Project Manager - Overhead Distribution

Overhead Distribution | Utility Construction | Grid Modernization

Location: Denver, CO Area - Project-Based
Employment Type: Full-Time
Travel: Approximately 50% Travel Required, Primarily Within Colorado

Lead the Delivery of Critical Power Infrastructure Across Colorado

Colorado's continued growth depends on safe, reliable, and resilient electric distribution infrastructure. From distribution system rebuilds and capacity upgrades to grid modernization, storm response, and ongoing utility programs, successful projects require experienced leaders who can bring together customers, field teams, engineering partners, suppliers, and subcontractors around a common goal.

As a Project Manager - Overhead Distribution with Michels Power, you will help lead electric utility construction projects throughout the Denver metropolitan area and surrounding Colorado markets. You'll take ownership of safety, customer relationships, financial performance, schedule, resources, and overall project execution while partnering closely with some of the industry's most experienced field leadership.

About Michels Power, Inc.

Michels Power, Inc. supports America's electrical and communication backbone by delivering comprehensive overhead and underground construction services for 69 kV to 765 kV electric utility systems and fiber networks. As one of the largest private power utility electrical contractors in the United States, Michels Power combines experienced project management and construction management leadership, skilled field construction resources, and an extensive equipment fleet to build transmission and distribution power lines and communication systems from coast to coast.

Our comprehensive project oversight ranges from logistics and scheduling to quality assurance and construction. We provide engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) delivery models on complex projects involving transmission lines, substations, structure foundations, heavy civil construction, and horizontal directional drilling. Michels Power is a member of the Michels Family of Companies.

Position Overview

As a Project Manager - Overhead Distribution, you will lead the planning, coordination, and execution of overhead electric distribution projects primarily throughout the Denver, Colorado area. You will manage projects and ongoing utility programs from award and startup through execution, turnover, and closeout while maintaining a strong focus on safety, customer satisfaction, quality, schedule, productivity, and profitability.

You will serve as a key point of contact for utility customers and work closely with Construction Managers, Superintendents, Project Engineers, General Foremen, field crews, engineering partners, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders to keep projects moving forward.

Success requires strong project leadership, financial and commercial awareness, excellent customer communication, and a working knowledge of overhead electric distribution construction. Experience supporting overhead transmission projects is valuable, but this role will be primarily focused on overhead distribution operations and utility programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead overhead distribution construction projects and utility programs from contract award through final closeout.
• Manage project budgets, forecasts, schedules, contracts, procurement activities, change management, and overall financial performance.
• Serve as a primary customer-facing representative and maintain proactive communication with utility stakeholders throughout project execution.
• Coordinate activities among utility customers, Construction Managers, field leadership, engineering teams, subcontractors, suppliers, and project stakeholders.
• Develop project execution plans, staffing strategies, resource requirements, procurement plans, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Monitor project performance and implement corrective actions when safety, schedule, quality, productivity, or financial objectives are at risk.
• Maintain and promote a strong safety culture while ensuring compliance with company, customer, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

What You'll Do

• Manage overhead electric distribution projects and recurring utility construction programs throughout the Denver metropolitan area and surrounding Colorado markets.
• Support projects involving distribution line construction, rebuilds, system hardening, capacity improvements, pole replacements, reconductoring, and grid modernization.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, schedules, cost and revenue forecasts, staffing plans, procurement strategies, and execution plans.
• Coordinate closely with Construction Managers, Superintendents, General Foremen, and field leadership to align crew deployment and construction execution with project objectives.
• Monitor labor productivity, equipment utilization, material availability, subcontractor performance, production quantities, and overall project progress.
• Maintain consistent communication with utility customers regarding project progress, schedule, risks, changes, resource requirements, and upcoming work.
• Lead customer meetings, project reviews, forecasting discussions, schedule updates, and operational planning sessions.
• Manage contract administration, including project correspondence, notices, changes, change orders, billing support, and contract closeout.
• Coordinate material procurement, subcontractor activities, engineering deliverables, equipment needs, and workforce requirements.
• Identify project risks, schedule impacts, commercial exposures, and operational challenges while developing practical solutions.
• Support estimating efforts, bid reviews, constructability discussions, proposals, and future utility project opportunities.
• Prepare and review project reports for customers, operations leadership, and internal stakeholders.
• Support emergency and storm response activities as business and customer needs require.
• Support project turnover, as-built documentation, final reconciliation, and closeout activities.

Why Michels Power, Inc.?

• We help build, strengthen, and modernize the electrical infrastructure that powers communities across the country.
• Our teams execute challenging overhead distribution and transmission projects backed by experienced field leadership and extensive construction resources.
• We are family owned and operated.
• We invest an average of $5,000 per employee per year in training and career development.
• We perform challenging, meaningful work that strengthens the electrical grid and supports economic growth.
• We believe everyone is responsible for promoting safety, regardless of job title.
• We are part of the Michels Family of Companies, one of North America's largest and most diversified energy and infrastructure contractors.
• We provide opportunities to grow into Senior Project Manager, Regional Management, and Operations leadership roles.

Comprehensive Benefits Package

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Legal Plan
• Identity Theft Protection and Monitoring Plan

Benefits may vary based on position and location.

Why You?

• You like to surround yourself with dedicated, value-driven people.
• You relish new challenges and evolving technology.
• You cringe when you hear: “Because that's the way we've always done it.”
• You like to know your efforts are noticed and appreciated.
• You want to make your own decisions, but know support is always available.
• You want to work to make a difference in people's lives.

What It Takes

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, Business, or a related field and 5+ years of project management or related construction experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing overhead electric distribution construction projects or utility programs.
• Strong understanding of overhead distribution construction practices, including pole replacements, line rebuilds, reconductoring, system upgrades, and associated utility infrastructure.
• Experience working with investor-owned utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, EPC contractors, or other electric power delivery customers.
• Experience coordinating multiple crews, field leaders, equipment, materials, subcontractors, and concurrent work fronts.
• Experience managing project budgets, forecasts, production, schedules, procurement activities, project controls, and financial performance.
• Demonstrated experience managing customer relationships and serving as a client-facing project leader.
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings, utility standards, contracts, schedules, specifications, and engineering documentation.
• Experience with contract administration, change management, estimating, constructability reviews, project pursuits, and execution planning.
• Experience with overhead transmission construction is beneficial but not required.
• Strong leadership, financial, organizational, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, HCSS, Procore, or similar project management and scheduling platforms is preferred.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel approximately 50%, primarily throughout the Denver metropolitan area and Colorado, with additional travel to other project locations as business needs require.

Join a company that powers progress. Be a part of Michels Power, Inc. where you don't just build projects, you build a career.

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