Power Infrastructure Project Manager - Utilities, Substations & BESS

Power Infrastructure Project Manager – Utilities, Substations & BESS | Chicago, Illinois | On-site

MaxIT Consulting – Max Corporate Group is seeking an experienced Power Infrastructure Project Manager – Utilities, Substations & BESS for a U.S.-based construction organization delivering technically complex power and utility infrastructure projects.

The role will support projects involving power generation, battery energy storage systems (BESS), substations, transmission and distribution infrastructure, and other high-demand utility initiatives. The selected professional will have end-to-end responsibility for project execution from preconstruction and design coordination through construction, commissioning, and closeout.

The Opportunity

This position is suited for a construction or engineering professional who can manage technically complex projects while maintaining ownership of schedule, cost, quality, safety, commercial performance, and customer satisfaction.

The Project Manager will coordinate closely with owners, engineers, designers, utilities, equipment vendors, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal project teams throughout the full project lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the full lifecycle of power, BESS, utility, and related infrastructure projects from preconstruction through project closeout.
• Take ownership of project estimating, scheduling, quality control, progress reporting, progress billing, design review and coordination, cost reporting, safety, and proposal preparation.
• Work with owners, engineers, designers, utilities, equipment vendors, trade partners, and internal teams to define scope, project goals, and executable delivery plans.
• Develop and maintain project budgets, schedules, procurement plans, cost forecasts, and project controls.
• Monitor project variances and implement corrective actions when required.
• Participate in proposal and estimate reviews, including scope alignment, value engineering, constructability reviews, and cost-reduction opportunities.
• Lead project buyout activities and support the selection, contracting, and management of subcontractors and suppliers.
• Coordinate long-lead equipment, utility interfaces, permitting requirements, design deliverables, and field activities to protect key project milestones.
• Establish project objectives, procedures, and performance standards across design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and turnover.
• Lead regular project and jobsite meetings with owners, leadership, design partners, subcontractors, and internal teams.
• Manage project changes, risks, claims, and commercial issues using a proactive and solutions-oriented approach.
• Maintain a consistent focus on safety, quality, schedule, budget, and customer satisfaction.
• Support commissioning, startup, energization, and owner turnover activities for electrical and utility infrastructure systems.
• Manage multiple project activities simultaneously under tight deadlines and drive projects through completion.
• Support the development of interns, co-ops, and less-experienced team members.
• Travel to project sites and maintain regular field presence as required to support project execution.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field.
• 2–5 years of construction management and/or engineering design experience.
• Ability to manage multiple project activities, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong project ownership, communication, coordination, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively with owners, engineers, contractors, suppliers, utilities, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Availability to work in an on-site and field-oriented environment and travel to project locations as required.

Preferred Experience

• Experience delivering power generation projects.
• Experience with battery energy storage systems (BESS).
• Experience with substations, transmission and distribution infrastructure, or other utility projects.
• Experience with design-build or EPC project delivery models.

Relevant Project Delivery Experience

• Preconstruction and estimating.
• Design review and coordination.
• Project scheduling and cost control.
• Procurement and long-lead equipment coordination.
• Subcontractor and supplier management.
• Utility coordination and permitting.
• Change management and commercial issue resolution.
• Construction execution and field coordination.
• Commissioning, startup, energization, and turnover.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate combines construction or engineering fundamentals with strong project-management capabilities and is comfortable taking ownership of technically demanding infrastructure projects. Success in this role requires the ability to work across design, procurement, construction, and field teams while maintaining close control of project performance, schedule, cost, quality, and safety.

Work Arrangement

This is an on-site opportunity based in Chicago, Illinois. Regular travel to project sites and time in the field will be required based on project needs.