Senior Project Manager - Electrical

About the role

Helm is seeking a proactive Project Manager or Senior Project Manager with experience in electrical roadway projects. This role oversees projects for Departments of Transportation, tollway authorities, municipalities, and other public-sector clients, focusing on traffic signals, street lighting, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and related roadway electrical infrastructure. The ideal candidate will manage public infrastructure construction projects, coordinate field crews and subcontractors, maintain schedules and budgets, and serve as the primary contact for stakeholders.

This position is based in our Loves Park, IL office, with potential field offices between Rockford and Chicago suburbs.

Responsibilities

• Manage roadway electrical construction projects from award through final completion, including planning, scheduling, budgeting, procurement, execution, documentation, and closeout.
• Oversee projects involving traffic signal systems, street lighting, ITS infrastructure, fiber/communications, electrical service installations, foundations, conduit systems, cabling, controls, and related roadway electrical components.
• Coordinate with DOTs, tollway authorities, municipalities, and other project stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, manpower plans, cost projections, and overall financial controls.
• Lead project meetings and provide clear, timely updates to clients, internal leadership, field teams, and other stakeholders.
• Support estimating and preconstruction efforts by reviewing bid documents, identifying scope gaps, assisting with pricing strategies, and providing constructability input.
• Manage change order development, pricing, negotiation, documentation, and execution in collaboration with estimating, accounting, and field teams.
• Ensure project work complies with applicable plans, specifications, codes, safety requirements, agency standards, and company procedures.
• Promote a strong safety culture and work closely with field leadership to ensure crews are properly planned, trained, equipped, and supported.
• Maintain accurate project documentation, including meeting notes, daily reports, cost records, submittals, RFIs, correspondence, and closeout documents.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with public-sector clients, engineers, inspectors, subcontractors, vendors, and project partners.
• Mentor assistant project managers, project engineers, coordinators, and field personnel as needed.
• Apply basic design and code knowledge effectively.

Requirements

• Accredited Bachelor’s degree in Architectural Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Construction Management.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in leadership roles specific to Electrical Trade Work as a Project Manager OR 5 years of progressive trade experience, including an additional 5 years in construction leadership with a focus on Electrical Systems as a Project Manager.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, Project, PowerPoint).
• Knowledge of scheduling software (MS Project, Primavera).
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects, priorities, stakeholders, and field teams in a fast-paced construction environment.

Benefits

• 401K plan with matching contributions.
• Health, Vision, and Dental Insurance.
• Paid Time Off.
• Health Savings Account (HSA), Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Health Wellness Programs.

Pay

Salary Range: $120,000–$140,000 annually. Final determination of pay is based on job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience.