Project Manager 3 (Engineering) - - Engineering, Technical, Compliance Standards and Processes

Actively engage with the business to properly understand the business needs, identify dependencies, project expectations, milestones, resources and other initiatives, and assist the CLIENT manager in deploying the solution; Collaborate with business units and CLIENT performance managers to help resolve resource allocation issues. Confer and collaborate with end users to document and resolve existing issues and problems and facilitate the following functions: Written and verbal sponsor communication; Project team communications and coordination; Inter-project team communications and coordination; Team meeting and sponsor meeting management.

Job Title: Project Manager 3 (Engineering) - Engineering, Technical, Compliance Standards and Processes
Job Number: 12103
Location: Vancouver, WA
Hybrid: Onsite 1 day per week - Routine Telework Eligible
On Call: No
Overtime: 5%
Travel: Up to 10% for meetings/training
Length: Up to 5 years 

MUST be US Citizen to be eligible to apply for Federal Background Check 
Requires Real ID and or Valid Passport to interview 

SUMMARY 

• This contract assignment is a hybrid assignment that will provide both Business Analysis and Project Management for (CLIENT’s) Transmission Engineering Policy & Governance (TEVS) organization.  Project management requirements alone do not necessitate a dedicated full-time resource, these responsibilities are being integrated with business analysis into a single, cohesive role. This assignment is strategically designed to provide the analytical support needed to establish the new function, implement key initiatives, and establish performance metrics to monitor and measure ongoing success.  This assignment will provide project management expertise and guidance to cross-organizational project teams working to successfully complete program improvement projects and initiatives in support of the development, implementation, and operation of the standards QA/QC function, including:
• During development - benchmarking with applicable entities (internal and external to CLIENT) and leveraging expertise and cross-organizational collaborative relationships to help stand up the function in TEVS for success.
• During implementation and operation - collaborating with cross-organizational stakeholders and SMEs to determine project priorities, added value/return on investment, and working with teams of SMEs to successfully complete projects and implement solutions.
• Maintain the TEV QA/QC Process and SharePoint website while collaborating with teams across the agency to resolve the issues submitted into the system.
• Providing recommendations on establishment of feedback loops, metrics, and ways to present the value obtained from project implementation efforts.  
• Assisting the Reliability Standards Owner (RSO) and business stakeholders with developing the prioritization of and working with teams of SMEs to successfully complete associated corrective action plan projects. 
• Developing and supporting business operations processes; documenting/mapping the current and future states; performing gap analysis; identifying, evaluating, and proposing alternative solutions to assist in the implementation of process and other related changes across TEV and TE 

