Remote Contract Project Manager Jobs in Oak Ridge, TN

PDS General / Power Delivery Substation

This position is not eligible for recruiting or sourcing by outside parties.

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Mesa Associates, Inc. is seeking an experienced Project Manager with substation expertise to join our Power Delivery team. This role is ideal for a driven leader who understands the technical and operational demands of utility substation planning, engineering & construction projects and can confidently guide multidisciplinary teams from project initiation through closeout.

You will lead high voltage power delivery substation projects, ensuring safety, quality, budget, and schedule objectives are consistently achieved while maintaining exceptional client satisfaction. With the full support of our Project Support Office (PSO), you’ll play a central role in delivering successful outcomes across a program of substation projects. Candidate must be within 4 hours of Knoxville, TN or Louisville, KY.

What You’ll Do

• Project Leadership & Execution
  • Lead cross-functional planning/engineering/construction teams in the execution of utility substation design & construction projects.
  • Develop and manage key project planning documents, including:
    • Project Execution Plans
    • Project Initiation Documentation
    • Communication Plans
    • RFI logs
  • Drive accountability to scope, schedule, budget, and quality objectives.
  • Ensure all Mesa & assigned client business processes and procedures are followed.
• Schedule & Budget Management
  • Monitor and control project schedules and budgets.
  • Identify, document, and manage scope changes affecting cost and timeline.
  • Partner with associate project managers, coordinators, schedulers, analyst and controllers to forecast spending, accruals, and financial performance.
  • Support Program Managers/Directors in maintaining strong cost and schedule performance.
• Risk & Issue Management
  • Proactively identify project risks and develop mitigation strategies.
  • Track, assign, and resolve issues to minimize impact.
  • Maintain accurate and current project status reporting systems.
• Technical & Client Coordination
  • Support design teams in resolving technical challenges.
  • Coordinate design and construction activities to ensure efficient information flow.
  • Communicate effectively with internal teams, clients, and stakeholders across multiple programs.
  • Participate in client meetings and substation site visits while adhering to all safety requirements.

What You Bring

• Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree in project management, engineering, construction management, or related field.
  • Minimum 6 years of relevant project experience which should include:
    • Heavy industrial construction, preferably related to high voltage substations.
    • Electrical design & construction activities.
    • Engaging with and leading engineering/design projects.
  • PMP Preferred, but not required.
  • Understanding of PMI Project Management Methodologies and Processes is a plus.
  • Demonstrated experience managing power utility substation design projects.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects or a program simultaneously.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and project scheduling software.
  • Working knowledge of corporate accounting practices and business operations.
• Core Competencies
  • Strong leadership and decision-making abilities.
  • Independent judgment with minimal supervision.
  • Ability to interpret and apply scopes of work, technical criteria, and design requirements.
  • Exceptional organizational and prioritization skills.
  • Professional presence and stakeholder management capability.
  • Proven ability to manage emergent or fast-track projects.

Work Environment & Requirements

• Willingness to attend meetings at substation sites and client facilities, including occasional travel up to 5-10% to client locations mostly in middle and eastern Kentucky.
• Commitment to following all Mesa and client safety protocols.
• Ability to work effectively with remote and distributed teams.

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to travel to client sites as needed to support project alignment and execution.
• U.S. Citizenship is required (per 10 C.F.R. Part 810).
• Mesa Associates is unable to sponsor or transfer work visas for this position.

Notice to External Search Firms: Mesa Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Mesa Associates, Inc. Talent Acquisition engages with approved search firms directly for specific hiring needs.