Substation Engineering Project Manager - Urban Grid Solar Projects, LLC

Urban Grid, a leading independent power producer, facilitates a rapid and sustainable energy transition by developing high-quality renewable energy projects, fostering community partnerships, and serving as a good land steward. Our company is positioned to own and operate its facilities while cultivating a land management system that benefits farmers, communities, and the natural world through agrivoltaics. Urban Grid maintains a delivery-focused approach with the goal of being a good neighbor, corporate citizen, and trusted energy solutions partner. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with teams situated strategically throughout the United States, Urban Grid has a long history of contributing to the clean energy economy. In addition to 940 megawatts currently under construction, we are actively developing a growing portfolio of more than 12,000 megawatts of solar PV and 7,000 megawatts of co-located and stand-alone energy storage. To learn more, please visit www.UrbanGridSolar.com.

 Urban Grid is a portfolio company of Brookfield. one of the world’s largest owners and operators of renewable power and climate transition assets.

Job Summary
Urban Grid is seeking an experienced Substation Engineering Project Manager candidate will be responsible for guiding projects successfully through the interconnection process and executing various aspects of preconstruction and construction, including the Collector substation and the ISO's HV switchyard.

This role is responsible for managing all related interconnection, substation, and high voltage studies and risks, interconnection and substation engineering designs, and construction oversight for all projects in the Project Delivery phases as well as being accountable for meeting project milestones and maintaining accurate project scope, schedules, and budgets.

This position will work closely with the Project Developers during the Development phase and Project Delivery Project Managers and subsequently lead assigned projects across the portfolio from Late-Stage through Construction along with Interconnection & Transmission, Performance Engineering, Owner’s Engineer (OE), Lenders Independent Engineering Representative (IE), General Contractors (EPC), Permitting Entities, specialty and task specific Contractors and key stakeholders.

Preferred candidates will have experience working with interconnection processes of Independent System Operators (ISO's) like PJM and MISO. Responsibilities for this position are listed below, but are not limited to:

Responsibilities

• Manage the interconnection integration process for projects in the preconstruction and construction stages.
• Participate in decision-making during facilities studies, including the option to build switchyards and collector substations.
• Collaborate with engineering teams, internal and external, both preliminary and final detailed EPC engineering, to support development of project designs and specifications for utility-scale solar installations with specific focus on Interconnection facilities including Collector substations as well as High Voltage switchyards, whether constructed by the utility or as an option to build by Urban Grid.
• Develop and manage project initial schedules, budgets, and resource allocation coordinating with relevant Stakeholders.
• Identify long lead items for projects in development and specify and procure such items.
• Manage FAT and storage of such equipment.
• Coordinate procurement with Supply Chain and Legal departments.
• Ensuring interconnection process requirements are being followed and project milestones are met.
• Manage changes in Interconnection Agreement (IA) milestones effectively.
• Understand and coordinate the requirements of the ISO agreement, including financial obligations.
• Ensure that outages are coordinated well in advance to support the project schedules.
• Cultivate a positive and productive relationship with stakeholders at ISOs, ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Coordinate ISO project integration work including system integration and synchronization of the generators.
• Manage the ISO equipment modification process including the Necessary Study process or MISO modification process.
• Collaborate with the relevant authorities to resolve interface issues.
• Coordinate SCADA requirements and data points for Transmission Operator (TO) and Independent System Operator (ISO), and ensure they are incorporated into EPC contract scopes.
• Oversee contract consultation for telecom buildout to the site, including feasibility reports, cost impact analysis, and detailed engineering plans.
• Ensure completion of telecom work, adhering to Point of Interconnection (POI) requirements.
• Arrange for the Auxiliary Station service agreements.
• Coordinate all Metering scope requirements in accordance with ICSA and address redundancy needs per NERC CIP requirements.
• Project manages the engineering, procurement, and construction of ISO HV switchyards and Collector substations.
• Collaborate with the Transmission Operator to challenge and optimize substation costs for the interconnection facility.
• Lead the negotiation and contract compliance process for HV Switchyard EPC contracts. Manage the interface between substation EPCs and Balance of Plant EPCs.
• Conduct site visits based on construction phase or project challenges to monitor progress and ensure safety and quality standards are met.
• Lead site visits with the project management team to identify project risks.
• Promote a culture of safety and security with all stakeholders.
• Work closely with Interconnection Team and Project Delivery Team to establish clear lines of accountability and interfaces.

Requirements

• BS or MS Degree in Engineering, Business, Construction Management, or similar related field of study.

• Project Management Professional Certificate or License, preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in Project Management in Energy or Electrical Distribution Development, preferred.
• Minimum of 5+ years of project management experience
• Experience working within a solar development or EPC company preferred.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Self-motivated and able to work both individually and/or in a collaborative team environment with minimal guidance.
• Able to manage multiple deadlines and priorities while creating and maintaining a collaborative working relationship with internal and external team members.
• Strong organizational capacity to simultaneously manage multiple projects with competing deadlines and be able to quickly adapt to changes and shift priorities to meet project needs.
• Experience reviewing scopes of work, technical specifications, drawings, and estimates.
• Experience with scheduling software platforms, preferably MS Project, Primavera 6 or similar.
• Experience with construction projects’ budget and cashflow management.
• Experience supporting the development of supplier bid packages, proposals, and various contract exhibits.
• Experience with bid analysis, estimating, contract negotiations, proposals, RFPs, project documents.
• Knowledge of the PJM and MISO Tariffs and Manuals, and ability to learn other RTO processes.
• Experience negotiating contracts, master service agreements, purchase orders or other types of contracts or agreements.
• Skill in overseeing contractor/consultant work to ensure successful program/project delivery.
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience with high voltage installations.

Location: Houston, TX preferred location with a hybrid office policy. Position may require periodic trips for team meetings or site visits. Alternative arrangements may be considered for exceptional candidates.

Benefits

Urban Grid offers an exciting benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, health savings account, flexible spending account, company-paid life insurance and short-term disability, voluntary life, and long-term disability, paid parental leave, and a retirement plan with matching. Full-time position with a competitive compensation package, including bonus.