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Plan, initiate, facilitate, drive, and assist the CLIENT manager and Transmission management team in support of critical process development for corrective action/value engineering projects from inception to conclusion and in accordance with CLIENT and industry project management principles and standards by:
• Participating in and Change Management activities with the business, as requested, by engaging in efforts to stand up and communicate changes that have been approved for initiation of the TE QA/QC function.  Potential impacts could be in the areas of technology, processes and business practices to impacted organizations across Transmission.  This may include:
  • Developing new procedures, processes and business practices;
  • Drafting and recommending change management approaches, techniques and communication;
  • Drafting required training materials.
• Performing interviews and research with organizations and electrical utilities to identify business requirements for the development of the corrective action program.
• Performing interviews and research with organizations and electrical utilities to determine business requirements for specific corrective action tasks associated with gaps in requirements documentation and associated/resulting errors during design/construction.
• Analyzing critical business systems and processes to integrate organizational work group analysis into useable data for decision making and prioritization.
• Collaborating with SMEs and end users to develop / draft business strategies, approaches, processes and procedures that align with the vision, mission and goals of CLIENT as reflected by the Key Strategic Initiatives as well as organizational strategic direction presented through the Transmission Business Model and applicable elements within the Strategic Plan.
• Working with key stakeholders and project managers to provide consensus-based business solutions (people, process, and technology), that are scalable, adaptable, and synchronized with ever-changing business needs.
• Collaborating with subject matter experts (SMEs) to draft cost estimates for specified work, such as project budgets.
• Providing expertise and facilitating the efforts of other SMEs and analysts in the analysis, planning, and execution of plans impacting the organizations they support.
• Utilizing advanced facilitation and modeling tools for engaging executives and stakeholders for developing and revising strategy, implementation planning, and sequencing.
• Focusing on the people side of changes introduced by the business technology project – including changes to business processes, systems and technology, job roles and skills, and organization structures. This work may include:
  • Meeting with internal personnel (stakeholders) from impacted orgs to address concerns, communicate and provide a deeper understanding of the reasons for changes;
  • Assisting with the drafting of org-specific procedures, processes and training materials.
• Working to drive faster adoption, greater ultimate utilization, and higher proficiency on changes impacting employees in the organization such that business results are achieved by promoting a greater understanding of the need for and benefits of proposed changes.  This may include meeting with impacted personnel to incorporate feedback and respond to internal stakeholder concerns.
• Analyzing, facilitating, modeling and organizing information in order to elicit requirements, reconcile conflicts, and distinguish solution ideas from business needs.
• Supporting the analysis and drafting of system specifications, diagrams, and process maps to assist with developing “current state” vs. “future state” documentation and decision-making support data.
• Facilitating the requirements, elicitation and development processes including:
  • Organizing workshops, presenting and validating findings;
  • Assisting in the development of business cases;
  • Highlighting the changes discovered during analysis.
• Decomposing high-level information into details and abstracting up from low-level information to resolve solution vs. requirements conflicts.
• Working with appropriate CLIENT manager / personnel to facilitate resolution of conflicting priorities, requirements, and team positions to build consensus among stakeholders and project team members.
• Completing documentation for project development efforts (including use cases, requirements, test plans, process maps, and desk procedures) and work closely with development and business teams to ensure successful implementation.
• Performing technical interviewing in the Operational, Engineering and Field personnel to inform Corrective Action Plans
• Communicating with a wide variety of technical and business experts in both individual and group settings.  Communication may include facilitation, strategic navigation and diplomatic conflict resolution with internal stakeholders, end users and CLIENT managers.
• Search for areas where cost reduction opportunities may be available, such as cases where industry may implement similar designs/infrastructure/requirements at reduced cost.
• Create Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, Power Point presentations, Visio flowcharts and MS Project input in support of business requirement definition and specification development.
• Create / draft technical documentation to support system requirements, system design, system security, and operational manuals that meet compliance with any related regulations and standards, such as those of Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC)’s North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) - Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), etc.
  • Facilitate complex large-sized, short-term to multi-year projects. Many of these projects are high visibility projects to Senior Management, requiring monthly project status updates.
  • Provide coordination from the Scoping Phase of the project through documented Close Out procedures.
  • Assist CLIENT management with implementing project tasks on a daily basis (may include multiple projects) with regard to time, resources, schedule and quality.  Provide updates and findings to CLIENT manager.

• With oversight and approval from the CLIENT manager, coordinate activities for designated project(s) to verify that goals or objectives of the project are accomplished within the prescribed time frame and resource parameters.
  • Provide recommendations regarding project expectations, approach, roadmaps, work plans, deliverables and goals.
  • Collaborate with CLIENT manager and internal stakeholders to facilitate the tasks and activities of project team(s) and to properly understand related business needs, dependencies on other initiatives, and how best to effectively deploy end products.
  • Work with appropriate CLIENT manager / personnel to facilitate resolution of conflicting priorities and requirements, as well as conflicting team positions to build consensus among stakeholders and project team members.
  • Issue project status reports on a regular or as requested basis.
  • Collaborate with the CLIENT manager (or assigned designee) to define the frequency and content of status reports from the project team; review and analyze results, troubleshooting concerns or problem areas and provide mitigation options and weighted recommendations.
  • For large projects, may coordinate and guide other Project Managers that are managing sub-projects. Draft monthly executive summary report.
  • Interact and collaborate with external stakeholders, often navigating complex business relationships.
  • Maintain consistent communication with project sponsors, performance managers, and stakeholders on the progress of the project compared to the work plan.
  • Maintain consistent communication with project sponsors, performance managers, and stakeholders on the progress of the project compared to the work plan.

