Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Minimum Pay Rate: $136,364.80

Maximum Pay Rate: $180,606.40

Civil Service Status: Civil Service

Apply by Date: 08/15/2025

Posting Type: Open

The Sr. Project Manager of transmission interconnections is responsible for overseeing and managing the planning, development, and implementation of projects related to the interconnection of the bulk electric and sub transmission systems. The Sr. PM plays a critical role in facilitating the reliable and efficient connection of new energy sources to the transmission grid, contributing to the overall stability and growth of the electrical infrastructure. The position is responsible for developing project plans that outline the scope, objectives, timeline, and resources needed for interconnection projects. This includes defining project milestones and deliverables. The Sr. PM is responsible for the execution of the Large Generation Interconnection Agreement and/or the Power Purchase Agreement for third-party developers related to power plants that interconnect with the bulk electric and sub transmission systems. The Sr. PM will act as a liaison between various stakeholders, including SMUD, neighboring utilities, renewable energy developers, governmental agencies, and community organizations, to ensure effective communication and collaboration throughout the project lifecycle. The position will understand and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements related to interconnection agreements, environmental regulations, and local, state, and federal laws. This position will also oversee all areas of construction and commissioning phases of the project, ensuring that safety and quality standards are met. The Sr. PM role will oversee other SMUD PMs assigned to different phases of the execution of these large interconnection projects such as: Substation PM, Transmission Line Design PM, and will perform the functions of the Transmission Planning Operations PM role. In the Operations PM role, the PM will oversee all grid testing, ensure developer has completed all plant side testing and commissioning, market modeling, EMS model, CAISO model, and operationalizing functions to ensure the project is ready for Permission to Operate and Commercial Operation Date, as necessary. The Sr. PM is responsible for preparing and managing project budgets, ensuring that expenditures are tracked and that projects are completed within financial constraints and to identify potential risks and challenges related to transmission interconnection projects, and develop mitigation strategies to address them. The Sr PM will monitor project progress against timelines, budget, and prepare regular status reports for stakeholders to keep them informed of the project's progress and any issues that arise and conduct post-project evaluations to analyze the outcomes and identify lessons learned for future projects.

Cover Letter Requirement: To be considered for this position, please ensure your cover letter includes responses to the following questions. Failure to submit the required cover letter may preclude you from moving forward in the process:

1. Describe your experience in managing transmission and distribution power plant interconnection projects from initiation to commercial operation date.
2. Describe your experience in managing cross functional teams within an organization along with external developers and local agencies.
3. Describe your experience in managing transmission and distribution interconnection projects through utility testing and operationalizing it to the commercial operation date.

Purpose

Provides project management expertise and services in assigned area including to plan, organize, manage, coordinate, and execute activities and projects to ensure adequate, reliable, efficient, and cost effective systems and projects for SMUD.

Nature and Scope

Serves as a technical or functional expert or consultant providing expertise and/or direction in one or more areas of a professional discipline and assumes responsibility for resolving complex problems and overseeing complex projects. May also serve in a Lead role and assist in planning, coordinating, prioritizing, monitoring, and evaluating the work results in assigned area and in selecting, training, motivating, evaluating, and developing lower-level personnel.

This role typically oversees or leads one or more large, complex projects. Or supervise PMs and a team supporting portfolios. Substations, Data Co-Lo, Large Overhauls Power Generations. Manages enterprise/OAT projects with budgets in excess of $10,000,000.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manages activities and projects in assigned area; develops necessary project plans, cost estimates, project budgets, work breakdowns and schedules, and project summary descriptions and justifications for department, SMUD, and/or multi-utility or agency review.
• Ensures integrated planning and cooperation by internal/external partners or stakeholders to support successful completion of assigned projects; coordinates project planning with other departments and entities through meetings and shared written and oral reporting and communications; provides leadership and coordination with other utilities and agencies as required.
• Ensures the availability of timely and accurate project planning information on SMUD projects; collects, verifies, organizes, and maintains data; prepares and provides written summaries, reports, and recommendations for SMUD projects; responds verbally or in writing to routine and time-critical inquiries on projects from SMUD Board, regulatory bodies, other utilities, public agencies, and other SMUD departments.
• Ensures assigned work activities successfully contribute to the overall completion of department projects; plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, guides, reviews, and conducts work activities associated with department internal/external projects in accordance with established task objectives and schedule as outlined in the project plans.
• Ensures that project team members and contractors work methods, technical methodologies, and problem-solving methods meet SMUD policies and quality standards and contract terms; provides project guidance to project team members and contractors to develop unique solutions that address new or difficult problems on projects; directs preparation of verbal and written reports on technical problems.
• Represents SMUD’s positions, priorities, and interests on multi-agency projects and to various industry, government, interest groups, and regulatory bodies.
• Provides leadership and direction for assigned tasks in order to meet defined unit goals and schedules and comply with SMUD schedule, quality, quantity, safety, and performance standards; plans, coordinates, prioritizes, monitors, and guides work activities of project team members to meet established task objectives and deadlines by following established policies and precedents; communicates with team members and incorporates their input to processes and techniques; promotes safety and a safe work environment; assists in evaluating work performance results; participates as a team member in accomplishing objectives; refers problems to supervisory staff when solutions are not readily achievable.
• Performs related duties as required.

