Owner's Senior Project Manager

Strata Careers•Richmond, VA

About The Position

The Owner's Senior Project Manager is responsible for pre-construction of mid-stage and late-stage development projects and supporting successful turnkey execution of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV), PV-plus-battery energy storage system (BESS) hybrid, and standalone energy storage projects. The role brings pre-construction and execution experience to development projects, owns pre-construction tasks, and supports development through scoping studies, design evaluations, and contractor request-for-proposal (RFP) administration. The position represents the Owner's interests onsite and offsite, manages project budgets and P&L for pre-construction and construction-stage projects, and coordinates with internal teams, contractors, consultants, advisors, and local stakeholders. It supports contract negotiation and administration, risk mitigation, project reporting, and construction-period closeout. The Senior Project Manager also contributes to continuous improvement and may assist with hiring additional project staff. During mid-stage development, the role reviews site crossings and access plans, identifies water sources and construction permit requirements, coordinates long-lead equipment planning, and updates estimates, budgets, layouts, and schedules. It performs constructability reviews and develops and administers EPC RFPs, including pricing solicitation and bid reviews. During late-stage development and pre-construction, the role supports power agreements, LGIA notice-to-proceed requirements, decommissioning plans, geotechnical reviews, budget and schedule updates, design optimization, engineering diligence, equipment selection, and O&M planning. It leads EPC and O&M procurement and award recommendations, facilitates the handoff from Development to Execution, supports diligence and financial close, executes EPC and O&M contracts, coordinates equipment contracts, and participates in investment committee approval.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree, PMP, or equivalent experience in construction, engineering, or a related field.
Experience bringing an EPC or Owner's perspective to mid-stage development, including schedule, constructability, permitting, and pricing.
At least 5 years of construction or power industry experience, including at least 3 years supporting solar or storage development or pre-construction.
Strong understanding of utility-scale solar and storage development, including site design, permitting, interconnection, and EPC pricing.
Working knowledge of PV and energy storage systems.
Working understanding of EPC contract structure, pricing, and administration.
Command of capital project execution fundamentals, including safety, quality, schedule, budget, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and compliance.
Familiarity with non-EPC power project agreements, including offtake, interconnection, lease, and O&M agreements.
Strong project management skills and ability to work with limited supervision.
Self-motivated, with initiative, attention to detail, and accountability.
Ability to multitask and work in a deadline-driven environment.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Proficiency using the MS Office Suite.

Responsibilities

Represent the Owner's interests onsite and offsite with internal and external stakeholders.
Manage project P&L and budgets for pre-construction-stage and construction-stage projects.
Assist commercial and legal teams with negotiations of EPC, equipment, O&M, and asset management contracts.
Coordinate, administer, and mitigate risks for key project contracts, including EPC, owner-supplied equipment, O&M, asset management, offtake, and interconnection agreements; support construction-period closeout.
Manage support staff, consultants, and advisors, including subject matter experts, owner's engineers, independent engineers, and legal counsel.
Coordinate with development, asset management, power marketing, financing, and other internal teams.
Track, manage, and report project risks and KPIs.
Interact with authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and other local stakeholders.
Assist with hiring additional project staff as required.
Support company continuous improvement activities.
Review crossings and optimize site plans for access during mid-stage development.
Identify water sources and estimate costs; identify construction permit requirements and estimate costs.
Coordinate long-lead equipment planning with the developer; update O&M cost estimates, P75 budgets, project schedules, and layouts using study results.
Conduct EPC constructability reviews and develop and administer EPC RFPs for detailed pricing.
Solicit early indicative EPC pricing, review EPC bids, and track EPC pricing status for project model inputs.
Support retail/station power agreements, requirements to meet LGIA NTP, and finalization of the decommissioning plan during late-stage development.
Review geotechnical evaluation scope and results; support P95 budget and schedule updates.
Support review of completed design-basis layouts and design, energy, and cost optimization.
Coordinate with Development Engineering on independent engineer report drafting and diligence.
Support equipment selection and optimization evaluations and planning.
Conduct EPC RFPs, levelize bids, and recommend awards to management.
Develop O&M scope and coordinate O&M RFPs; recommend O&M awards with internal O&M and Asset Management teams.
Lead formal handoff meetings or workshops from Development to the Execution team.
Support completion of ministerial permitting by the EPC contractor, including building, grading, and drainage permits.
Support Development Engineering and Capital Markets with diligence and finalization of independent engineer reports.
Execute EPC and O&M contracts and coordinate equipment contract execution with procurement.
Support Capital Markets with diligence and financial close; participate in investment committee approval.