Program Manager

Senior Program Project Manager – Owner’s Engineer
We are currently seeking a high caliber Program Manager for a long-term basis within our client’s team of experienced professionals. Based in Houston, TX.

Our client is seeking a Senior Program/Project Manager to support delivery of Owner’s Engineer services for a major utility transmission and substation capital portfolio. This is a senior leadership role requiring deep experience in owner-side program/project delivery, EPC oversight, and utility infrastructure execution across large, complex capital programs.

The successful candidate will serve in an Owner’s Engineer capacity, operating as an extension of the client’s office to support project leadership, coordination, oversight, and decision-making across multiple concurrent projects. This role requires a leader who can bring structure, clarity, and momentum across engineering, project controls, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout activities while maintaining close alignment with client goals, standards, and governance processes.

This is not a conventional project management role. The position requires strong executive presence, sound judgment, proactive leadership, and the ability to identify risks and opportunities early, communicate clearly, drive alignment, and add value beyond baseline scope. The ideal candidate is collaborative, highly responsive, solutions-oriented, and comfortable leading in a fast-paced environment with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

Job Requirements
• Serve as the senior owner-side program/project management lead supporting a portfolio of transmission and substation projects delivered under an EPC model
• Act as an extension of the client’s office, coordinating with internal stakeholders, EPC contractors, consultants, and support teams to align project objectives, priorities, and execution activities
• Lead project readiness, stage-gate coordination, action tracking, and decision-support activities to help ensure projects advance with complete, accurate, and timely information
• Provide owner-side technical oversight of our clients multidiscipline team and independent oversight of EPC contractor engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities to ensure deliverables and execution are aligned with project requirements, Company standards, and quality expectations [3][4]
• Oversee EPC contractor performance across scope, cost, schedule, quality, safety, and contract compliance, and work with project teams to identify risks, gaps, and corrective actions early
• Support review of cost, schedule, risk, change, and open-book pricing information to inform owner-side decisions and improve project execution outcomes
• Lead communication, coordination, and issue resolution across engineering, project controls, procurement, construction, and client leadership teams
• Support construction readiness, commissioning readiness, turnover, and closeout activities, including documentation, punch list, and handover coordination
• Provide leadership in client meetings, executive briefings, and working sessions, and mentor supporting team members across project management, technical, controls, and field functions

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or related field
• 15+ years of relevant experience in utility infrastructure, major capital project delivery, or program management
• Demonstrated experience in Owner’s Engineer, owner advisor, utility owner-side, or EPC oversight roles
• Demonstrated experience supporting large, complex transmission and substation projects
• Experience with mega projects or major capital programs involving multiple stakeholders, complex interfaces, and high levels of coordination
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidiscipline technical teams and provide effective owner-side oversight of EPC contractor engineering and technical deliverables for transmission and substation projects
• Strong experience overseeing or integrating:
o project scope and execution planning
o cost and schedule performance
o project controls, risk, and change management
o engineering and design coordination
o procurement and construction interfaces
o commissioning, turnover, and closeout
• Strong leadership, collaboration, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Proven ability to work with initiative, operate independently, solve problems proactively, and bring forward recommendations that improve outcomes
• Ability to function effectively in a client-facing environment requiring diplomacy, responsiveness, accountability, and sound judgment

Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in engineering preferred
• PMP and/or PE preferred
• Experience with transmission and substation EPC delivery models
• Experience supporting multiple concurrent projects within a program or portfolio environment
• Experience with project controls, integrated scheduling, change management, and cost validation
• Familiarity with Primavera P6, cost systems, dashboards, and project reporting tools
• Experience with extra-high-voltage transmission and substation projects
• Experience supporting executive governance, reporting, and decision-making processes

Leadership Profile
The ideal candidate will bring:
• a collaborative leadership style
• strong written and verbal communication
• the ability to build trust quickly with client and team stakeholders
• a forward-leaning, initiative-driven mindset
• sound judgment under pressure
• out-of-the-box thinking grounded in practical execution realities
• a commitment to delivering value-added solutions, not just meeting minimum requirements
• the presence and maturity to operate as a trusted extension of the client’s team

• 15+ years of experience
• utility transmission/substation background
• Owner’s Engineer, owner-side advisory, or EPC oversight experience
• mega project / major capital program experience
• strong leadership, communication, and client-facing skills

We need someone who can provide owner-side oversight of technical teams and EPC execution across cost, schedule, risk, change, and delivery.

Employment Type: 3 month contract-to-direct hire

Location of Position: Houston, TX 77056

Location Type: Office, Project Site
Work Schedule: Hybrid (70-80% in person coordination)
Interviews REQUIRED: TEAMS
US Citizenship REQUIRED
Must clear drug screen & background check
Work days: Mon-Fri (hours TBD but approx. 7:30am-4:30pm)

TRS Staffing Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recognizes the value of a diverse workforce. Employment decisions are based on job related criteria and not on the basis of any unlawful criteria. We ensure equal access to employment opportunities, services, and programs.

Must have legal right to work in the United States. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

TRS Staffing Solutions are an equal opportunities employer, and we welcome you to provide OFCCP data voluntarily here