Project Manager III - Thermal Generation Project Development

Are you looking for an exciting job where you can put your skills and talents to work at a company you can feel proud to be a part of? Do you want a workplace that will challenge you and offer you opportunities to learn and grow?  A  position at Xcel Energy could be just what you’re looking for.

Position Summary

The Project Manager III provides the Generation Development team and individual project teams with deliberate and organized project management support to plan and develop new dispatchable generation projects and large-scale improvement projects at existing generation plants. Development work is largely focused on project origination and conceptual design leading to technology selection, optimized cost estimates, schedules, preliminary technical designs, major supply contracts, and EPC contracts. The work also includes planning the development process by leveraging corporate development, regulatory, project controls, environmental, technical, supply chain, and other disciplines while driving the project forward with cost and schedule control. The project manager is expected to be highly collaborative and capable of leading high-impact conversations with both internal executives and outside parties.

Standard Operations Position. Provide end-to-end project management, leadership and coordination for multiple, large complex projects or a transformational project work stream with responsibility for project initiation, approval, scope, schedule, cost, resource planning, and risk management. Manage alignment of financial, compliance, safety, customer and operational goals between/among projects and the BU or corporation. Lead the project team to achieve all critical financial, timing, operational, and change management metrics. Ensure effective sourcing, management and engagement of all resources.

Essential Responsibilities

• Project Planning: Identify quality project options, develop business cases, and secure required approvals. Lead requirements gathering and planning process while engaging all key stakeholders. Develop solution designs that define appropriate project scope, align with corporate strategies, ensure coordination with key initiatives, and assure dependencies are identified/addressed. Define deliverables, success metrics and key milestone schedules. Develop work plans, budgets, and cost/benefit analysis.
• Project Management: Ensure successful delivery of committed project benefits and operational metrics in a dynamic/complex environment. Independently manage detailed project plans to approved scope/schedule and provide cross-functional tracking as needed. Define and manage a regular status reporting process to monitor progress and resolve risks to goal. Continually identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Financial Management: Function as project controller. Manage project financials including budgeting, forecasting, and actuals tracking. Facilitate RFP and contract management processes. Review actuals versus planned budget throughout project life cycle to identify variances and recommend corrective action.
• Resource Management: Forecast, schedule, and manage resources, both internal and external. Manage assigned contracts and associated payments/performance requirements. Develop and adapt a comprehensive resource plan for a matrixed team of diverse talent to maximize skills and minimize cost. Provide training and coaching to less experienced project team members.
• Scope & Risk Management: Manage scope change process for large transformational project or best practices for business area in addition to own projects. Identify risks and issues throughout the project and create mitigation strategies/contingency plans.
• Relationship Management: Communicate project status to all levels of the organization. Establish effective, collaborative working relationships up to senior leader level to maximize project efficiency, responsiveness and resource allocation.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 10 years work experience in operations, technology, finance, or comparable function; utility experience preferred
• BS Engineering, Construction, Business, Information Technology or related field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 10 years' experience in project management and process improvement; project management certification preferred
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate, train, lead and influence others, and adapt to change quickly
• Experience with providing work direction to diverse/distributed work teams
• Understanding of core business processes/industry trends with ability to interpret/apply ongoing changes
• Knowledge of project planning and business need justification process and methodology
• Vendor/contract management experience preferred

Preferred Requirements

• Experience with simple cycle and combined cycle, geothermal, steam-electric cycles, or large renewable plant development and/or project management. 

• Experience with power plant development activities including interconnection queues, natural gas pipeline contracts, air permitting. 

• Construction cost and schedule estimating for power or large heavy industrial projects. 

• PMP and/or PE certification. 

As a leading combination electricity and natural gas energy company, Xcel Energy offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity and 1.9 million natural gas customers across eight Western and Midwestern states. At Xcel Energy, we strive to be the preferred and trusted provider of the energy our customers need. If you’re ready to be a part of something big, we invite you to join our team.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Individuals with a disability who need an accommodation to apply please contact us at recruiting@xcelenergy.com.

Non-Bargaining

The anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $112,200.00 to $159,400.00 per year

This position is eligible for the following benefits: Annual Incentive Program, Medical/Pharmacy Plan, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Dependent Care Reimbursement Account, Health Care Reimbursement Account, Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA), Transportation Reimbursement Account, Short-term disability (STD), Long-term disability (LTD), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan), Tuition reimbursement, Transit programs, Employee recognition program, Pension, 401(k) plan, Paid time off (PTO), Holidays, Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO), Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation.  You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 04/28/26

EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law Supplement | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Equal Opportunity Policy (PDF) | Employee Rights (PDF)

All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.

 

ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com/ accessible to any and all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact Xcel Energy Talent Acquisition at recruiting@xcelenergy.com. This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications.