees to support emergency response efforts, including outside normal hours or tasks outside typical responsibilities. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must not require employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline.
10 or more years of experience in utility, power generation, transmission, substation, renewable energy, industrial construction, or related infrastructure.
5 or more years managing large capital projects.
Experience with EPC, EPCM, or multiple-prime contracting strategies and utility-scale generation, transmission, substations, renewable energy, battery storage, or major infrastructure projects.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Experience with projects valued at $50 million or more.
PMP, CCM, PE, OSHA 30-Hour, or relevant utility/power industry certification.

Responsibilities

Serve as the owner's primary field representative, provide direction and ownership, escalate and resolve issues, document decisions, and coordinate contractor and project-team activities with approved project objectives.
Maintain a consistent field presence, identify and escalate hazards, keep safety records current, close assigned corrective actions, participate in required safety activities, and ensure contractors follow applicable safety requirements.
Oversee construction from mobilization through completion in accordance with approved requirements; address field conflicts, ensure inspections and testing are completed and documented, and track punch-list items through closure.
Maintain accurate, current schedule information; identify milestone risks early; document mitigation or recovery actions; align outage and commissioning activities; and communicate progress through look-ahead schedules and milestone reports.
Track and forecast construction expenditures, validate payment applications and percent-complete assessments, and evaluate changes, claims, cost pressures, variances, and mitigation opportunities in a timely and documented manner.
Review and respond promptly to notices and construction correspondence, document contractor performance and changes, escalate potential claims or disputes, and manage contract modifications.
Identify and manage construction, operational, environmental, commercial, and regulatory risks; ensure compliance with permit and environmental commitments and readiness for agency inspections; and correct or escalate compliance gaps.
Coordinate with project sponsors, executives, operations, engineering, contractors, customers, landowners, regulators, authorities, and community representatives as needed.
Facilitate timely issue resolution and clearly communicate project status, risks, required decisions, and next steps through executive updates and presentations.
Support coordinated commissioning and turnover from construction to operations, maintain testing and startup records, close deficiencies and punch-list items, and resolve milestone-readiness concerns.
Maintain accurate, timely, traceable project records, reports, performance indicators, decisions, and commitments to support corrective action and meet project and records-management requirements for turnover and acceptance.