Project Manager, Regulatory Compliance Specialist, Operations Manager

Project Manager – Front-End Procurement & EPC Contracts (W-2 Consulting)

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid)

Position Type: 6-Month Contract (Multi-Year Footprint; Continuous Rolling Extensions & Permanent Conversion Track)

Compensation: $75.00 – $100.00 / hour (W-2 Payroll)

We are looking for a commercially sharp, execution-focused Project Manager to take full front-end ownership of utility-scale capital portfolios. In this role, you will bypass corporate red tape and manage lease-vs-build entry portfolios where individual project budgets scale up to $100M across Transmission and Battery Storage networks.

This is an extended, hourly W-2 consulting engagement backed by a multi-year project footprint. Because we require plug-and-play expertise to manage these front-end initiatives, this position is backed by an elevated hourly contract premium scaled specifically to outperform standard permanent corporate salary bounds.

• Contract Negotiation
  :
  Own the front-end preparation, evaluation, and negotiation of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) agreements and stakeholder contracts.
• Procurement Planning
  :
  Lead procurement planning and strategic bidding processes to align contractors, major electrical equipment, and project materials to core milestones.
• Pre-Construction Execution
  :
  Drive project life cycle components—including initial scope development, cost estimating, and project initiation criteria—before boots hit the ground.
• Financial Control
  :
  Manage, monitor, and control capital expenditure budgets touching $100M, tracking financial analysis indicators and mitigating cost runaways.
• Regulatory & Risk Management
  :
  Navigate land easement requirements, regulatory compliance, and utility interconnection logistics while driving active risk-mitigation plans.

• Experience
  : 5 to 7 years of progressive project management experience leading utility infrastructure builds, major electrical distribution systems, or oil and gas pipeline capital projects.
• Commercial Expertise
  :
  Proven track record running front-end procurement, evaluating supplier bid packages, and managing high-stakes contract or lease negotiations.
• Project Leadership
  :
  Demonstrated success leading multi-disciplined teams of engineers, legal counsel, and outside consulting groups.
• Education
  :
  Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical/legal field.