Senior Project Manager - Transmission & Distribution

Overhead Transmission | Overhead Distribution | Power Delivery Construction

Location: Texas - Project-Based
Employment Type: Full-Time
Travel: Approximately 50% Travel Required, Primarily Within West Texas

Lead Major Power Delivery Projects Across Texas

Texas continues to invest in the electrical infrastructure required to support population growth, expanding energy demand, grid reliability, and economic development. Delivering that infrastructure requires experienced project leaders who can manage complex construction programs, build strong utility relationships, lead high-performing teams, and maintain accountability for safety, schedule, quality, and financial performance.

As a Senior Project Manager - Transmission & Distribution with Michels Power, you will lead major overhead transmission and distribution projects throughout Texas. You will have responsibility for the entire project lifecycle while serving as a key customer-facing leader and trusted partner to field operations.

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 leaders, skilled field construction resources, and an extensive equipment fleet capable of building 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 Senior Project Manager - Transmission & Distribution, you will manage major overhead transmission and distribution projects, significant phases of large complex projects, or multiple projects simultaneously, primarily throughout Texas.

You will be accountable for all aspects of project success, from proposal development and contract award through construction, turnover, and closeout. This includes safety performance, customer satisfaction, financial results, contract administration, scheduling, procurement, staffing, subcontractor management, risk mitigation, and overall project execution.

You will serve as a primary point of contact for utility customers while providing leadership and guidance to Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, Project Engineers, and other project personnel. Success requires strong customer relationship skills, financial and commercial awareness, sound decision-making, and a deep understanding of overhead power construction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead major overhead transmission and distribution projects from pursuit and contract award through final project closeout.
• Maintain accountability for safety, quality, schedule, financial performance, contract compliance, and customer satisfaction.
• Serve as a primary customer-facing leader, maintaining proactive communication and strong relationships with utility clients throughout project execution.
• Provide leadership, direction, and mentorship to Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, Project Engineers, and assigned project staff.
• Review project proposals, contracts, scopes of work, schedules, budgets, staffing requirements, and execution plans to establish successful project strategies.
• Coordinate closely with Construction Managers and field leadership to maintain alignment between project objectives and field execution.
• Lead contract administration and change management from award through final reconciliation and closeout.
• Support proposal development, estimating, bid reviews, and pursuit strategies for future transmission and distribution opportunities.

What You'll Do

• Manage large overhead transmission and overhead distribution construction projects throughout Texas.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, cost and revenue forecasts, schedules, staffing plans, procurement strategies, and project execution plans.
• Build and sustain relationships with utility customers, engineering partners, subcontractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
• Proactively communicate project status, financial performance, schedule impacts, risks, changes, and upcoming milestones to customers and internal leadership.
• Coordinate with Construction Managers, Superintendents, General Foremen, and field leadership to align crews, equipment, materials, and resources with project requirements.
• Monitor labor productivity, equipment utilization, production quantities, material availability, subcontractor performance, and overall project progress.
• Lead customer meetings, project reviews, financial reviews, forecasting discussions, schedule meetings, and operational planning sessions.
• Manage contractual matters including project correspondence, notices, change requests, change orders, delays, variations, claims avoidance, and final reconciliation.
• Review project status reports and modify schedules, forecasts, staffing strategies, and execution plans when necessary.
• Prepare and review project reports for customers, operations leadership, and executive stakeholders.
• Identify project risks, constructability concerns, commercial exposures, and operational challenges while implementing practical mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate project activities necessary to comply with customer requirements, utility standards, government regulations, permits, and applicable agencies.
• Support estimating teams with bid requirements, execution strategies, constructability input, production assumptions, and lessons learned.
• Support project turnover, as-built documentation, final customer acceptance, and contract closeout.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide direct leadership and mentorship to assigned Project Managers, Assistant Project Managers, Project Engineers, and project support personnel.
• Assist with interviewing, onboarding, training, coaching, and development of project personnel.
• Establish clear expectations and hold project teams accountable for safety, financial performance, schedule, quality, communication, and customer service.
• Foster collaboration between project management and field operations.
• Help develop future project leaders by providing meaningful feedback, increased responsibility, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Create a team environment built around accountability, sound decision-making, communication, and operational excellence.

Why Michels Power, Inc.?

• We help build, strengthen, and modernize the electrical infrastructure that powers communities and industries across the country.
• Our teams execute complex overhead transmission and distribution projects backed by experienced field leadership and extensive construction resources.
• We are family owned and operated.
• Our steady, strategic growth revolves around a commitment to quality.
• 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 for experienced project leaders to grow into regional and operational leadership positions.

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 Project Management, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field and 7-10 years of related construction and project management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Significant experience managing overhead transmission and/or overhead distribution construction projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing major projects, significant phases of large complex projects, or multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proven experience serving as a primary client-facing leader for electric utility construction projects.
• Strong ability to proactively build and maintain relationships with utility customers, engineering partners, subcontractors, suppliers, and project stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of overhead transmission and distribution construction practices, including structure installation, foundations, pole and tower construction, conductor installation, stringing operations, right-of-way activities, distribution system upgrades, and associated power delivery infrastructure.
• Experience managing project budgets, forecasts, schedules, staffing, procurement, subcontractors, project controls, and overall financial performance.
• Strong contract management experience, including change management, variations, notices, commercial negotiations, and final project closeout.
• Experience coordinating with Construction Managers, Superintendents, General Foremen, and other field leadership on large utility construction projects.
• Experience supporting RFPs, estimating, bid reviews, constructability reviews, project pursuits, and execution planning.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop project management personnel.
• Strong leadership, financial, organizational, communication, negotiation, presentation, and decision-making skills.
• Experience with project management and scheduling software such as Primavera P6, HCSS, Microsoft Project, Procore, or similar platforms.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• PMP, PE, or other advanced industry certifications are preferred but not required.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel approximately 50%, primarily through West Texas, and support onsite project assignments as required.

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