Position Purpose and Objectives:

Under supervision from the Vice President of Engineering, the Engineering Project Manager I/II/III/Sr performs and oversees a wide variety of utility engineering and project work that may include managing multiple high-voltage projects of varying degrees of complexity, writing/reviewing specifications for equipment, managing and directing the work of external consultants, and coordinating with other departments to ensure the successful completion of projects. This position assists with setting direction for the development of electrical infrastructure, aligning with goals, strategic objectives, reliability, and regulatory reporting requirements.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Incumbents in the Engineering Project Manager classification report to the Vice President of Engineering.

Engineering Project Manager I:

Engineering Project Manager I is the entry level in the Engineering Project Manager series. Under close to general supervision within a framework of established policies and procedures, incumbents perform a variety of engineering, project management, and administrative tasks of limited to moderate difficulty. Assignments are given in specific terms and are subject to frequent review while in progress and upon completion, except when tasks are well-defined by established standards, policies, and procedures. Assignments may cover the entire field of project engineering as well as technical project management and may include other engineering and technical disciplines.

This class is distinguished from the intermediate-level Engineering Project Manager II class by the routine nature and limited complexity of work assignments and the level of supervision received. Upon recommendation of the immediate supervisor, incumbents in this class may advance to the Engineering Project Manager II classification after gaining experience and achieving proficiency that meets the Engineering Project Manager II experience requirements.

Engineering Project Manager II:

Engineering Project Manager II is the intermediate career level in the Engineering Project Manager series. Under general supervision within a framework of established policies and procedures, incumbents perform a variety of engineering, project management, and administrative tasks of moderate difficulty that require the use of some independent judgment. Assignments are given in general terms and are subject to periodic review during and after completion. Assignments may cover the entire field of project engineering as well as technical project management and may include other engineering and technical disciplines.

This class is distinguished from the entry-level Engineering Project Manager I class by the increased complexity of work assignments and the level of independence with which they are performed, and the decreased level of supervision received. Upon recommendation of the immediate supervisor, incumbents in this class may advance to the Engineering Project Engineer III classification after gaining experience and achieving proficiency that meets the Engineering Project Manager III experience requirements.

Engineering Project Manager III:

Engineering Project Manager III is a fully proficient Engineering Project Manager in the series. Under minimal supervision within a framework of established policies and procedures, incumbents perform a variety of engineering, project management, and administrative tasks of greater complexity requiring the use of independent judgment and creative ingenuity. Assignments are given in general terms and are subject to periodic review during and after completion. Assignments may cover the entire field of project engineering as well as general project management and may include other engineering and technical disciplines.

This class is distinguished from the Engineering Project Manager II class by the increased complexity of work assignments, the greater level of independence with which assignments are performed, and the further decreased level of supervision received. This class is distinguished from the advanced-level Senior Engineering Project Manager class, which has responsibility for performing the most difficult and complex engineering and project management assignments, may function as the engineer in charge of a project or program, and may direct the work of others. Upon recommendation of the immediate supervisor, incumbents in this class may advance to the Senior Engineering Project Manager classification after gaining experience and achieving proficiency that meets the Senior Engineering Project Manager experience requirements.

Senior Engineering Project Manager:

Senior Engineering Project Manager is an advanced-level classification responsible for highly complex and critical engineering assignments with significant technical and/or budgetary impacts. Working under very minimal supervision, incumbents exercise broad discretion and independent judgment to develop innovative solutions and lead major projects. Assignments often involved strategic initiatives, regulatory compliance, and integration of emerging technologies.

This class is distinguished from the Engineering Project Manager III class by the scope and strategic nature of the work, leadership in technical development, and responsibility for projects with substantial budgetary impacts. It is distinguished from the Engineering Project Manager III classification by its broader organizational leadership and program management responsibilities.

Essential Job Functions:

Engineering Project Manager I/II/III/Senior

• Provides oversight of assigned engineering projects to ensure timely and accurate completion of the work. Assists in the preparation of engineering budgets and work plans. Interfaces with Operations, Procurement, and other internal departments to ensure work is completed in accordance with all specifications and requirements.
• Assists in the development of long- and short-range planning associated with major substation and system improvements.
• Performs detailed scoping for the development of high-voltage facilities and modifications to existing facilities. Includes the development and/or review of one-line diagrams, general arrangements, and other substation drawings.
• Provides engineering and project management support to construction resources during project execution. Tracks project costs against budgets and reports status to management.
• Writes project scopes for Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to procure consultant services. Reviews consultant proposals, schedules, and bids, and performs evaluations of proposals to select consultants for projects. Writes, reviews, and approves technical requirements in contracts.
• Reviews and oversees the work of external consultants to ensure conformance with contract terms, project schedules, and cost estimates.
• Reviews and writes specifications for the procurement of equipment, such as transformers, breakers, relays, etc. Evaluates manufacturer proposals and recommends procurement decisions. Reviews manufacturer drawings and performs factory visits and/or witness testing as required.
• Functions as the project manager for projects and programs that fall under the responsibility of the Engineering department.
• Provides technical leadership and support for the interconnection of energy resources and large loads. Understands regulatory and market interconnection requirements and incorporates them into the work.
• Works closely with compliance and regulatory personnel to ensure compliance requirements, such as NERC Reliability Standards, are incorporated into project execution.
• May be asked to represent the Engineering department on internal and external committees.

