Senior Utilities Project Manager

About the role

Mott MacDonald is a leading provider of engineering, advisory, program management, and technical consulting services supporting electrical utility infrastructure throughout North America. We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Manager to lead the delivery of multidisciplinary consulting and engineering services for major electrical transmission, substation, and grid infrastructure projects. This role will serve as the primary interface between clients and our technical delivery teams, ensuring successful execution of complex programs while expanding trusted client relationships and Mott MacDonald's presence across the energy sector.

Responsibilities

• Project Delivery Leadership: Serve as Project Manager for complex transmission, substation, and utility infrastructure projects, coordinating multiple technical disciplines and workstreams across project development and execution. Lead the successful delivery of consulting, planning, environmental, engineering, advisory, and construction support services from project initiation through closeout. Develop and maintain project execution plans, resource plans, budgets, schedules, forecasts, and staffing strategies. Manage project scope, fee, commercial performance, risk, quality, and contractual obligations. Establish project governance, reporting, and decision-making frameworks that support successful project outcomes. Serve as the primary point of accountability for project delivery performance and client satisfaction.
• Client Relationship Leadership: Build and maintain trusted advisor relationships with utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, developers, industrial clients, and energy infrastructure owners. Serve as a strategic partner to clients delivering grid modernization, reliability, resiliency, load growth, renewable integration, and system expansion programs. Understand client capital programs, regulatory drivers, operational challenges, and long-term infrastructure plans. Identify opportunities to expand Mott MacDonald's service offerings across planning, engineering, environmental, advisory, and program management disciplines. Lead executive-level project reviews and key client meetings.
• Commercial & Financial Management: Maintain accountability for project profitability, resource utilization, forecasting accuracy, invoicing, and financial performance. Develop fee proposals, budget forecasts, staffing plans, and delivery strategies. Lead scope negotiations, change management efforts, and contract amendments. Monitor project performance metrics and proactively identify and mitigate emerging risks. Ensure projects are delivered safely, profitably, and in accordance with client and contractual requirements.
• Business Development & Growth Support: Support strategic pursuits, proposals, interviews, and capture planning activities. Collaborate with account leaders and market leaders to strengthen client relationships and expand account penetration. Identify opportunities to position Mott MacDonald's capabilities across transmission, substation, distribution, renewables interconnection, grid modernization, and utility program delivery. Contribute to the continued growth of Mott MacDonald's North American Power and Utilities business.
• Leadership & Team Development: Lead multidisciplinary teams consisting of engineers, planners, environmental specialists, permitting professionals, project controls personnel, construction support staff, and technical specialists. Mentor developing project managers, discipline leads, and early-career professionals. Promote a culture of safety, collaboration, innovation, accountability, and technical excellence.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience delivering multidisciplinary services supporting electrical utility, power systems, transmission, distribution, substation, and/or energy infrastructure projects.
• Strong understanding of utility capital project development, including planning, routing, permitting, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning processes.
• Experience managing project budgets, schedules, contracts, and commercial performance.
• Exceptional communication, leadership, client relationship, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams and manage complex project portfolios.

Preferred Qualifications