An Electrical Project Manager is a professional who oversees and manages electrical projects from initiation to completion. They are responsible for coordinating and leading teams, ensuring the successful execution of electrical projects, and delivering results within specified timelines and budgets. In this blog post, we will describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Electrical Project Managers.

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Main Responsibilities of an Electrical Project Manager

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of an Electrical Project Manager:

Administrate

Administrate and manage the relevant subcontractors.

Approve

Approve deliverables from the vendor.

Assess

• Assess and select subcontractors.

• Assess initial project contract and supporting documents for completeness.

• Assess the performance of contractors.

• Assess the performance of our inhouse teams.

Assign

Assign tasks and responsibilities to team members.

Assist in

• Assist in dispute, negotiation, arbitration or litigation, as needed.

• Assist in preparation and negotiation of future subcontracts.

• Assist Purchasing in qualifying electronic component suppliers.

• Assist the Branch Manager in ensuring proper flow of work on projects.

• Assist with special tasks and other projects as needed.

Attend

Attend project kickoff meetings.

Collaborate with

Collaborate with clients, architects, engineers, and subcontractors to align project objectives.

Conduct

• Conduct and / or direct project safety meetings.

• Conduct project evaluations and lessons learned sessions to identify areas for improvement.

• Conduct quality inspections to ensure work meets project requirements and industry standards.

• Conduct regular project meetings to track progress, address issues, and provide updates.

Confer with

• Confer with project personnel to provide technical advice and to resolve problems.

• Confer with project personnel to resolve challenges in an efficient manner.

Coordinate

• Coordinate activities to ensure project progresses on schedule and within prescribed budget.

• Coordinate and lead cross-functional project teams.

• Coordinate assigned work with work of electricians, company departments, or other subcontractors.

• Coordinate permitting approval process.

• Coordinate sub-contractors onsite.

• Coordinate with field management, estimating and leadership.

• Coordinate with utility companies for electrical connections and permits.

Create

Create reaction plans to rectify electrical issues which are in the field.

Define

Define project scope, objectives, and deliverables.

Develop

• Develop and maintain relationships with clients and vendors.

• Develop detailed project plans, including timelines, milestones, and resource allocation.

• Develop new customer relationships.

• Develop strong working relationships with the field, Estimating and Operations teams.

Document

Document and ensure corrective measures are implemented.

Drive

Drive the commissioning schedule and agenda.

Ensure

• Ensure accurate productivity reports are completed weekly.

• Ensure adherence to environmental sustainability practices in project execution.

• Ensure company safety policy is adhered to all projects effectively.

• Ensure company safety policy is adhered to on all projects.

• Ensure compliance with electrical codes, regulations, and safety standards.

• Ensure material and equipment are available to tradespersons.

• Ensure monthly cost forecasting and checklists are completed accurately and on time.

• Ensure our teams meet our time, cost, quality and safety KPIs.

• Ensure professional quality services in all facets of work.

• Ensure proper documentation of project changes, approvals, and variations.

• Ensure that branches are operating at peak performance at all times.

• Ensure that workers are supplied with tools, materials, and equipment for completion of project.

• Ensure the required documentation is received in a timely manner.

• Ensure workers for each task are fully qualified to perform assigned duties.

Estimate

• Estimate, price and obtaining appropriate approvals on all scope changes prior commencing work.

• Estimate project costs and develop budgets.

Evaluate

Evaluate our performance against key KPIs.

Facilitate

• Facilitate communication between essential parties through the product development life cycle.

• Facilitate knowledge transfer and share best practices within the organization.

Foster

Foster a collaborative and positive team environment to maximize productivity and efficiency.

Generate

Generate a detailed schedule for new product development projects.

Identify

Identify and resolve site issues, design issues and disputes in a timely manner.

Implement

• Implement continuous improvement initiatives.

• Implement project management best practices and methodologies.

Inspect

Inspect work areas to determine type of work required and materials and equipment to be used.

Issue

• Issue direction to subtrades as necessary, chair meetings as required.

• Issue documentation to design team, owner and subtrades as necessary.

Lead

Lead costing effort while supporting quoting activities of new business opportunities.

Liaise with

Liaise with shop floor, providing information from vendors and reviewing models.

Maintain

• Maintain accurate and up to date status reports.

• Maintain effective communication with project stakeholders.

• Maintain required certification status of Array manufacturing facilities globally.

Manage

• Manage all aspects of our installation work across both our in-house teams and subcontract teams.

• Manage all change order pricing in Accubid database.

• Manage all permits, inspections and BC Hydro requirements for each project.

• Manage and maintain the costs, risk management and quality control.

• Manage and provide scheduling, planning, organizing of labour, subcontractors and materials.

• Manage any project conflicts.

• Manage a team of M&E Coordinators, includes directing tasks and establishing objectives.

• Manage change and have financial accountability for the respective subcontractors.

• Manage contracts to ensure time, cost, quality and safety KPIs are met.

• Manage customer expectations while maintaining a high level of customer service.

• Manage or provide oversight on multiple and / or large projects while maintaining correct controls.

• Manage project challenges and resolve these issues in a timely and effective manner.

• Manage project changes, scope creep, and change requests.

• Manage project deliverables from estimating through closeout stages.

• Manage project risks and develop mitigation strategies.

• Manage project schedules to meet client commitments.

• Manage small and large electrical and fire alarm installation projects with minimal supervision.

• Manage staff and staffing schedules during construction.

• Manage the on site actions of our teams.

• Manage the process of building turnover, training and closeout documentation.

• Manage the relationship with the general contractor / CM and third party stakeholders.

• Manage work orders and approve invoices.

Maximize

Maximize business performance and team effectiveness.

