Senior Project Manager - Utility Compounds

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Job Description:

Position Summary

The Senior Project Manager – Utility Compounds is responsible for the end‑to‑end delivery of complex utility compound projects, including substations, switching/control compounds, utility hubs, and associated civil, structural, building, and MEP works. This role leads multi‑disciplinary teams and multiple contractors from initiation through design coordination, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover, ensuring that scope, schedule, budget, quality, safety, and stakeholder requirements are met or exceeded.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Governance

• Lead the planning and delivery of utility compound projects from concept to handover and closeout.
• Define project execution strategies, implementation plans, and stage‑gate deliverables in line with corporate and client requirements.
• Establish project governance, roles and responsibilities, communication protocols, and decision‑making structures.
• Provide clear leadership to project teams, aligning them with project objectives, priorities, and performance expectations.

Scope, Schedule & Cost Management

• Develop and manage the integrated project management plan, including scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, and communications.
• Work with planning and project controls teams to establish and maintain the baseline program and budget.
• Monitor progress against schedule and budget; identify variances early and drive corrective and recovery actions.
• Manage scope changes and variations through formal change control, ensuring impacts are assessed and approved.

Design, Engineering & Technical Coordination

• Coordinate with Design Director/Managers and design consultants to ensure timely, coordinated design deliverables that support procurement and construction.
• Ensure design aligns with project requirements, constructability, operability, and HSE‑by‑design principles.
• Lead multi‑disciplinary interface management (civil/structural, architectural, MEP, power systems, protection & control, SCADA, utilities, access roads).
• Oversee resolution of key technical issues and ensure lessons learned are captured and applied.

Procurement & Contract Management

• Support procurement strategy development for major packages (civil works, buildings, MEP, equipment, specialist systems).
• Work with commercial and procurement teams to prepare tender documentation, evaluate bids, and recommend awards.
• Manage contractor performance against contract requirements, including progress, quality, HSE, and commercial obligations.
• Review and approve major contract changes, claims, and final accounts in coordination with the commercial team.

Construction, Commissioning & Handover

• Oversee site execution of civil, structural, architectural, and MEP works for the utility compounds.
• Coordinate construction sequencing, access, and logistics to minimize clashes and downtime.
• Ensure testing and commissioning plans are developed and implemented for all systems (power, MEP, building systems, SCADA, fire & life safety, etc.).
• Lead or support project handover processes, including punch lists, as‑built documentation, O&M manuals, training, and acceptance by operations.

HSE, Quality & Compliance

• Promote and enforce a strong HSE culture, ensuring compliance with company, client, and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure project‑specific HSE plans, method statements, risk assessments, and permits are in place and effectively implemented.
• Oversee implementation of quality plans, inspection and test plans, and quality assurance/quality control processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, utility design criteria, and permit conditions.

Risk, Issues & Stakeholder Management

• Establish and maintain project risk and issues registers; lead risk identification, assessment, mitigation, and contingency planning.
• Escalate critical risks and issues promptly with clear analysis and recommended actions.
• Act as primary point of contact for clients, utility owners, authorities, and key stakeholders on project matters.
• Manage stakeholder expectations, ensuring timely, transparent communication and effective issue resolution.

Reporting & Performance Management

• Provide regular project status reports (schedule, cost, risk, HSE, quality, key decisions) to senior management and clients.
• Define and track project KPIs (e.g., schedule performance, cost performance, change volume, HSE metrics, defects/rework).
• Lead monthly progress meetings, steering committees, and executive reviews as required.
• Drive continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and implementing improvements in project delivery processes.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and mentor a multi‑disciplinary project team, including project engineers, coordinators, planners, HSE, quality, and commercial staff.
• Allocate resources effectively and ensure clear accountabilities across the team and contractors.
• Foster a collaborative, solution‑oriented culture across design, construction, commercial, and client teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical), Construction Management, or a related field.
• 15 years of progressive project management experience on major construction or infrastructure projects, with significant exposure to utility compounds, substations, or similar industrial/utility facilities.
• Proven track record of delivering multi‑disciplinary projects from initiation through commissioning and handover.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Project Management, Engineering, or Business.
• Professional project management certification such as PMP or equivalent.
• Experience working with utility or energy clients, and within multi‑contract or program environments.
• Familiarity with standard forms of contract (FIDIC) and their commercial and time‑related provisions.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong project management skills across scope, schedule, cost, risk, and change.
• Solid understanding of civil/structural, MEP, and power systems interfaces typical of utility compounds.
• Excellent leadership, team management, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong negotiation, problem‑solving, and decision‑making abilities under time and operational pressure.
• Proficiency with project management and planning tools (e.g., MS Project, Primavera P6), and MS Office.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including report writing and presentation skills.

Parsons equally employs representation at all job levels no matter the race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability or genetic information.

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