Senior Project Manager – Distribution Interconnection Portfolio

Senior Project Manager – Distribution Interconnection Portfolio

Location: New Jersey (Hybrid – 3 days/week on-site at client location required)

Job Type
:
Full-Time

Experience Level
: 15+ years

CARIAN is a purpose-driven woman-owned consulting and advisory firm dedicated exclusively to the power sector. We partner with leading electric and gas utilities to provide strategic advisory and disciplined execution across program management, business intelligence, and field execution oversight. Guided by integrity, trust, excellence, and accountability, our team helps deliver complex capital programs and build the resilient energy infrastructure that communities depend on.

CARIAN is seeking a Senior Project Manager to serve as the portfolio lead for a large, high-volume distribution interconnection program supporting New Jersey’s Community Solar initiatives and evolving BPU requirements.

This role is responsible for driving execution across planning, engineering, construction, and customer-facing teams. The work spans a high-volume portfolio of projects progressing concurrently through planning and construction across multiple utility divisions.

This is not a single-project PM role. This position requires a senior operator who can drive execution across multiple teams, remove bottlenecks, and hold stakeholders accountable in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

• Lead portfolio-level execution of distributed generation and interconnection projects across multiple utility divisions
• Coordinate across planning, engineering, OH/UG work planning, materials, metering, and customer solutions
• Drive delivery in alignment with NJ BPU deadlines and Community Solar program requirements
• Own portfolio performance, including schedule adherence, risk identification, and issue resolution
• Identify and resolve systemic bottlenecks impacting engineering, materials, and construction execution
• Establish and maintain clear governance, reporting, and prioritization frameworks
• Provide direct, executive-level communication to client leadership
• Operate independently in an environment with high volume and limited structure

• 15+ years of utility project or program management experience
• Demonstrated experience managing large portfolios (50+ concurrent projects)
• Strong background in electric distribution programs (interconnection, new business, or capital delivery)
• Deep understanding of utility operations across planning, engineering, and construction
• Proven ability to coordinate across multiple internal utility functions
• Experience working in high-volume, deadline-driven environments
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business, or related field required
• PMP certification required

• Purpose-driven work – Help deliver infrastructure that powers communities
• Industry reputation – Trusted by leading utilities for our reliability and results
• Career growth – Opportunities to support major grid modernization programs and expand technical leadership capabilities
• Collaborative culture – Join a team that values delivery excellence and long-term relationships
• Competitive total rewards – Strong compensation, full benefits, 401(k) match, and meaningful work

CARIAN is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire and develop talent based on qualifications, performance, and business needs. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. As a woman-owned firm dedicated to the power sector, we are committed to building a team that reflects professionalism, expertise, and integrity at every level.

The base salary range for this role is $135,000 – $175,000 annually. This range represents a good-faith estimate at the time of posting; actual compensation will depend on experience, qualifications, and other factors permitted by law. In addition to base salary, the role includes eligibility for bonus incentives, a comprehensive benefits package, and a company 401(k) match.