DescriptionThe Lead Project Manager - Large Power Generation is responsible for leading the end-to-end execution of large, complex power generation projects within the Waukesha Project Execution function. This role owns delivery of a comprehensive customer solution, including scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk, contract execution, and customer satisfaction from order intake through final acceptance and closeout.
The role is intended for highly experienced project leaders capable of managing projects exceeding 300 MW and $300 million in total project value. The Lead Project Manager serves as the primary point of accountability across internal functions and external stakeholders to ensure safe, compliant, on-time, and on-budget execution.
Additionally, this role manages some of the most strategically important and commercially significant projects in the Waukesha portfolio. Success in this role directly impacts customer satisfaction, financial performance, market reputation, and long-term growth in large power generation solutions.
What you'll do:
- Lead end-to-end execution of large-scale power generation projects from contract handoff through commissioning, performance validation, and final customer acceptance. This includes multi-unit installations, international execution, and diverse stakeholder environments.
- Own overall project delivery and performance, ensuring achievement of safety, quality, schedule, cost, cash, margin, contractual obligations, and customer satisfaction targets.
- Direct cross-functional execution across engineering, sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, field services, commissioning, finance, legal, and commercial teams to deliver integrated project solutions.
- Develop and govern project execution plans, including schedules, resource planning, risk management, milestone tracking, and executive governance processes.
- Serve as the primary customer interface, leading executive reviews and building trusted relationships with customers, EPCs, developers, consultants, and strategic partners.
- Administer contract execution, including scope management, change orders, claims, payment milestones, commercial correspondence, and mitigation of contractual risks.
- Identify, manage, and resolve project risks, opportunities, and critical issues across technical, operational, commercial, and regulatory dimensions.
- Lead safe and compliant site execution, ensuring effective installation, commissioning, startup, quality standards, EHS compliance, export controls, and successful project handover.
- Manage project financial performance, including forecasting, revenue recognition support, cash collection, contingency management, and margin protection.
- Provide executive reporting and decision support by communicating project status, risks, recovery actions, and key business impacts to senior leadership.
- Drive continuous improvement and organizational learning through lessons learned, best-practice sharing, and execution excellence initiatives.
What you'll have:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Business, or related technical field.
- Significant experience in large-scale power generation, energy, EPC, industrial infrastructure, or reciprocating engine power plant project execution.
- Extensive project management experience with demonstrated responsibility for projects exceeding 300 MW and $300 million.
- Proven track record managing highly complex, multi-disciplinary projects with international or multi-site execution scope.
- Strong knowledge of contract management, project controls, scheduling, cost management, risk management, and customer governance.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams in a matrix organization.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to manage claims, change orders, milestone billing, and margin protection.
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
What will make you stand out:
- Deep understanding of power plant delivery models, including packaged equipment, EPC interfaces, commissioning, and plant performance obligations.
- Experience with engine-based power generation solutions, grid support applications, peaking plants, baseload plants, and/or energy transition projects.
- Strong executive presence and ability to lead under pressure in high-visibility customer environments.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability with a proactive, ownership-driven mindset.
- Ability to manage ambiguity, drive decisions, and maintain execution discipline across long project cycles.
- Familiarity with project management tools and methodologies such as integrated master scheduling, earned value, risk reviews, and stage-gate governance.
- PMP or equivalent project management certification preferred.
- Experience with international contracts, consortium structures, and complex stakeholder environments preferred.
Leadership Expectations:
- Lead with a strong culture of safety, accountability, transparency, and customer focus.
- Build alignment across commercial, engineering, sourcing, manufacturing, and field execution teams.
- Drive disciplined operating rhythms and clear decision-making.
- Mentor less experienced project managers and contribute to development of best practices within the OTR organization.
- Represent Waukesha professionally in customer-facing and executive-level forums.
Additional Information
- Location: Waukesha, WI or Houston, TX
- Travel: Up to 20% travel to customer, supplier, and project sites.
- Visa Sponsorship: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position now or in the future.
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