Project Manager - Substations

Substation Construction | Power Delivery | EPC | Utility Infrastructure

Location: Nationwide - Project-Based
Employment Type: Full-Time
Travel: Approximately 50% Travel Required

Deliver the Infrastructure That Powers Communities

Substations are the backbone of the electrical grid, connecting generation, transmission, and distribution systems that keep homes, businesses, and industries energized. As utilities modernize infrastructure, integrate renewable energy, and improve grid reliability, experienced project leaders are critical to the successful delivery of substation construction projects.

As a Project Manager - Substations with Michels Power, you will lead complex substation projects from planning and procurement through construction, energization, and project closeout. You'll work alongside customers, engineers, construction leaders, suppliers, and project teams to safely deliver high-quality projects that support North America's growing power needs.

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 leadership, highly skilled field resources, and one of the industry's premier equipment fleets to successfully execute complex power delivery projects across North America.

Our teams design, build, and maintain critical infrastructure including transmission lines, distribution systems, electrical substations, renewable energy facilities, battery energy storage systems (BESS), communication systems, structure foundations, heavy civil infrastructure, and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) projects. We provide comprehensive project oversight from planning and scheduling through procurement, construction, quality assurance, commissioning, and project closeout.

Leveraging engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) delivery capabilities, Michels Power partners with utilities, developers, cooperatives, municipalities, and industrial customers to safely execute some of the most complex power infrastructure projects in the industry. Michels Power is proud to be a member of the Michels Family of Companies, one of North America's largest and most diversified energy and infrastructure contractors.

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Position Overview

As a Project Manager - Substations, you will be responsible for the planning, coordination, execution, and successful delivery of substation construction projects throughout North America. This role will oversee project performance from contract award through commissioning and closeout, while maintaining a strong focus on safety, customer service, quality, schedule, and profitability.

You will serve as a key liaison between customers, engineering teams, field operations, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders while driving project execution and supporting operational excellence.

Success requires strong project leadership, commercial awareness, customer relationship management, and an understanding of utility substation construction and power delivery infrastructure.

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Key Responsibilities

• Lead substation construction projects from contract award through final project closeout.
• Manage project budgets, schedules, forecasts, procurement activities, contract requirements, and overall financial performance.
• Maintain strong customer relationships and serve as a primary point of contact throughout project execution.
• Develop and manage project execution plans, staffing strategies, procurement plans, and resource requirements.
• Coordinate with engineering teams, Construction Managers, Superintendents, field personnel, subcontractors, suppliers, and customers.
• Identify project risks, schedule impacts, commercial exposures, and operational challenges while implementing mitigation strategies.
• Ensure compliance with safety requirements, project specifications, customer expectations, and contract obligations.
• Support a culture of safety, accountability, quality, and continuous improvement.

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What You'll Do

• Manage utility substation construction projects ranging from greenfield installations to brownfield expansions and upgrades.
• Support projects involving:
  • Transmission substations
  • Distribution substations
  • Collector substations
  • Renewable energy substations
  • BESS substations
  • Switchyards
  • Transformer installations
  • Breaker installations
  • Protection and control systems
  • Relay upgrades
  • Bus work installations
  • Electrical equipment replacement programs
  • Testing and commissioning activities
• Develop and maintain project schedules, budgets, forecasts, procurement plans, and staffing plans.
• Review contracts, drawings, specifications, and engineering documentation.
• Manage subcontractors and suppliers to ensure safety, quality, contract compliance, and schedule performance.
• Lead customer meetings, progress reviews, forecasting discussions, operational planning meetings, and project updates.
• Support project procurement, material management, equipment deliveries, and resource planning activities.
• Monitor labor productivity, project costs, revenue forecasts, schedule performance, and overall project health.
• Coordinate project commissioning, energization, turnover, and closeout activities.
• Prepare and communicate project performance updates to customers and company leadership.

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Why Michels Power, Inc.?

• We help build, strengthen, and modernize the infrastructure that powers communities and industries across North America.
• We execute challenging projects involving substations, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, and power delivery infrastructure.
• We are family owned and operated.
• We invest an average of $5,000 per employee per year in training and career development.
• We perform meaningful work that supports the future of energy infrastructure.
• 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 to advance into Senior Project Management, Regional Operations, and Executive Leadership roles.

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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.

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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 enjoy solving technical, operational, and commercial challenges.
• You enjoy building strong customer relationships and leading successful teams.
• You want to work to make a difference.

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What It Takes

• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Project Management, Business, or a related discipline and 5+ years of project management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing utility substation construction, power delivery, renewable energy, industrial electrical, or EPC projects.
• Strong understanding of substation construction, power systems, electrical infrastructure, and utility projects.
• Experience supporting projects involving transformers, breakers, protection and controls, relay systems, switchgear, bus work, electrical equipment installations, or commissioning activities.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, forecasts, procurement activities, subcontractors, and customer relationships.
• Demonstrated success balancing safety, quality, schedule, and financial objectives.
• Experience reviewing and interpreting contracts, specifications, drawings, and project documentation.
• Strong leadership, communication, financial, organizational, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Experience with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, Procore, Autodesk Construction Cloud, or similar project management platforms is preferred.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to travel approximately 50% and support project assignments throughout North America 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.