Senior Project Manager – Electric Distribution Programs

Consertus-US • Sacramento, CA

20h • Hybrid

About The Position

Consertus is seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager – Electric Distribution Programs to support PG&E Electric Operations and the delivery of high-priority capital infrastructure projects throughout Northern California. This senior-level individual contributor will oversee high-complexity, high-risk, high-visibility, and multi-year electric distribution projects and programs. The Senior Project Manager will exercise a high degree of independent judgment and provide leadership across project planning, engineering, permitting, procurement, construction, financial management, risk mitigation, stakeholder coordination, and project closeout. The successful candidate will have extensive experience delivering electric utility distribution infrastructure and managing complex capital programs involving utility organizations, engineering and construction teams, municipalities, external contractors, and major Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) partners. Senior Project Managers are expected to provide strategic project governance, proactively resolve escalated issues, manage significant program risks, deliver executive-ready reporting, and provide guidance to less-experienced Project Managers.

Requirements

• 8+ years of project management experience, with at least 5 years specifically dedicated to electric utility distribution systems.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, complex, high-risk, high-visibility, or multi-year electric utility capital projects and programs.
• Expert-level proficiency with SAP and Primavera P6.
• Strong knowledge of overhead and underground electric distribution construction practices.
• Demonstrated experience managing project scope, schedule, cost, financial forecasting, change management, risk, construction execution, and project closeout.
• Proven experience managing large external Engineer-Procure-Construct (EPC) contractors.
• Deep familiarity with California electric utility regulatory and operational requirements, including CPUC General Orders 95, 128, and 165 and High Fire-Threat District (HFTD) operational requirements.
• Experience working in complex, union-represented environments, including collaboration with IBEW and/or ESC-represented personnel.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, problem-solving, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, manage competing priorities, and effectively resolve complex project risks and issues.

Nice To Haves

• Previous experience supporting PG&E or another California investor-owned or regulated electric utility.
• Extensive experience managing electric distribution capital programs, particularly high-risk, regional, or multi-year portfolios.
• Direct experience with Rule 20A/20B undergrounding, overhead and underground distribution, voltage conversions, reconductoring, switch and SCADA installations, and new distribution circuit construction.
• Advanced hands-on experience with SAP Work Management and Primavera P6.
• Experience managing large external EPC, civil, and electrical contractors.
• Strong background in project cost forecasting, cash-flow forecasting, change orders, contingency management, financial variance analysis, and SAP job-order reconciliation.
• Experience coordinating utility engineering, environmental, permitting, right-of-way, procurement, construction, and operational activities.
• Experience conducting or participating in field site visits, construction job walks, and progress reviews.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare and present executive-level project and portfolio reporting.
• Previous experience mentoring Project Managers or other project-delivery professionals.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead major electric distribution capital projects and multi-year programs from initiation and planning through construction and closeout.
• Define project scope, objectives, execution strategies, major milestones, stakeholder expectations, and delivery requirements.
• Partner with Engineering and Estimating teams to establish baseline Total Forecasted Cost (TFC) and monthly cash-flow forecasts.
• Identify, coordinate, and resolve long-lead dependencies involving environmental permitting, CEQA/NEPA requirements, land and right-of-way acquisition, material procurement, engineering, and construction readiness.
• Proactively resolve escalated or stalled permitting, procurement, engineering, and construction dependencies.
• Manage high-visibility Rule 20A and Rule 20B undergrounding projects, including planning, trenching, cabling, cutovers, and coordination with municipal officials and property owners.
• Oversee 4kV-to-12kV voltage conversion projects, including replacement of line equipment, transformers, and final customer cutovers.
• Lead overhead reconductoring projects designed to increase capacity, improve system reliability, and mitigate wildfire risk.
• Manage installation of overhead and underground switches, including automated and smart SCADA switches.
• Direct the planning, permitting, design, and construction of new distribution circuits extending from substations to support regional load growth.
• Oversee other high-priority electric distribution infrastructure projects throughout the assigned service territory.
• Build, maintain, and oversee integrated critical-path schedules using Primavera P6.
• Integrate Engineering, Permitting, Procurement, Construction, and other major project milestones into project schedules.
• Maintain comprehensive project Risk Registers and proactively identify, assess, mitigate, and escalate project risks.
• Develop mitigation strategies for clearance-window restrictions, permitting delays, material constraints, contractor issues, weather impacts, construction delays, and other project roadblocks.
• Coordinate with General Construction supervisors, Contract Management, engineering personnel, internal utility crews, and external civil and electrical contractors.
• Manage large external EPC contractors and monitor contractor performance against project scope, schedule, budget, quality, and delivery requirements.
• Support safe project execution in accordance with applicable utility standards and procedures.
• Oversee project budgets, forecasts, expenditures, commitments, and financial performance.
• Prepare and manage monthly cost forecasts and provide variance explanations for actual costs versus forecast.
• Manage change orders, contingency draws, cost impacts, and forecast adjustments.
• Ensure accurate tracking and management of project job orders within SAP / Work Management Systems (WMS).
• Verify job orders are mapped to the appropriate funding lines and continuously updated throughout the project lifecycle.
• Monitor project financial health and identify potential cost or forecast issues before they materially impact project delivery.
• Drive timely financial reconciliation and closure of SAP job orders to prevent trailing charges and support capitalization of completed assets.
• Lead weekly, bi-weekly, and ad hoc meetings with internal and external project stakeholders.
• Provide clear updates regarding project milestones, schedule performance, risks, roadblocks, financial health, and required management actions.
• Prepare and deliver executive-ready presentations and status reports for senior utility and program leadership.
• Navigate complex stakeholder environments involving utility operations, municipalities, regulatory organizations, contractors, engineering teams, construction personnel, and other program partners.
• Escalate significant project issues and provide leadership with clear recommendations and mitigation strategies.
• Exercise a high degree of independent judgment when resolving complex project challenges.
• Mentor and provide guidance to Journey-level Project Managers and other project team members.
• Ensure field as-built documentation is completed and submitted for Mapping/GIS updates.
• Confirm new and modified distribution assets are properly reflected within applicable utility systems.
• Drive project financial reconciliation and timely closeout of SAP job orders.
• Ensure final project records, financial information, and documentation are accurate and complete.
• Coordinate project closeout activities to minimize trailing charges and support timely capitalization of completed assets.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, dental, and vision
• Optional benefits such as pet insurance, legal insurance, and supplemental health plans
• 401(k) with day-one eligibility
• 100% company match on the first 3% of eligible compensation and a 50% match on contributions between 3% and 5%
• 10 paid holidays
• PTO starting at 15 days, growing to up to 25 days
• Access to Consertus Academy for continuous learning and professional development

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed