Job Information
Actalent Project Mgr Prin in Johnstown, Ohio
Job Title: Principal Project ManagerJob Description
The Principal Project Manager leads complex utility and commercial construction projects from bid development through execution within a competitive transmission environment. This onsite role requires a strong command of PMI PMBOK knowledge areas, specialist-level project management capabilities, and the ability to coordinate effectively across joint venture partners, internal stakeholders, and external customers. The position focuses on delivering safe, efficient, and cost-effective projects across multiple states while ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and strong business outcomes.
Responsibilities
Lead one or more intermediate and complex utility or commercial construction projects within a matrix team environment, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
Plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and manage all assigned project activities across all project phases, from initiation and planning through execution, monitoring, control, and closeout.
Support competitive transmission projects by contributing to both bid development and project execution for FERC 1000 opportunities and projects within PJM, SPP, and MISO.
Coordinate and communicate regularly with joint venture partners to provide project updates, align on strategies, and support business reporting requirements.
Provide leadership, direction, and effective communication to project teams, ensuring a safe, efficient, economical, and risk-balanced approach to project delivery.
Develop and lead planning meetings, including external affairs and public engagement planning, and coordinate with interconnecting utilities on construction and contract strategies and outage updates.
Prepare and deliver detailed, complex stakeholder presentations to internal and external audiences, including senior leadership and external partners.
Produce clear, concise written and verbal reports and documentation for senior leadership, highlighting project status, risks, issues, and recommendations.
Support and enforce the internal System Safety Process to maintain a safe working environment and promote a culture committed to Zero Harm.
Hold employees and contractors accountable to established safety standards, procedures, and expectations throughout all project activities.
Develop, review, and manage comprehensive project plans, schedules, budgets, tools, and staffing plans to ensure effective project execution.
Effectively manage project costs by tracking variances, analyzing financial performance, and reallocating funding as needed to maintain overall project health.
Challenge assumptions and decisions using a deep understanding of design, systems, procedures, schedules, and cost factors to drive sound, data-informed project decisions.
Build, manage, and maintain strong working relationships with project teams, plant and operating company staff, internal and external customers, contractors, vendors, suppliers, and industry partners.
Foster collaboration and teamwork across all project participants and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction through proactive communication and issue resolution.
Demonstrate effective and efficient execution on complex projects, ensuring that scope, schedule, budget, quality, and safety objectives are met or exceeded.
Apply strong decision-making, risk management, and business acumen to ensure successful project outcomes and long-term value for the organization.
Perform supervisory duties when direct reports are assigned, including providing guidance, feedback, and support to project staff.
Coordinate project-related travel as needed to sites in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Wisconsin, Virginia, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas, including potential overnight stays.
Essential Skills
Proven experience managing utilities or commercial construction projects, including responsibility for scope, schedule, budget, quality, and safety.
Demonstrated competency across all PMI PMBOK knowledge areas, including integration, scope, schedule, cost, quality, resource, communications, risk, procurement, and stakeholder management.
Specialist-level project management capabilities in construction safety, negotiations, scope development, cost estimating, contracting, project controls and reporting, quality control, and risk management.
Strong project leadership skills with the ability to manage complex projects in a matrixed organization and coordinate with joint venture partners.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear reports and deliver complex presentations to senior leadership and stakeholders.
Proficiency in developing and managing project plans, schedules, budgets, and staffing plans, including tracking cost variances and reallocating resources.
Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal teams, customers, contractors, vendors, and suppliers.
Demonstrated commitment to safety and experience enforcing safety processes and standards with employees and contractors.
Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or a related discipline with at least seven (7) years of qualified experience; or an Associate degree in these fields with at least nine (9) years of qualified experience.
Qualified experience in project management, major construction field work, project controls, or project engineering, or comparable experience in a production environment.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is strongly preferred.
Experience in joint venture development and coordination is a strong plus.
Background in competitive transmission projects, including work on FERC 1000 opportunities within PJM, SPP, and MISO, is highly desirable.
Experience working on projects across multiple states and managing associated logistical and stakeholder complexities.
Demonstrated business acumen, including the ability to balance cost, risk, and performance to achieve optimal project outcomes.
Work Environment
This is a fully onsite position requiring presence in the office five days per week. The standard schedule typically consists of either five 8-hour days or four 9-hour days plus a 4-hour day on Friday, providing some flexibility in how the workweek is structured. The role involves approximately 10% travel, depending on assigned projects, with work occurring across multiple states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Wisconsin, Virginia, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Texas, and may require occasional overnight stays. The environment is highly collaborative and matrixed, with frequent interaction among project teams, plant and operating company staff, joint venture partners, contractors, vendors, and external stakeholders. The work centers on utility and commercial construction and competitive transmission projects, where safety, quality, and adherence to established processes are paramount. Project management tools, scheduling systems, and reporting platforms are used extensively to plan, track, and communicate project status. The culture emphasizes strong safety practices, accountability, clear communication, and building long-term relationships while delivering complex projects efficiently and effectively.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Johnstown, OH.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $65.15/hr.
Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Johnstown,OH.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 1, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.