Project Director - Utility Transmission and Distribution

NTH Consultants•Northville, MI

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

NTH Consultants, Ltd. is seeking a Project Director to grow its client footprint and market presence in utility and municipal transmission, distribution, and substation markets. This senior, client-facing and market-development role is suited to an experienced utility and energy professional who understands how major infrastructure projects progress from opportunity through execution. The Project Director will develop strategic client relationships, identify and convert new opportunities, provide executive client leadership for major projects, and help shape NTH’s growth strategy in target markets. The role works closely with electrical, civil, environmental, geotechnical, and construction professionals within the Electrical Engineering Power and Utilities Division. Its focus is client leadership, market knowledge, project strategy, stakeholder coordination, and aligning NTH’s technical capabilities with client needs. The position also partners with the Director of the Electrical Engineering Division on growth initiatives and helps recruit and develop relevant talent. The role may require work in the field and office, including during non-standard work hours as necessary. Travel to client sites, project locations, offices, and industry events is required as needed. The employee must be able to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, planning, engineering, construction, public administration, energy management, or a related field; equivalent senior-level utility or energy industry experience may be considered.
15+ years of progressive experience in the electric utility, transmission, public power, renewable energy, energy development, or related infrastructure market.
Established understanding of Michigan and Midwest utility and energy markets, including municipal utilities, public power, investor-owned utilities, transmission organizations, and industry stakeholders.
Demonstrated success developing senior-level client relationships and converting them into business opportunities and secured work.
Experience leading or supporting major utility, transmission, distribution, substation, or infrastructure projects, including stakeholder engagement, project development, permitting, consultant management, or related activities.
Strong communication and leadership skills, including the ability to engage clients, facilitate discussions, organize complex information, and drive projects toward defined outcomes.
Experience developing proposals, qualifications packages, presentations, and pursuit strategies in collaboration with technical teams.
Strong judgment regarding client expectations, organizational dynamics, confidentiality, conflicts, and professional boundaries.
Strong organizational skills, follow-through, accountability, and ability to manage multiple relationships, pursuits, and strategic initiatives simultaneously.
Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel to client sites, project locations, offices, and industry events as needed.
Ability to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
Authorized to work full-time in the U.S.A.; employment eligibility verification is required upon hire.

Nice To Haves

Existing relationships within Michigan or Midwest municipal utility, public power, transmission, renewable energy, and economic development communities.
Experience with transmission siting, utility-scale renewable energy development, battery energy storage, generation interconnection, or utility capital programs.
Experience managing consultants, multidisciplinary project teams, development partners, or major stakeholder programs.
Experience recruiting senior utility, energy, engineering, or project-management professionals.
Familiarity with MISO processes and utility or transmission interconnection requirements.
Experience serving as a client executive, account leader, project director, market leader, or development leader.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a focused growth strategy for transmission, distribution, and substation engineering work in public power and investor-owned utility markets.
Develop and maintain relationships with utility executives, municipal leaders, industry partners, and other key stakeholders through client engagement and industry involvement.
Identify client needs, capital programs, market trends, regulatory drivers, and project opportunities, and translate market intelligence into actionable opportunities for NTH.
Lead account planning, opportunity qualification, capture strategies, and pursuit activities to secure work.
Promote and expand NTH’s multidisciplinary services within utility and municipal markets.
Serve as executive client lead and trusted advisor for selected major utility, transmission, municipal, and energy projects.
Lead early project development and work with internal technical resources to define project strategies, scopes, delivery approaches, and fee structures.
Provide executive oversight of client satisfaction, project performance, staffing, risk management, and delivery.
Support resolution of significant client, contractual, permitting, stakeholder, and project execution issues.
Coordinate across NTH divisions and outside partners to assemble teams for multidisciplinary opportunities.
Partner with the Director of the Electrical Engineering Division to expand electrical engineering services and align growth initiatives with market needs.
Support development and execution of division growth plans, account strategies, and opportunity pipelines.
Position NTH for utility transmission, distribution, and substation projects through strategic relationships and teaming partnerships.
Assist in recruiting and developing utility, transmission, substation, project management, and electrical engineering talent.
Mentor project managers and client-facing staff in relationship development, client communication, and business development practices.
Travel to client sites, project locations, offices, and industry events as needed; perform duties in the field and office, including during non-standard work hours as necessary.

Benefits

Competitive pay and a generous compensation program; bonus programs are available for eligible roles.
Career Planning program with quarterly manager meetings, goal setting, career roadmaps, professional growth, and project-management training and mentoring.
401(k) program with company match.
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP); the firm is 100% employee-owned.
Flexible-hybrid work environment for eligible roles.
Paid time off and company holidays.
Company-paid Employee Assistance Program and wellness initiatives supporting physical, mental, and financial health.
Medical, dental, vision, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, supplemental life insurance, HSA, and FSA plans.
Life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability provided by NTH.
Inclusive company events and team celebrations.