Secondary Job Functions:

• Shares on-call responsibilities with other Engineering staff. May be asked to represent the Engineering department on internal and external committees.
• Develop knowledge of the distribution system and the technologies involved in the management of the distribution system.
• Creates, expands, and maintains professional and productive working relationships with peers and stakeholders. Works collaboratively with colleagues and fosters a spirit of cooperation in the workplace.
• Performs other such duties as may be requested or assigned to fulfill the needs of United Power in the interest of good management practice.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Engineering Project Manager I/I/III/Senior:

• Must be able to react to change productively and handle other tasks as assigned
• Advanced level of oral and written communication skills
• Ability to collaborate in a team environment
• Frequent use and application of technical standards, principles, theories, concepts, and techniques.
• Engineering skills, including the ability to understand the many complex components of power system projects.
• Essential project management, including scheduling, budgeting, and planning.
• Ability to learn and develop proficiency in various software applications.

Engineering Project Manager II/III/Senior:

• Advanced knowledge of managing the planning, engineering, and execution of electric utility infrastructure projects.
• General understanding of system interconnection rules and requirements, especially within the Southwest Power Pool (SPP).

Minimum qualifications:

Must hold a valid Colorado driver’s license or have the ability to obtain one.

Must have a bachelor’s degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited* program.

*Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

Engineering Project Manager I:

AND applicable experience in a project engineering function.

Engineering Project Manager II:

AND at least three (3) years’ project engineering experience and/or demonstrated ability to perform intermediate-level functions relevant to the position with reduced supervision.

Engineering Project Manager III:

AND at least seven (7) years’ project engineering experience and/or demonstrated ability to perform advanced-level functions relevant to the position with minimal supervision.

Senior Engineering Project Manager:

AND at least ten (10) years’ project engineering experience and/or demonstrated ability to perform advanced-level functions relevant to the position with minimal supervision.

Desired Qualifications:

Project Management Certification

Professional Engineer (PE) registration is desired but not required.

Supervision Received and Exercised:

No Supervisory Duties. May mentor or direct the work of lower-level engineers, administrative staff, or student interns. Directs and oversees the work of external professional engineering and technical resources.

Problem Solving:

Provides technical solutions to a wide range of difficult Problems. Solutions are imaginative, thorough, practicable, and consistent with United Power objectives.

Discretion/Latitude:

Works under general direction. Independently determines and develops approaches to solutions. Work may be reviewed upon completion for adequacy in meeting objectives.

Liaison:

Frequent inter-organizational and outside member contacts. Represents United Power in providing solutions to complex project issues.

Essential Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Seventy percent (70%) of the time is spent sitting, twenty percent (20%) walking, and another ten percent (10%) standing. Will occasionally need to lift forty pounds (40 lbs.). Occasionally, carrying, pushing, and pulling up to twenty-five pounds (25 lbs.) are required when using a tool chest or meters.
• Occasionally, balancing, climbing, handling, and the ability to feel objects will be necessary.
• Frequently, it is necessary to be able to stoop, kneel, and crouch.
• Talking in order to exchange ideas and to communicate with other employees in various offices is done constantly with ordinary tones. Constantly needs to hear ordinary conversation and the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication.
• Constantly need to see “near” to prepare circuit diagrams and schematic drawings. It is constantly necessary to see “far” while driving. Depth perception and color vision are essential to driving. Eye accommodation and field of vision are necessary for performing detailed work and maintaining safety factors.
• Mental abilities constantly necessary to competently perform the job are alertness, precision, ingenuity, problem-solving, analytic ability, persuasiveness, auditory discrimination, speaking ability, memory, creativity, concentration, judgment, writing ability, reasoning, imagination, initiative, patience, and visual discrimination. Abilities the job will require only occasionally are spatial perception, tactile discrimination, olfactory discrimination, and aesthetic sense.

Working Conditions:

Seventy percent (70%) of the Engineering Project Manager’s work is done indoors. Thirty percent (30%) of the work is done outdoors, with occasional exposure to extreme cold, extreme heat, and wet/humid conditions.

The noise level is estimated to be fifty to sixty decibels (50-60 dBs).

Engineering Project Managers are occasionally exposed to various hazards, such as airborne dust, sunlight, and odors. Various mechanical and electrical hazards are present, such as electrical burns.

Typical hiring range:

Level I: $91,300 - $101,830 annually, with maximum of $112,360

Level II: $97,700 - $114,150, with maximum of $130,600

Level III: $119,800 - $143,185, with maximum of $166,570

Sr Level: $134,900 - $164,950, with maximum of $195,000

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a generous benefits package that includes an employee retirement plan, 401K with match, paid holidays, vacation & sick leave, medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance. For a full list of benefits, please visit our careers page at .

We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Pre-Employment Screening Notice: This position is subject to pre-employment drug screening, consistent with Colorado law and federal regulations. Applicants should be aware that a positive drug test—including for marijuana—may disqualify them from employment, as permitted under Colorado law. Additional information about our drug-testing policy will be provided during the hiring process.

NOTE: This position description is not intended to be all-inclusive; an employee will also perform other job responsibilities as assigned by the immediate supervisor or management.

Management reserves the right to change position descriptions, specifications, or work schedules to accommodate individuals with disabilities or as needed.

This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

United Power is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. United Power prohibits discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis of age 40 and over, race, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, color, religion, military or veteran status, national origin, disability, genetic information, or any other applicable status protected by state or local law.