Title: Project Manager FLSA Status: Exempt Department: Operations Company: Pacific Electric Switchgear Reports To: General Plant Manager Location: Corona, CA – May support multiple facilities (approximately 5 miles apart)
General Summary:
The Project Manager leads the execution and delivery of large, complex power distribution projects, including Power Distribution Centers and multi-product projects, from order handoff through engineering, procurement, manufacturing, testing, shipment, and project closeout. This position serves as the primary point of contact for customers and maintains accountability for project schedules, budgets, milestones, scope, documentation, risks, and delivery commitments while working alongside cross-functional teams to coordinate electrical and mechanical design, material procurement, production, quality, testing, and logistics. The Project Manager monitors project performance, manages scope changes and associated cost and schedule impacts, proactively identifies and mitigates project risks, resolves project issues, and coordinates execution to ensure projects are completed safely, accurately, and in accordance with quality standards, customer requirements, and business objectives.
Essential Functions:
- Develops and maintains project schedules, budgets, milestones, delivery plans, and execution requirements for assigned large, complex power distribution projects, including Power Distribution Centers and multi-product projects
- Owns and leads project handoff and kickoff meetings to establish project scope, customer requirements, specifications, critical dates, responsibilities, deliverables, and execution priorities
- Coordinates with cross-functional teams throughout electrical and mechanical design, drawing approval, procurement, manufacturing, quality, testing, and shipment activities to maintain alignment with project requirements and schedules
- Reviews and interprets customer specifications, electrical and mechanical drawings, contracts, submittals, and related project documentation to understand project requirements and respond to technical inquiries in coordination with appropriate technical teams
- Manages the Request for Information (RFI) process, including preparing, submitting, tracking, communicating, and closing RFIs and coordinating incorporation of approved responses into applicable project requirements and documentation
- Tracks long-lead equipment, supplier commitments, material availability, production progress, and other critical project dependencies in coordination with responsible teams to identify potential cost, schedule, or delivery impacts
- Serves as the primary point of contact for customers, communicating project status, decisions, technical coordination items, schedule updates, requirements, and significant changes throughout the project lifecycle
- Manages project scope, budget performance, change requirements, cost and schedule impacts, documentation, and applicable approvals to maintain project control and customer alignment
- Coordinates customer visits to company facilities, inspections, Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT), customer-attended testing, shipment readiness, logistics, and final project documentation
- Manages customer and project portals to submit, receive, track, and maintain drawings, submittals, RFIs, approvals, documentation, and other required project information
- Monitors project performance and facilitates cross-functional project reviews to identify and mitigate risks, resolve open items, establish required actions, maintain project accountability, and advance assigned projects through shipment and closeout
REQUIRED SKILLS, EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Core Competencies / Skill Sets
- Project Planning and Execution, develops and maintains schedules, budgets, milestones, delivery plans, and execution requirements for large, complex power distribution projects
- Scope, Cost, and Change Management, maintains control of project scope, budget performance, changes, approvals, and associated cost and schedule impacts throughout the project lifecycle
- Power Distribution and Technical Project Knowledge, applies working knowledge of power distribution equipment, manufacturing processes, customer specifications, electrical and mechanical drawings, and applicable codes and standards to support project decisions and technical coordination
- RFI and Project Documentation Management, manages RFIs, submittals, approvals, project records, and customer portal information to maintain accurate, organized, and timely project documentation
- Customer Communication and Relationship Management, communicates project status, requirements, decisions, changes, and technical coordination items clearly and professionally while maintaining effective customer relationships
- Risk Identification and Problem Resolution, identifies schedule, cost, material, technical, production, and delivery risks and works with responsible teams to develop appropriate resolutions and mitigation plans
- Cross-Functional Coordination and Accountability, works effectively alongside internal teams to maintain project alignment, establish required actions, resolve open items, and maintain accountability for project commitments
Professional Experience/Education/Certifications:
- High school diploma or GED equivalent required; bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred
- 5+ years of experience managing complex manufacturing, electrical, industrial, or related technical projects, including project scope, schedules, budgets, and cross-functional coordination, required
- 3+ years of experience reviewing electrical drawings, specifications, contracts, submittals, and related project documentation required
- 2+ years of experience using project scheduling software, ERP/MRP systems, Microsoft Excel, and customer portals required; SAP experience preferred
- 3+ years of experience with power distribution equipment or related electrical manufacturing products preferred; experience with Power Distribution Centers or other large, complex power distribution projects preferred
Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
None required for this position.
Position Type / Expected Hours of Work:
Full-time, exempt position. Typical business hours with additional hours or schedule adjustments as needed to support project requirements and customer commitments.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position operates primarily in an office and project-management environment with regular interaction across engineering, manufacturing, testing, quality, and shipping areas. The employee may be exposed to machinery, noise, dust, temperature changes, and other typical manufacturing conditions while working throughout company facilities and must follow all company safety procedures and personal protective equipment requirements.
Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of position duties, responsibilities, or functions that are required of the employee for this position. The role, responsibilities, duties, and activities described within the job description may change at any time with or without notice.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable persons with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, use a computer and other office equipment, and communicate with customers and internal teams. The employee may occasionally walk throughout office, manufacturing, testing, and other company facility areas and must maintain the visual and hearing acuity necessary to review project documentation, observe work areas, communicate effectively, and perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Physical Requirements Working conditions and Physical Requirements Level of Physical Effort Normally Required for This Position
Never <20% Occasionally 20 – 80% Frequently >80% Constantly
- Close Eye Work (computers, drawing, typing, reading, writing)
- Sedentary (continuous sitting)
- Light Work (standing, walking, lifting <15 pounds)
- Moderate Work (lifting, moving, loading 15-30 pounds, prolonged use of small hand tools, climbing ladders)
- Moderately Heavy Work (lifting, moving, loading 31-50 pounds)
- Heavy/Hard Work (above average strength and stamina, lifting >51 pounds, constant shoveling, etc.)
In Office / Days
