Wind Program Manager

~ From the company’s inception, we have specialized in mobilizing Right of Way personnel expeditiously and efficiently to project locations throughout North America. ~

At Contract Land Staff (CLS) our Right of Way agents are not contract employees. They are direct employees with all the benefits of such – medical, dental, vision insurance, ST/LT disability, 401(k), flexible spending and more.

Creating a full-time staff was a deliberate decision on our part. It simply makes good business sense. Our employees have a vested interest in your success, which means they are more involved in the decisions they make on your behalf.

Position Overview

As a Wind Program Manager, you will be responsible for the Right-of-Way Management of all wind energy project assignments within our Wind Program portfolio. Oversee the activities of all project personnel. Experienced in all phases of Right-of-Way including an in-depth knowledge of title, acquisition, survey permitting, permitting, and construction support. Able to administer feasibility studies, implement project procedures, prepare forecasting, maintain and stay within budgets, develop schedules and milestones and understand appraisal reports.

Responsible for assigning and assessing team member roles and responsibilities and oversees overall project status. Responsible for making recommendations on the hiring, firing, advancement, promotion or any other change of status of project personnel; however, the Program Manager does not make the final decision on agents being placed on a Project. This is a Staffing/HR/OIC decision. Responsible for training, appraising, mentoring and developing project staff members. Serves as the Manager working directly with the CLS Officer in Charge, and often interfaces with Client Representatives.

Responsibilities

• Direct and manage project strategy and execution from beginning to end.
• Define project scope, goals and deliverables that support business goals in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders.
  • Assists in the development of full-scale project plans and associated communications documents.
  • Assist in estimating the resources and participants needed to achieve project goals.
  • Where required, coordinate with other CLS department managers for the acquisition of required personnel from within the company.
  • Determine and assess need for additional staff and/or consultants and make the appropriate requests to the Staffing department as necessary during project cycle.
  • Set and continually manage project expectations with team members and other stakeholders.
• Effectively communicate project expectations to team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion.
  • Ongoing Liaison with all project stakeholders (as appropriate)...
  • Delegate tasks and responsibilities to appropriate personnel.
  • Identify and resolve issues and conflicts within the project team, working with the HR Department and OIC early in a problem developing.
  • Coach, mentor, motivate and supervise project team members and contractors, and influence them to take positive action and accountability for their assigned work.
• Whenever possible, will assist in the planning of, and the scheduling of project timelines and milestones using appropriate tools (Gantt chart). Additionally, oversees and manages the following in concert with directives from the OIC/PD:
  • Track project milestones and deliverables.
  • Identify and manage project dependencies and critical path.
  • Develop and deliver progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation, and presentations.
  • Determine the frequency and content of status reports from the project team, analyze results, and troubleshoot problem areas.
  • Proactively manage changes in project scope, identify potential crises, and devise contingency plans.
  • Define clearly and measurably project goals and objectives to involved parties throughout project life cycle.
• Build, develop, and grow any business relationships vital to the success of the project.
• Conduct post-project reviews to determine project successes and disappointments.
  • Create a recommendations report in order to identify successful and unsuccessful project elements.
  • Assist in developing best practices and tools for project execution and management.

Accountability:

• This position is responsible for the Management of multiple projects according to strict deadlines and within strict budget constraints.
• This includes acquiring resources and coordinating the efforts of team members and third-party contractors or consultants in order to deliver projects according to plan.
• The Program Manager will also manage the defined project’s objectives and oversee quality control throughout its life cycle.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have a working knowledge in all aspects of Right of Way and capable of performing all tasks as set forth in this document; the requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from 4-year College or university, and 10 or more years of Right-of-Way experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 5 years of management experience.

Experience:

• 5 years direct work experience in a project management capacity, including all aspects of process development, strategy and execution.
• Extensive experience with and understanding of negotiation and acquisition principles, land title, Right-of-Way documents as well as strategies and operating practices on standard Right-of-Way projects.
• Solid working knowledge of MS Office, especially MS Word Excel, Google Earth and/or other map related applications.
• Demonstrated experience in personnel management.
• Experience at working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment is essential.
• Ability to adapt to shifting priorities, demands and timelines through analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Reacts to project adjustments and alterations promptly and efficiently.
• Flexible during times of change.
• Ability to read communication styles of team members and contractors who come from a broad spectrum of disciplines.
• Persuasive, encouraging, and motivating.
• Ability to present and speak in formal settings, among targeted and potentially large audiences.
• Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources, including upper management, clients, and other departments.
• Ability to defuse tension among project team, should it arise.
• Ability to bring project to successful completion through political sensitivity.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Adept at conducting research into project-related issues and products.
• Must be able to learn, understand, and apply new technologies.
• Customer service skills an asset.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment is crucial.

Licensing:

• Must have valid driver’s license.
• Must maintain minimum automobile liability insurance in the amount of $100,000/$300,000/$100,000.

Language Skills:

• Requires excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills.
• Must be able to write clearly and concisely to prepare reports, specifications and correspondence.

Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to utilize advance mathematical skills in order to: add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, percentages and decimals.

Reasoning Ability:

• Must be able to apply advanced reasoning skills in 360 degree format to manage various stakeholders’ needs.
• Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several variables in standardized situations.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Intermediate or above computer skills and familiarity with general PC operation.
• Intermediate or above software skills with Microsoft Office applications, with emphasis on Excel, Outlook and Word.
• Ability to quickly learn and use CLS’s proprietary software.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Work Conditions:

• Overtime may be required in meet project deadlines.
• Due to the nature of the work, from time to time the incumbent may experience significant project-related stress.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Plus stand; walk; and stoop, kneel or crouch.
• Physically able to participate in training sessions, presentations, and meetings.
• Some travel may be required for the purpose of meeting with clients, stakeholders, or off-site personnel/management.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. Plus stand; walk; and stoop, kneel or crouch.
• The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Employee is expected to use good judgment when lifting or moving office supplies and/or furniture and to seek assistance or wear back support appliances when appropriate.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus in use of computer monitor and other manual, task-related functions.
• The employee may be required to travel by car, plane, taxi, bus, and shuttle; to and from various projects nationwide, and to handle their own luggage and computer equipment.

Work Environment:

• This job will require a majority of work to be performed in a well lighted, temperature controlled, fast-paced office setting. Some activities may require overnight travel to field locations and client offices.
• There are frequent interruptions during the work day for impromptu meetings with various corporate employees, client calls and required weekly and other meetings.

Comments: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.