Prin EPC Project Mgr

Consumers Energy is Michigan's largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.

This position is not eligible for immigration sponsorship, e.g., H-1B, TN, etc. Please do not apply if you will need immigration sponsorship for a work visa now or in the future, including sponsorship for H-1B, TN, etc., now or in the future. We are unable to hire individuals with CPT, OPT, or STEM OPT for this position as the position is not eligible for participation in the H-1B lottery program and is not eligible for current or future immigration sponsorship for a work visa.

Location: This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and may be assigned to one of the following locations: Jackson, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Saginaw, Alma and Kalamazoo. The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate to a Service Center in one of these locations (relocation package is available for those that qualify).

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Principal Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Project Manager is responsible for overseeing complex projects in Electric Distribution ensuring they are finished on time and within budget. This role involves managing large teams throughout every phase of the project, supervising contracts, engineering, construction, quality control, and safety, as well as handling internal and external communications. Additionally, the manager maintains customer relationships to achieve project objectives.

This role also is a liaison for the department to assist the High Voltage Distribution Planning and Economic Development organizations in responding to customer requests for electric service prior to contract execution. The Principal EPC Project Manager will provide high level verification of scope, schedule and cost that will be included in proposals to customers along with identifying risks to the project and developing strategies to appropriately account for and communicate the risks in contract documents. This will involve coordination with Scheduling, Cost, Construction Management Estimating, Environmental, Real Estate, Design Engineering, Planning Engineering, Field, and occasionally other groups. This will also involve coordination with ITC/METC at times. The Principal EPC Project Manager applies an intensive and diverse knowledge of electric infrastructure projects to be able to function autonomously and make quick decisions based on experience with similar projects to meet short deadlines when responding to customer requests.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides coaching, mentoring, technical expertise, and guidance to cross-functional project teams, effectively motivating team members to take ownership of assigned tasks.
• Develops and manages comprehensive project KPIs and execution metrics. Conducts data analytics and trend analysis, deploying problem-solving methodologies to ensure consistent performance and process compliance.
• Designs and implements appropriate visual management strategies and facilitates operating reviews.
• Establishes and oversees complex project procurement strategies and contracts, including negotiations with contractors and customers, contract execution management, and the mitigation of financial risks to maximize operational and financial outcomes.
• Identifies and manages project schedules, dependencies, and critical paths using advanced scheduling tools and methodologies such as predecessor activities, resource-loaded schedules, and float analysis. Ensures timely updates and sufficient detail for tracking progress and communicating with project teams and stakeholders.
• Recommends and introduces new cross-functional processes, techniques, and standards that drive continuous improvement and resolve existing project challenges.
• Manages large project teams and contractors, ensuring effective resource allocation and completion of planning, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning phases for utility projects. Ensures compliance with technical specifications, permitting, regulatory, engineering, and environmental standards and procedures.
• Demonstrate strong technical acumen in engineering, construction management, and quality assurance methodologies for complex designs. Leads resolution of technical, construction, or quality issues and establishes risk mitigation strategies to optimize project constraints and minimize execution risks.
• Prepares monthly, annual, and overall project forecasts for major board-level projects and programs, providing ongoing cost reconciliation and ensuring adherence to established budgets.
• Leads and manages all communications related to project updates, overviews, and issue resolution for key stakeholders, including project teams, executive leadership, regulatory agencies, commercial and strategic clients, and community leaders. Manages agreement negotiations and prepares and presents detailed project progress reports and issue resolution documentation.
• Assumes responsibility for the planning, governance, and execution of projects from inception to closeout, applying project management methodologies to achieve objectives in scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, and performance for large, complex engineering and construction projects.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Able to connect with and effectively communicate, negotiate, and influence key stakeholders, including executive management, strategic and commercial clients, regulatory and government agencies, and members of the project team.
• Experienced in leading diverse, cross-functional project teams by providing guidance, mentorship, and setting clear project goals.
• Familiar with resource allocation strategies, productivity improvement methods, and coordination of personnel.
• Knowledgeable in contract methodologies and terms and conditions.
• Proficient in contract negotiations and administration, with the ability to use conflict resolution techniques.
• Skilled in critical thinking, decision-making, strategic analysis, trade-off evaluation, data analysis, and utility business operations.
• Experienced in developing quality plans, utilizing quality tools and methodologies to ensure compliance with engineering, materials, and construction standards.
• Knowledgeable in risk mitigation approaches, problem-solving methodologies, countermeasure development, and action plan implementation.
• Proficient in using project management tools such as matrix diagrams, control charts, and Gantt charts.
• Experienced in developing and using visual management tools and understanding lean principles and practices.
• Knowledgeable in engineering, construction management, technical applications, and practical implementation of engineering science and technology.
• Familiar with construction methods and materials.
• Proficient in project management knowledge areas, including Project Integration Management, Scope Management, Schedule Management, Cost Management, and Quality Management, as outlined by the Project Management Institute.
• Skilled in creating comprehensive project plans, schedules, and budgets, and overseeing their execution.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in applied engineering or relevant field with seven (7) years of applied engineering or equivalent working experience with Significant project management experience working in accordance with EPM Project Lifecycle Processes (PLP) framework to improve predictability and effectively manage project risk.
• (OR) Associate's degree in applied engineering or relevant field with nine (9) years of applied engineering or equivalent working experience with Significant project management experience working in accordance with EPM Project Lifecycle Processes (PLP) framework to improve predictability and effectively manage project risk.
• (OR) High School diploma/GED with eleven (11) years of applied engineering or equivalent working experience with Significant project management experience working in accordance with EPM Project Lifecycle Processes (PLP) framework to improve predictability and effectively manage project risk.

Certification

• Project Management Professional (PMP) (Required)

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don't discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capABLE, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.