Lead Project Manager - Electrical Utilities

• Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
• Type: Direct Hire
• Job #14253
• Salary: CA$130,000 Per Hour

Overview

Our client is a leading Canadian project delivery firm specializing in Project Management, Construction Management, Engineering, and Advisory services. They are seeking an experienced Project Manager Lead to join their Electrical Utilities team in Vancouver.

This is a senior leadership position responsible for both delivering complex utility infrastructure projects and overseeing a portfolio of projects and Project Managers supporting major utility clients, including BC Hydro. The successful candidate will combine strong technical project delivery expertise with proven leadership, financial management, and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

Project & Program Delivery

• Lead the delivery of complex transmission, distribution, and substation projects from initiation through closeout.
• Manage a portfolio of utility infrastructure projects while directly overseeing strategic and high-complexity assignments.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and to quality expectations.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams through planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout phases.
• Identify project risks early and implement effective mitigation strategies.

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide leadership, mentorship, coaching, and performance oversight to a team of Project Managers.
• Act as the primary escalation point for project delivery challenges involving scope, schedule, resources, stakeholders, and commercial matters.
• Support team development, succession planning, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with utility stakeholders and key clients.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on project delivery and program performance matters.
• Collaborate with Indigenous Nations, regulatory agencies, landowners, consultants, contractors, and project partners.
• Support Indigenous engagement activities throughout the project lifecycle.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Oversee project and program financial performance including budgeting, forecasting, accruals, invoicing, profitability tracking, and change management.
• Lead monthly forecasting, project reviews, and financial reporting activities.
• Monitor resource utilization and portfolio performance to maximize program success.

Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure consistent application of project controls, governance, scheduling, reporting, and change management processes.
• Champion lessons learned, process improvements, and delivery best practices.
• Support business development initiatives, proposal preparation, strategic planning, and client growth opportunities.

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 15+ years of project or program management experience delivering electrical utility infrastructure projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing project portfolios valued at $5M+ annually.
• Proven experience leading and developing Project Managers and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Strong background managing budgets, forecasting, accruals, invoicing, profitability, and change management.
• Experience managing engineering consultants, contractors, and subcontractors.

Technical Background

• Extensive experience delivering transmission, distribution, and substation projects.
• Experience across planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and project closeout.
• Utility sector experience with electrical utilities, transmission owners, EPCM organizations, or engineering consulting firms.
• Direct BC Hydro project delivery experience is strongly preferred.

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or a related discipline.
• Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation – Required.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification – Required.

Skills

• Advanced stakeholder management and client relationship skills.
• Strong leadership, mentoring, and team development capabilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong understanding of project controls, scheduling, estimating, governance, risk management, and change management.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Project.
• Experience using project management, scheduling, forecasting, ERP, and project controls systems.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation package.
• Extended health and wellness benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement and career development support.
• Annual performance and salary reviews.
• Opportunity to work on major infrastructure and utility projects across Canada.
• Collaborative and growth-oriented team environment.

Ideal Candidate

A senior utility project leader with extensive transmission, distribution, and substation experience who can effectively balance project execution, client management, team leadership, and program performance. Experience delivering projects for BC Hydro and leading teams of Project Managers within a consulting, EPCM, or utility environment will be highly valued.

For more current job opportunities,  Follow  MatchBox at  linkedin.com/company/matchbox-recruitment/

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About MatchBox

Headquartered in downtown Vancouver and serving clients nationally,  MatchBox is one of the leading recruitment and solutions firms that specializes in the fields of IT & Technology, Engineering & Technical, Real Estate & Construction, and Accounting & Finance. We offer unrivaled expertise with our team's extensive experience in the recruitment and professional services industry. We are dedicated to building great connections and creating strong opportunities within the workforce and the labor market.

Equal Opportunities

MatchBox is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including members of minority groups such as racialized individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Indigenous peoples. It is a priority for us that all candidates are treated fairly and without discrimination. Our recruitment teams receive ongoing training on using objective criteria for evaluating candidates and other related topics to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

Work Permits

Please note that we require all interested candidates to obtain the necessary work permits from the Government of Canada prior to submitting an application. This position is open exclusively to individuals residing in Canada and legally authorized to work in Canada. Applications not meeting these criteria will not be considered.

Further Consideration

We receive a high volume of applications and are only able to contact candidates who are selected for further consideration.

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