Preconstruction Project Manager

AES US•Arlington, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Preconstruction Project Manager is responsible for liaising with multiple Teams and Departments to support each project’s successful development from Feasibility Stage through execution of the EPCA. This role involves attending project Kick-Off meetings, supporting the review of project information to understand needs, risks, and timelines, and communicating project maturity and risk mitigation strategies. The position also requires participation in discussions on permitting issues, coordination with Estimators and Development Teams, and providing feedback for M&A due diligence. A working understanding of the Utility Interconnection process and HV elements of a project is necessary. The role involves reviewing and critiquing design information for buildability and operational issues, maintaining visibility on project design and estimation processes, and reviewing the Risk Register. Collaboration with Procurement includes understanding equipment technologies, vendor lists, and commodity price fluctuations. For the Construction Team, responsibilities include providing feedback on project status, preparing and deploying EPC RFP bid packages, analyzing bid responses, and making selection recommendations. The role requires a good understanding of EPC Contract Terms & Conditions, strong negotiating skills, and the ability to identify and implement improvement initiatives in bidding and contractual processes. Coordination of EPC CAPEX cost reviews, contract negotiations, and cost reconciliations is essential, along with collaborating with estimating for cost comparisons and efficiencies. The Preconstruction Team collaboration involves establishing the EPC Engagement Plan, prioritizing projects, supporting construction cost estimate messaging, managing the EPC Target Price process, and producing preliminary project schedules. The role also requires identifying and communicating schedule risks. External engagement includes building relationships with EPC contractors, managing project RFPs, and supporting EPC Contract negotiations.

Requirements

4+ years professional experience in a Renewables Project Management role.
Excellent understanding of project cycle from feasibility, thru permitting, entitlements, design and utility processes, executing with EPC contract negotiations.
Strong familiarity with photovoltaic solar and energy storage components and associated technical standards.
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Teams, Excel, Primavera P6, ProCore, Quickbase, and Microsoft Project.
Proficiency with PowerPoint and BlueBeam.
Superior communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
Outstanding interpersonal skills, including an ability to maintain calm and effective exchanges with all parties during stressful situations.
Excellent organizational skills demonstrated by clear and effective project plans and reporting that ensure timely action and decision making in time-pressured scenarios.

Responsibilities

Liaise with multiple Teams and Departments to support each project’s successful development from Feasibility Stage through execution of the EPCA.
Attend project Kick-Off meetings, and receive new projects on behalf of the Pre-Construction Team; regularly record/report on project tracking tools.
Fully support the review of project information to understand project needs, risks and timelines.
Communicate with Project Team members on project maturity and risk/proposed mitigation strategies as they relate to execution of the project to support AES goals.
Participate in discussions on permitting issues to support acceleration discussions regarding design development.
Coordinate with Estimators and Development Team to establish team deliverables.
Coordinate with Development and Execution Teams to facilitate RFP responses.
Help provide feedback for M&A due diligence and ‘red flag’ memos for new opportunities and acquisitions under consideration.
Develop familiarity with Utility Interconnection process, and provide feedback on applicability to schedule assumptions.
Review and critique design information (e.g. Layouts) for buildability and possible operational issues at various design stages prior to Execution.
Participate in the Interconnection status review process and have a working understanding of HV elements of a project; maintain visibility on project design and estimation process.
Review Risk Register and inquire/message appropriately.
Understand equipment technologies and be familiar with the AES approved vendor list.
Maintain visibility on commodity price and availability fluctuations through coordination with Estimating Team.
Provide regular feedback on status of projects to Execution PMs.
Coordinate, prepare & deploy EPC RFP bid packages using the ProCore platform, facilitate RFI feedback from Engineering and Construction teams.
Analyze EPC bid responses and make formal selection recommendations to Construction team through completion of Bid Summary Reports.
Identify and implement improvement initiatives in all the bidding and contractual processes associated with the development of AES CE’s renewable portfolio.
Coordinate EPC CAPEX cost reviews, contract negotiations, and cost reconciliations.
Collaborate with Estimating for comparison with internal CAPEX estimates and final project costs; work with estimating team to review and identify efficiencies to promote more accurate CAPEX estimates.
Provide execution ready Bid Summary packages to construction PM to ensure seamless transition to execution phase.
Establish EPC Engagement Plan in coordination with Execution Strategy team.
Prioritize projects in coordination with Senior PMs and Pre-Construction Leadership.
Support project construction cost estimate messaging and ongoing updates to financial capex project inputs to support Business Development, Construction and Finance teams with financial modelling and cost/budget monitoring.
Manage EPC Target Price process including knowledge of labor, material and other direct / indirect costs associated with project Domestic Content and PWA needs.
Produce a preliminary project schedule incorporating all key design, utility and permitting milestones, and anticipated EPC construction timeline to achieve required COD date.
Identify schedule risks and clearly communicate to project team.
Build strong relationships with key EPC contractors, and form partnerships with a view to collaborating in the construction of large regional portfolios.
Manage project RFPs, and ensure compliant bid responses through clear communications.
Support EPC Contract negotiations to ensure alignment with RFP assumptions and bids.