Project Manager
Sparkfund
About Sparkfund
Sparkfund is an energy technology platform company based in Washington, D.C. built to accelerate the energy transition by transforming the built environment into a productive, resilient, climate-adapted extension of the grid. We do this by partnering with utilities and building owners to provide program management, project implementation, and financing services and capabilities to our partners' customers. Together, we are creating a more equitable, resilient, and sustainable energy future.
Position Summary
We are hiring a Project Manager (PM) to lead the implementation of Sparkfund projects, including planning, budgeting, scheduling, and tracking the project to successful completion. This person must be comfortable proactively building and maintaining strong external relationships with customers as well as internal relationships with other Sparkfund teams. This person must also be a clear and effective communicator, as this role will require interacting regularly with both Sparkfund and Customer leadership to deliver updates and reports to key project stakeholders.
This position will report directly to the Director of Project Management and will be a key contributor to our expanding Delivery team and Projects business unit. An ideal candidate will be a motivated self-starter who takes initiative, works effectively with minimal direct supervision, and proactively identifies and resolves challenges and issues before they become problems.
Location
This role is flexible on location and will include travel within the continental US up to 30% of the time. In addition to traveling to customer offices and project sites, we expect you to travel to Washington, DC and / or other US cities for organized team and / or company gatherings to collaborate with other members of the team / company, learn the ins and outs of our business, and contribute to our company culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead projects from contract through completion and serve as the customer’s champion and main point of contact throughout the delivery process.
- Plan the implementation process for assigned projects – collaborate and coordinate with the customer as well as internal teams (Project Development, Vendor Management, Construction, and EHS) to identify and plan project requirements and scope, estimate the project budget, identify and mitigate risks, procure assets and materials, hire construction crews and subcontractors, and schedule construction / implementation.
- Monitor and track assigned projects’ progress and KPIs throughout the delivery process, including challenges and delays as well as the status of resolutions, and update key internal and external stakeholders.
- Collaborate with the Customer Experience team on the project close-out process, ensuring customer satisfaction.
- Consult with the Commercial Solutions and Project Development team on the design and development of customer solutions and project proposals, providing expertise and insight on the implementation of efficiency, sustainability, and renewable technologies.
- Organize and deliver weekly, quarterly, and annual reporting on key metrics for projects.
- Collaborate with the Delivery team and other Sparkfund teams on building out the tools and processes of a robust commercial organization, incorporating lessons learned from past projects, conferences, and other industry experience.
- Troubleshoot and resolve escalated issues, collaborating cross-functionally as needed to provide customers with the best solution.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- 1-3 years of construction management, technical project management, and / or trade contracting experience in HVAC, control system, electrical, and / or distributed generation markets.
- Experience creating and maintaining project plans and schedules.
- Experience presenting to stakeholders at various levels, up through and including executives.
- Strong written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts and topics effectively for non-technical audiences.
- Experience managing multiple projects at one time, with a demonstrated ability to switch between contexts quickly and efficiently.
- Skilled at making sound and defensible decisions with incomplete information.
- Ability to build and maintain long-term, trusting relationships.
- Consultative approach to relationship management and meeting preparation (organized, anticipatory, goal-oriented).
Preferred Skills & Qualifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or other relevant licenses and certifications.
- Experience working with or within the Utilities, Energy Services, and / or relevant trade contracting industries.
- Project development experience in the clean energy, resilience, and / or energy efficiency space, including knowledge of project risks, key stakeholders, market incentives, and customer value propositions.
- Competency in software and cloud-based information management tools, including Salesforce, GSuite, and other project management tools.
- Dedication to what we’re building at Sparkfund and a passion for combating climate change.
- Experience with project financing solutions, including leases, loans, or energy service agreements.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation and stock option plans - we believe in shared ownership.
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, vision, and dental insurance as well as disability and life insurance.
- Flexible vacation policy that encourages ~4 weeks of paid time off. We also observe all federal holidays.
- 8 weeks gender-neutral paid leave for caregivers when they have a new addition to their families and an additional 4 weeks of paid leave for birthing parents.
- A one-time, work-from-home stipend to help cover any equipment, hardware, etc. you need to set up your remote office.
- A monthly allowance of $100 to help cover phone and WiFi expenses.