Sr. Preconstruction Manager

RWE•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The overall purpose of the Sr. Preconstruction Manager position is to lead and coordinate all preconstruction activities for utility-scale wind, solar, and storage renewable energy projects—including engineering, permitting, interconnection, and scope development—to ensure projects are fully designed, de-risked, and contractually prepared so construction can begin and proceed efficiently without delays or gaps.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Construction related field from an accredited university
7 plus years of experience in Renewable Energy construction, engineering, and project management
Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships
Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space
Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams
Strong leadership and communication, and ability to meet deadlines
Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables
Ability to multi-task, while working independently and as part of a team
Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities
Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
Responds well to direction, is easy to challenge and develop, and is coachable
Is detail-oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time.

Nice To Haves

Engineering degree
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification

Responsibilities

Lead preconstruction readiness for renewable energy projects by integrating engineering, permitting, procurement, and operational inputs to ensure projects are fully prepared for construction start without delays, requiring cross-functional coordination and complex project planning
Manage engineering deliverables and timelines by coordinating internal teams and third-party engineers to produce geotechnical, civil, HV, PV, and BESS designs at required completion levels, ensuring designs are bid-ready and construction-compliant through detailed scheduling and technical oversight
Oversee survey execution to enable engineering progress by aligning with development teams to complete topographic and ALTA surveys, ensuring accurate site data is available for design decisions through proactive planning and dependency management
Drive site layout optimization by collaborating with engineering and development teams to balance constructability, permitting constraints, and cost efficiency, requiring analytical evaluation and trade-off decision-making to minimize LCOE
Develop and execute civil permitting strategies by identifying required permits, defining approval pathways, and managing timelines to secure permits (e.g., grading, drainage, utility crossings), ensuring regulatory compliance through detailed planning and stakeholder coordination
Facilitate utility crossing and critical agreement acquisition by working with legal, engineering, and external stakeholders to secure agreements on schedule, reducing project risk through proactive negotiation and issue resolution
Coordinate interconnection planning and scheduling by aligning engineering, transmission, and compliance teams to define equipment, testing, and sequencing requirements, ensuring seamless grid integration through complex systems planning and data coordination
Integrate operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements into project scope by defining facility needs, spare parts, and startup requirements within contracts, ensuring long-term operability through detailed specification development and lifecycle planning
Assemble and validate comprehensive scopes of work by consolidating engineering inputs and facilitating cross-functional reviews to eliminate scope gaps, ensuring bid accuracy and execution readiness through critical analysis and collaborative validation
Support construction procurement and contracting processes by delivering complete engineering packages, scopes, and documentation to procurement teams, enabling efficient bidding or negotiations with contractors through structured coordination and documentation control
Incorporate lessons learned and cost optimization strategies by leading LCOE analyses and cross-functional reviews, improving design efficiency and reducing costs through data-driven insights and continuous improvement practices
De-risk projects prior to construction mobilization by proactively identifying and resolving technical, regulatory, and logistical risks, ensuring contractors can execute without interruption through systematic risk assessment and mitigation planning