Job Information
Burns & McDonnell Project Management Director – Utility Investment Planning – 1898 & Co in Kansas City, Missouri
Description
At 1898 & Co., a part of Burns & McDonnell, our Utility Investment Planning (UIP) team supports utilities as they navigate evolving infrastructure needs, regulatory requirements, and long‑term capital investment decisions. We work with utility clients to plan, prioritize, and execute capital programs that balance reliability, affordability, resilience, and regulatory compliance across generation, transmission, distribution, and grid modernization initiatives.
We are seeking a Project Management Director to provide strategic and operational leadership for project delivery within our Utility Investment Planning business line. This senior leadership role is responsible for guiding project management strategy, overseeing complex and multi‑year planning engagements, supporting client development efforts, and driving financial performance. The Project Management Director will lead teams delivering high‑quality planning and advisory work while reinforcing Burns & McDonnell’s core values of client satisfaction, integrity, commitment, safety, and outstanding service.
What You’ll Do
As a Project Management Director, you will provide leadership for project delivery, resource management, and operational performance across the Utility Investment Planning portfolio. You’ll directly manage the business lines project management team and you will work closely with business line leaders, regional leadership, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure consistent execution, staff development, and alignment with organizational and client objectives. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Leadership & Team Development
Provide leadership and direction to the Utility Investment Planning project management team, ensuring efficient and cost‑effective utilization of staff.
Recruit, hire, develop, and retain high‑performing employee‑owners supporting utility planning and advisory engagements.
Conduct performance evaluations for direct reports and selected department staff, providing clear feedback and professional development guidance.
Interpret and communicate organizational goals, policies, and priorities to department personnel.
Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement aligned with Burns & McDonnell values.
Project & Resource Management
Lead the development and execution of Project Management strategic initiatives supporting utility investment planning programs and portfolios.
Oversee delivery of complex, multi‑disciplinary planning engagements, including capital investment planning, infrastructure prioritization, and long‑range utility planning efforts.
Guide the development and use of project management tools, workflows, and standards to improve consistency and efficiency across the UIP business line.
Provide oversight of quality control processes and ensure adherence to the Burns & McDonnell Quality Control program in collaboration with the project delivery managers.
Ensure compliance with company and site safety policies across all project management activities.
Support alignment across regional offices related to project management development, quality, and resource coordination.
Strategic & Operational Execution
Provide direct oversight and management of Project Management budgets, including expenditure of funds and financial performance.
Achieve stated financial targets for utility investment planning engagements, including revenue, margin, and utilization goals.
Present monthly financial reporting to leadership, including revenue forecasts and portfolio performance metrics.
Collaborate with leadership to implement firmwide initiatives and drive continuous operational improvement.
Support integration of project management best practices across planning, engineering, financial, and regulatory advisory teams.
Development and oversight of project management onboarding and development plans for project managers within the business line.
Business Development & Client Engagement
Provide direction and support for business development efforts related to utility investment planning, including identification and vetting of prospective clients and engagements.
Lead and support project‑related business development activities aligned with utility capital planning, modernization, and regulatory initiatives.
Apply deep expertise in client development to support proposal development, pursuit strategy, and contract negotiations.
Build and maintain strong relationships with utility clients to support long‑term advisory partnerships and repeat engagements.
Support strategies for cross‑selling engineering, planning, and advisory services across Burns & McDonnell and 1898 & Co.
Qualifications
Bachelor Degree in engineering, business or related degree from an accredited program. and 13 years relevant consulting experience, preferably in the engineering or construction industry or project management. Required
Expert experience in client and business development.
Expert experience in managing projects, which includes proposal development, contract negotiations, project planning, design team coordination & communication, budgeting, schedule management, and client coordination.
Expert facilitation, collaboration, organization, and problem solving skills.
Demonstrated success as to budget, savings and/or profit margins in completed projects.
Ability to thoughtfully and positively influence, lead and manage.
Excellent planning and analytical skills.
Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills; and the ability to clearly and effectively present complex information to all levels of employees, management, and clients.
Expert knowledge of project management methodologies and tools including the use of Microsoft Project or equivalent.
Professional Engineer (PE) License Preferred
This job posting will remain open a minimum of 72 hours and on an ongoing basis until filled.
EEO/Disabled/Veterans
Job Engineering
Primary Location US-MO-Kansas City
Schedule: Full-time
Travel: Yes, 50 % of the Time
About 1898 & Co. 1898 & Co. is a business, technology and security solutions consultancy where experience and foresight come together to unlock lasting advancements. We innovate today to fuel our clients’ future growth, catalyzing insights that drive smarter decisions, improve performance and maximize value. As part of Burns & McDonnell, we draw on more than 120 years of deep and broad experience in complex industries as we envision and enable the future for our clients.
Req ID: 261096
Job Hire Type Experienced #LI-EH #E98 N/A