Operations Program Manager Jobs in Richmond, VA (NOW HIRING)

Company Overview

CEEUS is a member-owned cooperative wholesale distributor serving the electric-utility marketplace. From operations in West Columbia, South Carolina, and Glen Allen, Virginia, we coordinate the flow of materials and equipment from manufacturers to electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, and investor-owned utilities. Our goal is not growth for its own sake. We work to become a better company by creating more value for the utilities and communities we serve.

Organizational Relationships

Department | Sales & Supplier Relations
Direct Lead | Director of Supplier Relations

Purpose

The Program Manager – Engineered Projects is a procurement and project manager for complex, large-scale engineered projects for electric transmission and distribution (T&D) customers – including electric utilities, engineering firms, EPCs, and electrical contractors. The position coordinates all phases of project execution to ensure successful delivery on time, within budget, and to customer specifications. Serving as an account manager, technical and commercial liaison between customers, engineering partners, suppliers, and manufacturer representatives, this role ensures the seamless execution of tailored product solutions from concept through project completion.

Nature and Scope

This role operates at the intersection of sales, engineering, and project management. The Program Manager collaborates with internal sales staff and external stakeholders, including engineers, consultants, OEMs, contractors, suppliers, and agents – to review specifications, coordinate complex quotes, and execute high-value projects. The position requires strong technical aptitude in power delivery systems, robust program and project management capability, and a proactive customer-focused mindset. Projects may include substation packages, control houses, metering, protection and control systems, and related T&D equipment.

Qualities | The Program Manager – Engineered Projects we are looking for will be:

• Team-Oriented Leader: Supports, coaches and motivates team members through clear communication and accountability.
• Customer-Focused: Driven to exceed expectations across a diverse customer base—from utility owners to EPCs and field contractors—through responsive communication and dependable execution.
• Organized and Efficient: Exceptional at managing multiple complex project schedules, submittals, documentation, and competing deadlines without dropping details.
• Proactive Problem Solver: Thrives in a fast-paced distributor environment while balancing changing job-site schedules, utility outage windows, and factory lead times and implements proactive solutions before issues impact project timelines.
• Strong Communicator: Clear, articulate, and effective in conveying technical and commercial details to internal teams, factory reps, contractors, consulting engineers, and utility leaders.
• Collaborative Partner: Works seamlessly across internal sales teams, outside reps, factory partners, and project managers to present unified solutions.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the full sales lifecycle of engineered projects, from specification and proposal to project completion.
• Serve as the key point of contact for customers, consultants, suppliers and reps for technical sales inquiries and updates.
• Interpret technical specifications, engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and diagrams to support accurate project scoping, sourcing, and competitive quoting.
• Track and manage program milestones, submittal approvals, factory manufacturing schedules, freight logistics, and job-site delivery schedules to align with contractor and utility timelines.
• Coordinate internal resources and suppliers to ensure timely execution of project requirements
• Interpret engineering drawings, bills of materials, and specifications as needed for accurate quoting and execution.
• Maintain and update project tracking tools and CRM to provide clear pipeline visibility, milestone tracking, and financial forecasting for management.
• Identify and pursue new project opportunities with existing and prospective customers
• Coordinate, collaborate and communicate with internal sales representatives.
• Ensure all deliverables comply with customer standards, project quality specs, and company commercial guidelines.
• Assist with resolving escalated customer issues with complex orders.
• Participate in regular forecasting and program review meetings to report on program profitability, schedule health, and vendor performance.

Working Location and Conditions

• Hybrid: Travel, work from home, CEEUS headquarters (SC) and CEEUS VMD location
• Travel greater than 50%
• After-hours communication and/or travel depending on customer needs.

    Essential Job Functions

• Ability to sit or stand at a workstation for up to six hours at a time.
• Must possess fine motor skills and finger dexterity necessary for precise and efficient use of a keyboard, mouse, and trackpad in performing job-related tasks for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate frequently and clearly in both verbal and written formats.
• Must have the ability to see and interpret detailed information, including small text and images, on screens, paper, or other materials, with or without corrective lenses.
• Must be able to process complex information, evaluate multiple variables, and apply logical reasoning to solve problems and make informed decisions.

Education, Knowledge, and Experience 

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Education Level

• ​Bachelor’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Education Details

• Business, Project Management, or Fundamentals of Engineering

Engineering Degree

Work Experience

• 5+ years in technical sales, project coordination, or engineered product support.

Project management, sales, or customer service experience within the electrical and/or power distribution industry

Work Details

• Must demonstrate excellent communication skills, coaching, and leadership abilities. 
• Must be highly organized with strong follow-through and attention to detail. 
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office and CRM systems. 
• Must have the ability to solve problems and lead a team in a fast-paced environment.

Licenses & Certifications

PMP