Project Manager – Telecommunications Infrastructure

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to support telecommunications and network infrastructure initiatives within a large utility environment. This role will work closely with infrastructure leadership, project teams, vendors, and the Project Management Office (PMO/PCO) to ensure successful delivery of multiple projects from planning through execution.

The Project Manager will be responsible for managing project schedules, budgets, forecasts, vendor relationships, resource coordination, and project governance activities. This position requires strong financial management experience, including budget tracking, forecasting, accruals, invoice reconciliation, and SAP-based project accounting.

This is a primarily onsite role with some office flexibility. Candidates must be located in Southeastern Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, or the Chicagoland area and be willing to travel throughout the service territory as required.

Schedule

• Monday – Friday
• 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM CST
• Occasional schedule adjustments based on project requirements
• Travel and driving required

Key Responsibilities

Project Management & Delivery

• Manage the delivery of 1–10 concurrent telecommunications and network infrastructure projects.
• Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, milestones, and delivery plans.
• Coordinate project resources and monitor project execution activities.
• Identify project risks, issues, and dependencies and escalate concerns as appropriate.
• Facilitate project team meetings and stakeholder reviews.
• Maintain project documentation, meeting notes, and status reports.
• Ensure compliance with PMO and Project Controls Office (PCO) governance standards.
• Support project change management activities and change request processes.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage project budgets, forecasts, accruals, and actual expenditures.
• Track project financial performance and identify cost variances.
• Process invoices and reconcile project-related expenses.
• Submit purchase requisitions and confirm vendor deliverables for invoicing purposes.
• Approve project resource time reporting through Project Web App (PWA).
• Maintain accurate financial reporting and forecasting within SAP.

Vendor & Contract Management

• Coordinate activities with third-party vendors and service providers.
• Support contract bidding processes and vendor negotiations.
• Assist with telecommunications service agreements, licensing agreements, and related contracts.
• Monitor vendor performance, schedules, and deliverables.
• Provide regular vendor status reporting to project leadership.

Telecommunications Infrastructure Support

• Coordinate network infrastructure installation schedules and resource planning.
• Support deployment activities involving:
• Routers
• Switches
• Firewalls
• Telecommunications equipment
• Coordinate site equipment installations, equipment turn-up activities, and acceptance testing.
• Assist with permitting activities utilizing internal and external resources.
• Participate in Change Advisory Board (CAB) activities as needed.
• Promote and enforce job site safety requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in project management, project controls, or project coordination.
• Experience using Microsoft Project and Project Web App (PWA).
• Strong SAP experience, including:
• Budget management
• Forecasting
• Accruals
• Financial reporting
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience managing project financials, including actuals, invoice reconciliation, and variance analysis.
• Experience coordinating and managing third-party vendors.
• Experience supporting contract bidding and contract negotiations.
• Strong understanding of project management principles and methodologies.
• Knowledge of network infrastructure technologies, including:
• Routers
• Switches
• Firewalls
• Enterprise network environments
• Strong communication, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of project management experience.
• Experience leading telecommunications or network infrastructure projects.
• PMI-PMP certification.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Project Management, or a related field.
• Utility industry experience.
• Experience working within structured PMO environments.

Location Requirements

Candidates must reside within:

• Southeastern Wisconsin
• Northern Illinois
• Chicagoland area

Regular travel throughout the region is required.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is a highly organized project professional who can successfully manage schedules, budgets, vendors, and stakeholder expectations across multiple infrastructure projects. Success in this role requires strong financial acumen, excellent communication skills, and the ability to drive projects forward while maintaining compliance with PMO governance standards.

EOE (including Disability/Veterans)

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