• Identify and request resources and resolve resource allocation issues with business units and performance managers.  Alert CLIENT staff of any resource allocation issues and recommend solutions (see note above).
  • Forecast and recommend / request appropriate project resources to fulfill project needs; recommended resource requests must be submitted to, coordinated with and provided by appropriate CLIENT performance managers;
  • Alert CLIENT manager of and obtain appropriate authorization for any potential changes to project schedule or performance;
  • Organize, coordinate and facilitate the work of project teams and serve as liaison between business and technical aspects of projects, includes recommending project stages and assessing business implications for each stage;

• Assist the CLIENT manager in building and coordinating an effective team and provide recommendations for allocating team members to project tasks (see note above).
  • Actively engage with the business to properly understand the business needs, identify dependencies, project expectations, milestones, resources and other initiatives, and assist the CLIENT manager in deploying the solution;
  • Collaborate with business units and CLIENT performance managers to help resolve resource allocation issues.

• Support the project team through the project management process (creating and implementing the project management plan); schedule and facilitate team meetings and coordinate activities of sub-teams. 
  • Facilitate “kick-off” meetings with sponsors, stakeholders, and partners and validate approval/buy in of project plans and commitment of resources;
  • Schedule and facilitate project team meetings and coordinate activities of sub-teams;
  • Draft project plans, resource strategies and resource estimates required to advance each assigned project / defined effort;
  • Monitor progress of assigned projects to track timelines, milestones, deadlines, standards and targets, alerting appropriate CLIENT manager / personnel of any obstacles / potential delays to project timelines, targets or success; provide corrective action recommendations;
  • Issue project status reports on a regular or as requested basis.

• Actively engage with the business to properly understand the business needs, identify dependencies, project expectations, milestones, resources and other initiatives, and assist the CLIENT manager in deploying the solution.
  • Coordinate activities for CLIENT manager-assigned projects that enable goals or objectives to be accomplished within the prescribed time frame and applicable parameters, escalating concerns to appropriate CLIENT manager / personnel.

• Facilitate the implementation of the project on a daily basis (may include multiple projects) with regard to scope, budget, schedule and quality. Provide updates and findings to CLIENT manager.  (see Note above) 

• Maintain consistent communication with the project sponsor, performance managers, and clients on the progress of the project versus the plan

• Facilitate project requirements, milestones, and project expectations and monitor the project schedule.
• Allocate time in the project plan for the project team to attend all recommended training.
• Take a proactive stance regarding risk management by alerting the CLIENT manager to areas of risk.
  • Anticipating and identifying potential areas of risk and obtaining guidance from appropriate CLIENT manager or Contracting Officer.
  • Tracking, monitoring and facilitating resolution of issues and risks identified within the projects, as well as compliance related dependencies. 
  • Maintaining issue, risk, and/or action logs.
  • Developing, drafting and recommending contingency plans to minimize / eliminate risks on an ongoing basis for review and approval / acceptance by appropriate CLIENT manager / personnel.
  • Maintaining issue, risk, and/or action logs and develop contingency plans and status reports to manage risk. 

