Overview:
We are a rapidly growing technical, business, and regulatory consulting firm specializing in the electric utility sector. As we expand our Capital Programs practice, we are seeking a highly accomplished and client-focused Distribution & Transmission Program Manager to be embedded with our utility clients — driving delivery of large-scale distribution and transmission capital programs on their behalf. The successful candidate will bring deep utility industry expertise, proven delivery capability, and the credibility to operate as a trusted extension of our clients' leadership teams.
This is a senior client-facing role that demands both strategic thinking and hands-on execution. You will serve as our firm's primary accountability owner at the client site, representing our consulting practice while seamlessly integrating into the client's organization. You will interface daily with utility executive leadership, regulatory stakeholders, engineering teams, contractors, and community groups — always acting in the client's best interest while upholding our firm's standards of excellence.
Key Responsibilities:
Client Program Leadership & Execution
- Serve as the embedded Program Manager at client utility sites, owning end-to-end delivery of large, complex capital programs spanning grid modernization, substation construction, transmission line upgrades, and reliability and resilience improvement initiatives.
- Establish and maintain comprehensive program governance structures including charters, integrated master schedules, risk registers, and change control protocols — tailored to each client's environment and standards.
- Drive delivery performance against triple-constraint targets: scope, schedule, and budget — with proactive identification and mitigation of variance on behalf of the client.
- Ensure regulatory compliance with NERC, FERC, state PUC requirements, and client-specific utility standards throughout all project phases.
- Quickly build credibility and productive working relationships within client organizations, operating as a seamless extension of their leadership team.
Financial & Contract Management
- Develop and manage client program budgets, including capital expenditure forecasting, rate base tracking, and variance reporting to client executive stakeholders.
- Oversee contractor and vendor relationships on behalf of the client, including bid evaluation support, contract performance management, and invoice review.
- Support client Finance and Regulatory Affairs teams in preparing rate case filings and capital investment justifications, drawing on program data and delivery reporting.
Client & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the primary day-to-day client liaison, maintaining strong trusted-advisor relationships with utility program sponsors, executives, and functional leaders.
- Develop and deliver executive-level program dashboards, status reports, and briefing materials with clear risk and opportunity articulation — reflecting well on both the client and our firm.
- Facilitate cross-functional coordination across client Engineering, Operations, Environmental, Legal, Supply Chain, and IT teams.
- Identify opportunities to expand our firm's footprint with the client by recognizing unmet needs and surfacing them to our Practice Lead.
Team Development & Firm Contribution
- Lead, mentor, and develop junior consultants, project managers, and analysts assigned to your client engagement.
- Contribute to our firm's growing PMO practice by bringing field-tested tools, templates, and lessons learned back into our internal knowledge base.
- Participate in business development activities including proposal writing, client presentations, and conference representation as the firm grows its utility consulting practice.
- Champion continuous improvement of our firm's project delivery methodologies, tools, and processes.
Quality & Safety
- Ensure all program activities adhere to the company's safety culture and OSHA / NESC standards with zero-tolerance for safety compromise.
- Implement quality assurance and control processes that meet or exceed engineering standards and utility specifications.
- Oversee commissioning, testing, and turnover activities in coordination with Operations and Reliability teams.
Required Qualifications:
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a closely related field required.
- Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or Project Management strongly preferred.
Experience
- Minimum 12–15 years of progressive experience in project and program management within the electric utility or energy infrastructure industry.
- Demonstrated expertise in electric T&D systems (overhead/underground, substations, SCADA, AMI, high-voltage lines, protection systems, etc.).
- Proven track record managing large programs with multi-year delivery horizons.
- Deep familiarity with utility construction practices, engineering design processes, permitting, and right-of-way acquisition.
- Experience managing complex contractor ecosystems including EPC, EPCM, and time-and-material contracting models.
Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP) — required. Active PMI membership in good standing.
- Program Management Professional (PgMP) — highly preferred.
- Registered Professional Engineer (PE) — a strong differentiator.
Technical Skills
- Expert-level proficiency with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project for integrated master scheduling.
- Proficiency with project controls tools (cost management, earned value management / EVM).
- Working knowledge of GIS platforms, engineering document management systems (e.g., Documentum, SharePoint), and ERP systems (e.g., SAP).
- Familiarity with utility work management systems (e.g., Maximo, IPS).
Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior consulting or advisory experience in the utility sector — ability to navigate client politics, manage scope, and deliver results without direct authority.
- Experience with IIJA/BIL (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) or DOE-funded utility programs.
- Background in utility regulatory environment including IRP, rate case, and cost recovery processes.
- Familiarity with resilience and hardening programs (storm hardening, undergrounding, PSPS mitigation).
- Experience with grid modernization technologies including DER integration, microgrids, and automation.
- Prior experience working within or alongside an investor-owned utility (IOU), rural electric cooperative, or public power authority.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent client engagements or program workstreams.
Core Competencies
- Trusted-advisor presence — ability to quickly earn credibility and influence within client organizations without formal authority.
- Decisive leadership with the confidence to make high-stakes recommendations under ambiguity and advise clients accordingly.
- Exceptional stakeholder management — credible with utility executive leaders, regulators, and field crews alike.
- Structured, disciplined approach to scope, schedule, and cost control without sacrificing adaptability across different client environments.
- High EQ and collaborative orientation — able to build trusted relationships across organizational boundaries, both internally and at client sites.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including executive presentation and the ability to translate complex program data into clear client narratives.
- Outcome-oriented mindset with an unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and reliability — representing both our firm and our client with integrity.
About Dash Power Partners
Dash Power Partners is a specialized advisory firm with industry-leading experts focusing on independent and objective technical, business, and regulatory consulting to address growing electrical power industry needs. Our practices bring together deep operational expertise, analytical rigor, and a client-first mindset to tackle the most complex challenges facing the industry.
Benefits:
· 401(k)
· 401(k) matching
· Health, vision, and dental insurance
· Life insurance
· Paid time off
· Parental leave
· Professional development opportunities
Work Location:
Remote
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
License/Certification:
- PMI Certification (Required)
Work Location: Remote
