Project Development Project Manager 12 month contract to hire Akron, OH 44308 or Reading, PA 19605 or Morristown, NJ 07960 or Greensburg, PA 15601 Job Description: Description: Project Development Project Manager (PDPM) – Transmission & Substation Position Overview Our Client is seeking a Project Development Project Manager to lead the upfront planning and early-stage development of large-scale transmission line and substation capital projects ranging from 34.5kV to 500kV. This critical role owns, manages, and controls projects from conceptual planning and initiation through early development to prepare them for a seamless transition to the execution phase. The Project Development Project Manager coordinates cross-functional technical teams and guides projects to approximately 30 percent design maturity to guarantee they safely and efficiently achieve the project scope outlined by sponsors. Examples of Project Types • Voltage levels range from 34.5kV to 500kV . • Substation projects involve complete substation rebuild and conversion projects including ring bus, breaker and a half, and double-breaker configurations . • Substation terminal upgrades include breakers, relays, and physical equipment, along with relay-only or equipment-only replacements . • Transmission line projects encompass complete line rebuilds, line rehabs, line switch replacements, and customer connections . • Communications projects cover the replacement of RTUs, cell antennas, and microwave towers, as well as the installation of MPLS, ADSS, and OPGW fiber builds . • Interconnection projects include new transmission customer connections and generator interconnections such as solar, onshore, and offshore wind . • Distribution projects involve circuit rebuilds, pole replacements, reclosers, tripsavers, URDs, upsizing existing lines, customer connections, and cooperative-driven projects . • Project budgets range from small (< $5 million) and medium ($5 million to $25 million) to large ($25 million to $100 million) . • Ninety percent of these projects occur in a brownfield environment, which typically involves reconfiguring existing substations to new configurations or rebuilding transmission lines to updated standards and electrical requirements . Key Responsibilities Project Leadership & Early-Stage Development • Lead project kick-offs and establish cross-functional teams to evaluate, define, and refine project scope, goals, and priorities. • Oversee all development-phase activities, including siting, environmental review, permitting, estimating, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, procurement support, material planning, and constructability reviews. • Manage the transition of multiple concurrent overhead transmission and substation projects from early planning to project execution teams at approximately 30 percent of the design lifecycle. Planning, Scheduling & Risk Mitigation • Review and analyze technical project documents to develop strategic schedules, execution plans, forecasts, and key deliverables. • Evaluate project scope with internal and external support teams to identify, document, and mitigate risks associated with scope, schedule, and budget. • Project contractor resource levels, determine project durations, and maintain schedules in coordination with scheduling teams. • Coordinate project schedules to request system outages with operations, submitting outage requests per PJM and internal timelines. Financial Management & Project Controls • Maintain detailed project financials in coordination with cost analyst teams, reviewing project estimates for adequacy and completeness. • Ensure project costs are maintained within approved leadership thresholds and seek capital expenditure authorizations when required. • Implement and follow strict change management protocols to maintain complete documentation of changes in scope, schedule, and forecast. Communication • Serve as the primary point of contact for project sponsors, including regional and corporate teams, and external stakeholders, providing clear and timely project status updates. • Assist the Portfolio Management Team with the development of multiyear portfolios by ensuring accurate project schedules and forecasts. • Lead and perform lessons-learned audits of completed development phases to evaluate gaps in tools or techniques, driving process improvements across the Project Development team. Requirements: Qualifications Education & Experience • A Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, business, finance, construction management, or a related technical field is required. • In lieu of a degree, consideration will be given to candidates with seven years of related experience, or five years of transmission or distribution utility experience. • A minimum of three years of related experience in project organization, engineering, finance, construction, project management, planning, or project controls is required. • Four to eight years of experience in the transmission and distribution industry is highly preferred. Skills & Competencies • Candidates must possess strong project management abilities with exceptional time management skills and a demonstrated experience managing and controlling multiple complex tasks concurrently. • A strong technical background in transmission, distribution, or utility infrastructure, including an understanding of construction timing and documentation, is required. • Experience with project scheduling and management tools such as Primavera P6 or MS Project, and a detailed understanding of project controls, are highly preferred. • Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with a proven track record of leading cross-functional teams to achieve defined deliverables are required. • A strong team-player attitude with a willingness to work collaboratively in a dynamic team environment is required. Requirements • Candidates must possess a valid driver's license. • Candidates must show a willingness and ability to travel to assigned project locations, client sites, and throughout the service territory as required. ESPO Corporation www.espocorp.com 630-789-2525 View all open jobs at www.espocorp.com/jobs Leaders in Technical Recruiting & Staffing since 1965 ESPO has a comprehensive benefits package which includes PTO, Group Health and Dental Insurance, and 401k after you have satisfied the necessary waiting periods. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value the benefits of diversity in our workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, or any other attribute or protected characteristic by law. If you need assistance applying, please get in touch with us directly.