• Alert the CLIENT Manager of any obstacles or work with the sponsor or performance managers and provide recommendations to remove roadblocks so that the team can complete the project.
• When necessary, obtain authorization for changes to the project scope, schedule, or performance.
• Issue regular status reports, issue final reports or deliverables and generate and act on lessons learned.  All final documents will be reviewed and approved by CLIENT federal staff. 
  • Conduct project postmortems and create a recommendations report in order to identify successful and unsuccessful project elements.
  • Confer and collaborate with end users to document and resolve existing issues and problems and facilitate the following functions:
    • Written and verbal sponsor communication;
    • Project team communications and coordination;
    • Inter-project team communications and coordination;
    • Team meeting and sponsor meeting management.
  • Provide background information, technical input, options and recommendations that facilitate project decision-making. This may include, at management request, arranging, attending and facilitating decision-making sessions/meetings with CLIENT management, executives and key stakeholders, including, drafting agendas, answering technical questions, and presenting information, options and recommendations for decision-maker consideration.
  • When necessary, facilitate the successful transition of a project or program of projects to another project manager including any training, documentation, or meeting coordination required to bring the new PM fully up to speed on all critical aspects of the work and introduce them to executive sponsors and key stakeholders.

• Process and Controls Support:
  • Support the development of necessary documentation to provide reporting and audit requirements, including arranging and facilitating meetings with applicable Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to solicit, gather and compile report information and/or audit artifacts; validate data as accurate and adequate; submit for review by CLIENT management or standards owner.
  • Develop / draft new or edit / revise existing processes and procedures, as required by changes; recommend new or revised processes and procedures, submitting for review by CLIENT management; finalize documentation for management-approved processes and procedures.
  • Communicate process and procedural changes to applicable parties, providing training or additional explanation as needed / requested. This may require arranging and facilitating meetings to introduce new or revised materials.

• Change Management (CM):
  • Assist CLIENT management with focus on the people-side of change, including changes to business processes, systems and technology, job roles and skills, and organization structures.
  • Evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, work with management to facilitate the resolution of conflicting priorities and assist management with building consensus among internal stakeholders.
  • Develop and present recommendations and supporting analysis for management decisions.
  • As requested by the CLIENT Manager, draft and deliver process and systems training to impacted personnel. Develop and recommend change management plans that minimize employee resistance, maximize employee engagement, and empower senior management as change sponsors.
  • Evaluate information gathered from multiple sources, reconcile conflicts, decompose high-level information into details, abstract up from low-level information to a general understanding, and distinguish user requests from the underlying true needs; incorporate findings and insights into project and change management plans, decision-making information and recommendations and other project considerations as appropriate.

• Collaborate with CLIENT managers, stakeholders, project teams and / or other parties as assigned to create / draft and recommend a comprehensive communication strategy; assist with management-approved implementation activities as requested. Provide expertise and assistance to CLIENT Managers and Project Managers to validate quality deliverables on a wide range of communication mediums and topics
  • Collaborate with other Change Management (CM) Specialists to share best practices, provide recommendations and assistance on critical needs, and coordinate Transmission-wide initiatives.
  • Develop / draft plans and recommend operations’ schedules, staffing requirements, and resource allocations for projects.
  • Document detailed programs while applying applicable standards to all products.
  • Identify and recommend training needs and include major areas of uncertainty in approach, methodology, or interpretation and evaluation processes resulting from such elements as continuing changes in program, technological developments, unknown phenomena, or conflicting requirements.
  • Assist CLIENT management with implementing a Training Plan that successfully allows the user community to efficiently and effectively use a new system or upgraded system.  Audience/user Community may include internal and external customers/users.
  • Prepare / draft and recommend program presentations, in-house and client training, and functional education; arrange, conduct and facilitate management-approved presentations and training sessions.
  • Develop and present recommendations and supporting analysis for management decisions.
  • Prepare technical reports, documents, studies, and system documentation as required.
  • As requested, develop technical system concepts and designs to support proposal development and position papers.
  • Support organization change process and configuration management efforts by:
    • Performing system modeling and configuration system baselines
    • Defining, developing, and documenting new management-approved processes and procedures.
    • Supporting process and procedure roll-out by assisting with communications, arranging / facilitating any necessary meetings, and drafting related materials.
    • Develop / draft and recommend training materials; provide, facilitate and conduct training as requested. 

