GRAND RIVER DAM AUTHORITY

Senior Project Manager

Pryor, OK

full time

On-site

Oil and Gas

About This Job

We deliver affordable, reliable ELECTRICITY, with a focus on EFFICIENCY and a commitment to ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. We are dedicated to ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, providing resources and supporting economic growth. Our EMPLOYEES are our greatest asset in meeting our mission to be an Oklahoma Agency of Excellence.

GRDA is seeking a highly motivated Senior Project Manager – T&D Engineering to help build and lead an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) program within the Transmission and Distribution Engineering Division. This position will play a critical role in developing GRDA’s internal capabilities for delivering capital infrastructure projects—particularly transmission line rebuilds and upgrades, with additional focus on greenfield and major rebuild substation projects.

The selected candidate will be responsible for managing the full lifecycle of EPC projects—from initial scoping and procurement through execution, acceptance, and closeout. While engineering design will be executed by EPC contractors, the Senior Project Manager will coordinate internal reviews, ensure adherence to GRDA technical standards, and maintain oversight of construction through assigned inspectors and coordinators. This position will serve as the primary point of contact for internal stakeholders and EPC partners, helping to establish clear expectations, monitor performance, and drive accountability across the project portfolio.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

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Lead the planning, procurement, and execution of EPC transmission line and substation capital projects, with emphasis on rebuilds, upgrades, and new construction.

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Develop clear and detailed project scopes, schedules, and deliverables in collaboration with internal stakeholders and senior leadership.

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Serve as the primary GRDA project representative for selected EPC contractors; manage communications, expectations, and performance throughout the project lifecycle.

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Facilitate engineering design reviews, technical submittal evaluations, and material approvals in coordination with GRDA engineering staff.

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Coordinate right-of-way, environmental, permitting, and system operations inputs during project scoping and execution.

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Supervise project coordinators and construction inspectors; provide leadership, direction, and support to ensure field activities are executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with GRDA standards.

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Monitor contractor adherence to project schedules and budgets; lead schedule tracking, cost control, and change management processes.

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Conduct regular project status reporting and risk assessments; escalate critical issues to senior management with recommended mitigation strategies.

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Maintain organized project records including contracts, design documentation, status reports, schedules, as-builts, and closeout materials.

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Support the development and continuous improvement of GRDA’s EPC project delivery framework, tools, and procedures.

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Promote and enforce a strong safety culture across all phases of project execution.

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Participate in after-hours emergency response or storm restoration efforts, as needed.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, & ABILITIES REQUIRED:

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Electric Utility Expertise – Strong working knowledge of transmission lines and substation systems, including structure types, conductor configurations, substation layouts, major equipment (breakers, transformers, relays), and protection philosophies.

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EPC Project Delivery – Familiarity with all phases of EPC project execution, including scoping, contracting, schedule and budget development, engineering review, construction coordination, and closeout.

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Technical Review Capability – Ability to evaluate technical documents including design drawings, specifications, material submittals, and QA/QC documentation for compliance with GRDA standards and project requirements.

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Construction Oversight – Working understanding of utility construction methods, safety practices, sequencing, and field constraints; ability to interface effectively with inspectors, contractors, and field personnel.

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Project Controls – Proficient in managing project schedules, budgets, and risks; capable of tracking progress, facilitating status reporting, and managing change orders effectively.

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Software Proficiency – Competent with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook), MS Project or equivalent scheduling tools, and document control systems. Familiarity with CMMS platforms such as Maximo is preferred.

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Communication Skills – Clear and professional in both written and verbal communication, including technical correspondence, status reports, and presentations to leadership and stakeholders.

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Interpersonal Effectiveness – Demonstrated ability to build relationships, resolve conflict, and foster collaboration across departments, contractors, and landowners.

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Problem Solving – Skilled at analyzing complex project or stakeholder challenges and identifying timely, practical solutions.

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Regulatory Awareness – Understanding of utility industry standards (e.g., NESC, IEEE), state permitting processes, and safety/environmental regulations related to utility construction.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:

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Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, Electrical/Civil/Mechanical Engineering, or a degree in related field required.

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A minimum of 7 years of progressive project management experience in electric utility infrastructure is required

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Direct experience with Transmission line and Substation projects is essential; experience with EPC delivery models is strongly preferred

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Prior experience leading multi-disciplinary teams, managing third-party contractors, and working with field construction personnel is required.

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Demonstrated experience coordinating with engineering consultants, procurement staff, and construction contractors on capital infrastructure projects.

SPECIAL CERTIFICATES, REGISTRATIONS, LICENSES:

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Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is required, or must be obtained within six (6) months of hire.

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Must have a valid Oklahoma driver's license.

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Professional Engineer (PE) registration in Oklahoma preferred, not required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

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Work will be performed in a mix of office, field and substation environments.

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Must be able to walk on uneven terrain, climb stairs and work from elevated platforms or ladders in and around high voltage equipment.

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Occasional lifting and carrying of materials or equipment up to 50 lbs. may be required.

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Must be comfortable working outdoors in varying weather conditions, including heat, cold and inclement weather.

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Must not have a fear of heights, confined spaces, or energized equipment areas.

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Visual and auditory acuity, along with manual dexterity, is required for interpreting drawings, using digital tools, and working safely in field settings.

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After-hours or storm response work may be required under emergency or outage conditions.

JOB LOCATION:

This position may office out of one of the following GRDA locations, depending on candidate preference and/or business need:

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Engineering Technology Center (Tulsa, OK)

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Administrative Center (Chouteau, OK)

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Transmission Headquarters (Pryor, OK)

Travel to substation and transmission project sites is required throughout GRDA’s service territory in northeastern Oklahoma and occasionally beyond.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!