Mentor

• Mentor and coach foremen as it relates to company policies and procedures and work requirements.

• Mentor less experienced Project Managers, assisting them with technical problems.

Monitor

• Monitor and control project expenses to meet budgetary constraints.

• Monitor and improve labour productivity.

• Monitor and report on progress, labour productivity, work outcomes, budget, cost, and forecast.

• Monitor project documentation, including contracts, permits, and technical specifications.

• Monitor project progress and ensure adherence to timelines and budgets.

• Monitor work orders for accuracy to ensure profitability and customer satisfaction.

Oversee

• Oversee and / or perform ESA upgrades to machines and equipment.

• Oversee and / or perform various electrical field work, installations, and troubleshooting.

• Oversee plant maintenance and electrical plant projects.

• Oversee the execution of the electrical work with the Quality Management System.

• Oversee the installation, testing, and commissioning of electrical systems.

Participate

Participate in Estimating turnover meetings and Preconstruction meetings as required.

Plan

• Plan, direct and supervise workers engaged in electrical construction.

• Plan, organize, and execute electrical projects from start to finish.

• Plan, prepare, monitor, and manage construction schedule and milestones.

• Plan staffing and establish budget hours within project parameters for all assigned staff.

Prepare

• Prepare and submit all required submittals and RFIs.

• Prepare and submit construction project budget estimates as required.

• Prepare and submit project estimates and price / negotiate all changes in scope as required.

• Prepare electrical schematic drawings for productions and instruction sheets for installations.

• Prepare reports, drawings, documents and BOMS for UL Certification.

Prioritize

Prioritize and expedite all service calls with a strong sense of urgency.

Procure

Procure necessary equipment, materials, and resources.

Produce

Produce regular reports and updates to the wider team, Manage the 3rd party commissioning agent.

Provide

• Provide professional development for employees through, coaching, mentoring and training.

• Provide Quality Assurance department with specific inspection points for individual fixtures.

• Provide regular project status reports to stakeholders and senior management.

• Provide status reporting regarding project milestones, deliverable, dependencies, risks and issues.

• Provide weekly, biweekly or monthly project status report to clients and executive management team.

Represent

• Represent company in project and strategy meetings.

• Represent company in project meetings and attend strategy meetings.

Resolve

• Resolve conflicts and address issues among project team members.

• Resolve construction problems (lack of productivity, work interfaces, etc.) as required.

Review

• Review 2D and 2D engineering designs in SolidWorks and Autocad.

• Review and approve electrical designs, drawings, and specifications.

• Review and approve prototypes and production first-off samples prepared by the vendors.

• Review and monitor job costs versus budgets, accurately forecast cost at complete.

• Review, approve and prepare Bills of Materials for electrical designs for Estimating department.

• Review construction documents for completeness and constructability.

• Review contracts / WIP for areas of risk and correct deficiencies.

• Review electrical drawing take offs and labour estimates.

• Review work / contracts for areas of risk and correct deficiencies.

• Review work / contracts / WIP for areas of risk and correct deficiencies.

Stay updated on

Stay updated on emerging trends, technologies, and regulations in the electrical industry.

Supervise

Supervise multiple technicians.

Support

• Support our senior managers ensuring all projects come in on time and on budget.

• Support sales with technical expertise to identify opportunities and develop proposals.

Track

• Track and price change orders by escalating and identifying the need for additional services.

• Track and price change orders with minimal supervision.

Transmit

Transmit all required information to and from internal & external customers.

Use

Use budgets to monitor and evaluate performance and to ensure compliance with company objectives.

Utilize

Utilize lean principles to optimize projects.

Work with

• Work closely with UL Engineers throughout the project certification phase.

• Work with administration to accurately invoice all your projects on a regular basis.

• Work with customer to resolve specification, contract conflict and scheduling issues.

• Work with project team to identify risks and enact mitigation plans.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of an Electrical Project Manager:

1. Proficiency in project management methodologies and tools.

2. Knowledge of electrical engineering principles and practices.

3. Competence in electrical system design and specification.

4. Familiarity with electrical codes, regulations, and safety standards.

5. Skill in project planning, scheduling, and resource allocation.

6. Proficiency in budgeting, cost estimation, and financial management.

7. Knowledge of electrical equipment and materials procurement processes.

8. Competence in interpreting electrical designs, drawings, and specifications.

9. Familiarity with construction and installation processes for electrical systems.

10. Proficiency in using project management software for scheduling and tracking.

11. Knowledge of electrical testing and commissioning procedures.

12. Competence in managing project risks and implementing mitigation strategies.

13. Familiarity with contract management and negotiation.

14. Skill in reading and interpreting construction contracts and agreements.

15. Proficiency in interpreting and analyzing project financial data and reports.

16. Knowledge of energy efficiency and sustainability practices in electrical projects.

17. Competence in conducting quality inspections and ensuring compliance.

18. Familiarity with utility connections, permits, and regulations.

19. Skill in conducting project evaluations and performance assessments.

20. Proficiency in using computer-aided design (CAD) software for electrical layouts.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of an Electrical Project Manager:

1. Excellent leadership and team management abilities.

2. Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

3. Effective negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

4. Adaptability and flexibility to handle changing project requirements.

5. Time management and organizational skills to meet project deadlines.

6. Problem-solving and critical thinking abilities.

7. Decision-making skills to resolve project-related issues.

8. Attention to detail and commitment to quality.

9. Strong analytical and strategic planning abilities.

10. Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

Conclusion

Electrical Project Managers play a pivotal role in the successful execution of electrical projects. By possessing the necessary hard and soft skills, these professionals ensure effective project management, successful delivery of electrical systems, and client satisfaction.