Required Education

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in a field directly related to area of assignment or equivalent experience.

Required Experience Qualifications

• Seven or more (7+) years of progressively responsible relevant project management work experience in the power industry that includes significant experience in project leadership, management and outside agency interface or inter-utility project involvement. If no degree, a minimum of eleven or more (11+) years of relevant experience is required.

Required Licenses/Certificates

Project Management Institute PMP Certification

Acceptable alternative education or certification include:

• Project Management Institute - ACP Agile Certified Practitioner
• Engineering Degree, and requisite experience
• Construction Mgmt Degree, and requisite experience
• Professional Engineer Certification, and requisite experience
• Construction Mgmt Certification, and requisite experience

Knowledge Of

Project management principles and practices; SMUD operations; SMUD policies, procedures, applicable MOUs, and other special agreements; federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations pertinent to area of assignment; strategic and business planning processes; cost control, scheduling, and budgeting principles and practices; reengineering principles; process improvement techniques; performance measurement techniques; proposal preparation techniques; contractual mechanisms and common terms and conditions; accounting fundamentals; management reporting; management control system fundamentals; total quality management philosophies, tools and techniques; methods and techniques for planning, organizing, and overseeing work activities; practices for delegating, assigning, and reviewing work assignments; safety policies, practices, and procedures; standard operating procedures for modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary standards.

Skills To

Manage multiple projects including to plan, coordinate, and interpret diverse functions and activities within assigned projects; develop strategic, business, operational, and program plans; establish and maintain cooperation between work groups, contractors, and external agencies on the programs and within specific projects while working with a variety of staff and contractors to ensure that project goals and objectives will be met on schedule and within the approved budget; negotiate with internal and external representatives on behalf of SMUD; evaluate project progress and resolve complex technical issues; understand and resolve the technical, political, and corporate issues that are subject to change; interact with others to influence and motivate; compile and prepare technical, statistical, and analytical reports and presentations; develop and conduct oral presentations to internal/external audiences; work effectively with other utilities and outside agencies to manage joint projects; interpret, analyze, and apply pertinent policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements; identify significant organizational issues concerns and needs and develop strategies for rectifying them; accomplish tasks through teamwork; utilize a personal computer and/or computer terminal, systems and software relevant to the job; communicate effectively orally and in writing internally/externally; establish and maintain effective working relationships internally/externally.

Physical Requirements

Applicants must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) - Who We Are

As the nation's sixth-largest community-owned electric service provider, we're proud of our reputation as one of the best places to work in Sacramento. Our employees tell us in our engagement surveys they're "Happy, satisfied and engaged" which helps create a workplace that best serves our customers.

Sacramento was named as the 2nd happiest place to work in America by Forbes Magazine. Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and the world-renowned Napa Valley are within easy driving distance of our locations.

California Equal Pay Act

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) are a part of who we are and how we do things. Supporting efforts that promote pay equality is part of that. Salary placement for the selected candidate will be determined in alignment with the California Equal Pay Act or the applicable MOU. Determination for salary placement of internal candidates will be made without respect to current classification or compensation and will be based upon the candidate's qualifications as compared to those performing substantially similar work. In the event there is a guaranteed pay progression outlined in an applicable MOU, the MOU takes precedence.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion

SMUD respects, values and celebrates the unique attributes, characteristics and perspectives that make each person who they are. Diversity and inclusion are guiding principles to deliver a culture that reflects the broader values of the community and our customers. Our Board's policy for Employee Relation sets our commitment to developing and maintaining a high quality, inclusive workplace that engages and inspires employees to commit to SMUD's purpose, vision and values.

Why Sacramento, California?

The capitol of California, Sacramento is the state's sixth-largest city, and the 35th largest in the U.S. Local universities include California State University, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law, and the University of California, Davis and several competitive community colleges. The UC Davis Medical Center, a world-renowned research hospital, is one of more than a dozen hospitals and shared services centers in the Sacramento region. Part of the agriculturally rich Central Valley, Sacramento is at the forefront of the farm-to-fork food movement. Northern California is home to some of the country's top technology companies, including Google and LinkedIn, and a multitude of startups in many industries. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the River Cats (AAA baseball), the Republic FC (soccer) and the San Francisco Giants, NBA Warriors and NFL 49ers aren't far away. Sacramento offers an affluent liberal arts community with Broadway, Mondavi Center, Crocker Museum and summer musical theater to name a few.

Hybrid Work

This position may be eligible for SMUD's hybrid (office/home) work employee benefit, the schedule of which will be determined by the successful candidate and the Hiring Manager. SMUD takes pride in powering the Sacramento region community where we live and work. We value the strong working relationships we develop with our colleagues. Our approach to hybrid work will continue to evolve. Please be aware that should SMUD’s business needs change, emergencies occur, or various other reasons arise, you may be required to report onsite on a part-time or full-time basis.

Read Full Description