Education & Corresponding Experience 

• A Master’s Degree is preferred
• A Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business Administration or Management, Organization Development, Computer Science, Communications or a closely related technical field is preferred.
  • With an applicable Bachelor’s degree, 10 years of experience is required.
  • With a Bachelor’s degree not in applicable fields, 12 years of experience is required.
  • Without a Bachelor’s degree, 14 years of experience is required.
• Experience must include direct work experience in an engineering project management capacity, including all aspects of process development and execution.
• te: Level 3 is typically responsible for medium to large sized projects (25M or higher lifecycle cost).  “Typically,” as it refers to project size is determined by an average of the workers assigned projects and includes the complexity, visibility and sensitivity of the projects within the past year and is not based on a single project funding amount.  All documentation should clearly identify the worker as a Project Manager “contracted” to CLIENT and include the name of the worker’s employer

 Required Skills & Experience  

• Certification in Prosci ADKAR model, or related Change Management methodology.
• 6+ years of experience using the project management body of knowledge standards and associated tools to successfully lead multiple concurrent projects within a program. Proficiency should include understanding of how the standards and tools are applied to the management of a successful project and across multiple concurrent projects within a program.
• 6+ years of experience analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
• Experience writing and understanding functional and technical specifications
• Experience with developing project schedule timelines to reflect major tasks (planning, design, procurement, construction, testing)
• Experience with SharePoint, Visio, and MS Project
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); MS Office 2010 proficiency
• Experience with / in Process Development
• Knowledge and skills in business analysis, implementation, and support of large application projects
• Experienced and effective in oral communication with demonstrated skills in facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution among various stakeholders 

Preferred Skills & Experience  

• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
• Relevant experience in the support of a Project Management Office (PMO)
• Prior electric utility work experience in a project management setting.
• Technical interviewing skills
• Functional/process interviewing skills in the technology environment
• Ability to facilitate groups through process design and requirements gathering sessions
• Strong technical writing and the ability to present information in various forms such as textual, graphical, and statistical.
• Strong analytical thinking, critical thinking and decision-making abilities
• Demonstrated knowledge of regulatory compliance documentation and evidence for the energy industry
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with highly technical people and lead requirements definition and requirements workshops

• Proficient in communication, facilitation and negotiation with stakeholder groups
• Strong analytical skills in analyzing, defining and documenting business areas, functions, problems, business needs and opportunities for improvement
• Self-directed and assertive in pursuit of root cause analysis, missing information/gaps and data requirements
• Demonstrated experience with Engineering Requirements/Business Process Improvements/Metrics/Reporting.
• Ability to ramp up quickly working with business subject matter experts/partners/sponsors to document requirements in support of best-value standards and processes
• Familiarity with electric utility industry standards and NERC Reliability Standards
• Familiarity with the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) processes
• Familiarity with the development and sustainment of a Correction Action Program
• Strong technical writing and the ability to present information in various forms such as textual, graphical and statistical
• Principles of Project Management and Change Management and leadership
• Geographic Information Systems and Asset Management Systems
• Requirements Engineering and software development life cycles Data discovery and analysis
• Systems infrastructure - architecture dependencies and requirements
• Technical interviewing in the Information Technology environment
• Modeling of requirements, verification of deliverables 

Additional Requirements: 

• Valid U.S. Driver’s License is required
• First Aid/AED/CPR Certification required within 30 days of assignment start 

Pre-Employment Requirement
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of our pre-employment screening that may include drug testing, background/criminal check, and if applicable, must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
 
APR Staffing is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
 
About APR Staffing
APR Staffing was born from the merger of two well-respected technical staffing firms in Portland. ieSolutions and Data Resource Group. Both companies have recently been award winners for the Portland Business Journal's Fastest-Growing Private Companies. The two firms, now as APR Staffing, make for one of the fastest-growing and most-respected professional and technical staffing companies in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
 
Collaborating with our customers, we augment their workforce with technical and administrative professionals. We provide only high-caliber, professional-grade resources throughout the Pacific Northwest.