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Preconstruction Project Manager - Substation - Michels Power, Inc.

Neenah, WI  

Preconstruction Project Manager - Substations
Location: Flexible
Employment Type: Full-Time
Travel: Up to 25% Travel Required

Lead the Transition from Project Opportunity to Project Execution
Successful substation projects begin long before construction starts. From project pursuit and estimating through contract execution, procurement planning, permitting, scheduling, and mobilization readiness, strong preconstruction leadership is critical to delivering safe, profitable, and successful projects. At Michels Power, Inc., we help utilities, developers, and energy providers build and maintain the infrastructure that powers communities across North America. From transmission and distribution systems to substations, renewable energy facilities, and battery energy storage systems, our teams deliver the critical infrastructure needed to strengthen and modernize the electric grid. As one of the nation's leading power delivery contractors, Michels Power combines engineering expertise, construction excellence, and operational experience to deliver some of the industry's most complex electrical infrastructure projects safely and successfully. Find out how a career at Michels Power, Inc. can change yours.

Position Overview
As a Preconstruction Project Manager - Substations, you will lead the preconstruction phase of utility, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, battery energy storage, and EPC substation projects. You will serve as the primary coordinator between Business Development, Estimating, Engineering, Procurement, Contracts, Project Controls, Operations, and Field Leadership to ensure projects are properly evaluated, contracted, budgeted, scheduled, permitted, procured, and prepared for successful execution. This role serves as the bridge between project pursuit and project execution. You will guide project teams through bid reviews, estimate handoffs, contract execution, procurement planning, permitting coordination, startup readiness, and mobilization planning. Success requires strong organizational skills, commercial awareness, leadership capabilities, and the ability to coordinate multiple stakeholders while supporting safety, quality, financial, and customer objectives.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead preconstruction planning activities including scope definition, budgeting, scheduling, procurement planning, and risk assessment.
  • Coordinate project handoffs between business development, estimating, engineering, procurement, contracts, project controls, operations, and field leadership teams.
  • Facilitate opportunity reviews, bid reviews, estimate reviews, project kickoff meetings, and readiness assessments.
  • Support contract review and execution activities while helping ensure consistency in commercial terms, assumptions, clarifications, and project requirements.
  • Coordinate permitting, procurement, subcontract execution, and mobilization readiness activities to support successful project startup.
  • Identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies that support safe, profitable, and successful project execution.

What You'll Do

  • Manage preconstruction activities supporting utility substations, transmission interconnections, renewable energy facilities, battery energy storage systems, and EPC power delivery projects.
  • Develop and maintain project budgets, schedules, procurement plans, milestone tracking tools, and execution readiness plans.
  • Support estimating teams during project pursuits and help ensure lessons learned, assumptions, clarifications, and project risks are incorporated into project planning.
  • Coordinate internal and external preconstruction meetings, project kickoff meetings, and startup readiness reviews.
  • Partner with procurement teams to support material planning, long-lead equipment procurement, subcontractor readiness, and supply chain coordination activities.
  • Support project schedule development, milestone planning, forecasting activities, construction sequencing reviews, and project startup strategies.
  • Work closely with project controls and operations teams to establish initial project budgets and support forecasting accuracy.
  • Communicate and support compliance requirements including IRA, Prevailing Wage & Apprenticeship (PWA), Domestic Content, and customer-specific project requirements.
  • Monitor project readiness metrics including contract execution, permitting status, procurement progress, subcontractor commitments, and mobilization readiness.
  • Ensure projects transition successfully from preconstruction into operations without scope gaps, procurement delays, permitting challenges, or startup issues.

Why Michels Power, Inc.?

  • Engineering News-Record ranks us as the No. 1 Electrical Transmission & Distribution Contractor.
  • Our steady, strategic growth revolves around a commitment to quality.
  • 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 helps build and strengthen the nation's electric grid.
  • 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.
  • Our teams help deliver the transmission, distribution, substation, renewable energy, and battery energy storage infrastructure that powers communities across the country.

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 enjoy bringing structure, organization, and accountability to complex projects.
  • You enjoy connecting teams and helping projects move from concept to successful execution.
  • You want to make a meaningful impact on project success before construction even begins.

What It Takes

  • Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field and 3+ years of preconstruction, project management, estimating, engineering, procurement, or construction experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Experience supporting utility substation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, battery energy storage, or EPC power delivery projects.
  • Experience in construction estimating, budgeting, project planning, scheduling, procurement coordination, or project management.
  • Ability to lead preconstruction planning efforts including scope definition, budget development, schedule creation, and risk assessment.
  • Experience facilitating bid reviews, project handoffs, kickoff meetings, startup planning sessions, and project readiness reviews.
  • Ability to review estimates, schedules, contracts, engineering documents, specifications, and project execution plans.
  • Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams including estimating, engineering, procurement, operations, project controls, field leadership, and business development.
  • Understanding of procurement planning, contract administration, permitting processes, subcontractor coordination, and project startup requirements.
  • Working knowledge of Building Information Modeling (BIM), design coordination processes, and design-build or EPC project delivery methodologies is preferred.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Bluebeam, Procore, Oracle Unifier, InEight, or similar project management platforms is preferred.
  • PE, PMP, or related industry certifications are preferred but not required.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with customers, vendors, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders.
  • Strong organizational, analytical, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
  • Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
  • Ability to travel up to 25% to support customer meetings, project reviews, project startup activities, and site visits.

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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