Job Description
Title: Project Manager-Distribution
Location: Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Hire Type: Direct Hire
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision
Compensation: $130,000 to 150,000
The Role
The Distribution Project Manager will oversee distribution engineering services projects, utility programs, and EPC-related work, with responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, quality, risk management, and client satisfaction. This position serves as a primary point of accountability for client communication, expectation management, issue resolution, and coordination among clients, engineering teams, and key stakeholders. The role also supports staffing, planning, project execution, financial performance, and long-term client relationship development across a growing portfolio of utility projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage the delivery of assigned distribution projects, portfolios, and programs, with accountability for scope, schedule, cost, quality, and client satisfaction.
- Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for assigned clients, coordinating project priorities, decisions, deliverables, and expectations while developing long-term relationships.
- Establish communication protocols and lead regular client meetings and reporting on scope, schedule, budget, quality, risks, decisions, and action items.
- Align with clients on project scope, assumptions, priorities, acceptance criteria, and change management throughout the project lifecycle.
- Proactively communicate emerging issues and potential impacts, coordinate timely decisions, and drive resolution to protect project delivery.
- Understand client business objectives, standards, capital plans, and operational needs to develop effective project and program delivery strategies.
- Monitor client satisfaction, solicit feedback, coordinate corrective actions, and identify opportunities to provide additional value and support future work.
- Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary project teams, including engineering, project coordination, and contractor resources.
- Partner with engineering, Distribution, grid, and business leaders on staffing, delivery strategy, and resource planning.
- Identify and manage project risks, issues, and client concerns.
- Support proposal development, strategic planning, and business growth initiatives.
- Mentor Associate Project Managers, Project Coordinators, and other developing team members as appropriate.
- Operate effectively in a fast-paced environment supporting engineering services, program management, and EPC delivery.
- Support the development and implementation of scalable project management and delivery practices across the Distribution organization.
Preferred Qualifications
- 5+ years of progressive project management experience supporting electric utility, distribution, EPC, or infrastructure-related projects.
- Previous experience supporting electric distribution projects, programs, or EPC delivery is strongly preferred.
- Strong organizational, communication, and collaboration skills.
- Demonstrated ability to take ownership and deliver results in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
- Experience building and sustaining long-term client relationships and obtaining repeat work.
- Experience working with cross-functional teams, including engineering and technical staff.
- Experience leading client-facing projects, portfolios, or programs.
- Ability to collaborate across teams and adapt to changing priorities.
- Experience supporting investor-owned utility (IOU) clients and utility capital programs is preferred.
- PMP certification is preferred.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
- Ability to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements, if selected, which may include criminal/civil background checks, drug screening, and motor vehicle records searches, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
Work Environment and Physical Demands
- Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment, based on manager discretion, job performance, and work assignments.
- Ability to utilize audio and video conferencing software for internal and external communication.
- Ability to sit, stand, and use a computer for extended periods.
- Travel to client sites as needed.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Ann Arbor, MI |
| Industry | Staffing/Employment Agencies |
| Salary | $130,000–$150,000 Per Year |
| Company Size | 500 to 999 employees |
| Year Founded | 1969 |
| Website | http://www.sterling-engineering.com |
About Company
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
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