Project Intake & Support Administrator/Engineer

At Cleco, we're not just powering lives—we're powering a cleaner, smarter future for Louisiana. With bold investments in innovative energy solutions, we’re transforming how we power our communities: smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable. This is a long-term commitment to our people and our communities because our future—and the future of generations to come—depends on it. If you're ready to make an impact where it matters most, join us at Cleco—where we're Energizing Your Tomorrow.

The Project Intake & Support Administrator/Engineer is a Subject Matter Expert responsible for leading and supporting the project intake process while developing and reviewing preliminary project cost estimates, schedules, and supporting documentation for proposed projects. This role serves as a subject matter resource for estimating practices ensuring that project scopes and estimates are well-defined and aligned with organizational priorities before entering the project portfolio.

This position works with minimal supervision and partners closely with project sponsors, engineering, and project management teams to shape project scope and develop class 5 estimates in accordance with large capital governance.

Key Responsibilities

- Champions a corporate culture that emphasizes transparency, integrity, safety, environmental responsibility, employee development, sense of belonging, customer service, and operational excellence.

- Lead the coordination and execution of the project intake process for large capital projects, serving as a primary intake resource.

- Evaluate project requests for completeness, scope clarity, alignment to intake criteria, and readiness for governance review.

- Provide expert guidance to stakeholders on intake requirements, approval requirements, and timelines.

- Track projects through the intake lifecycle, ensuring clear documentation of decisions, approvals, and next steps.

- Independently develop class 5 project cost estimates for proposed projects, including labor, materials, contractor costs, contingency, and escalation where applicable.

- Coordinate with Engineering, Supply Chain, and Project Managers to validate assumptions, scope elements, and estimating inputs.

- Prepare cash flow forecasts and high-level schedule estimates to support prioritization and funding decisions.

- Review and challenge sponsor provided estimates to ensure accuracy, completeness, and alignment with estimating standards and historical data.

- Perform intake readiness and quality reviews to identify scope gaps, risks, cost drivers, and execution considerations.

- Support gate reviews preparing intake presentations for leadership.

- Document assumptions, risks, and constraints to support transparent decision making.

- Provide technical and/or engineering support for projects as needed.

- Willingness and ability to learn new technologies on the job.

Qualifications

Required Education, Skills & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Technology, Construction Management, Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field; Engineer preferred.

- 7+ years of experience in engineering, project management, project support, project controls, estimating, or portfolio management.

- Demonstrated experience developing project cost estimates for large capital or complex projects.

- Working knowledge of project management concepts.

- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple requests and deadlines.

- Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively across functional teams.

- This level is based only on availability in approved org design/structure; strict adherence is required.

- Progression to this level is strictly restricted on the basis of critical individual capabilities and business requirements; must be supported by market survey data [

Key Competencies

BEHAVIORAL

- Building Partnerships

- Leading Teams

- Business Acumen

- Communication

- Courage

- Building Self-Insight

- Driving for Results

- Energizing the Organization

- Driving Execution

- Building Trusting Relationships

- Driving Innovation

- Planning and Organizing

- Safety

- Establishing Strategic Direction

TECHNICAL

- Schedule design

- Schedule implementation

- Schedule specification

- Planning/Scheduling technical support

- Scheduling software technology

- Software testing

May perform other duties as needed.

Salary dependent on experience, skills, education, and training.