Associate, Operations Project Manager

Job Description

Job Title: Associate, Operations Project Manager

Posting Start Date: 6/1/26

Primary Role

Pennsylvania American Water has a new opportunity for a full-time, Associate, Operations Project Manager to join our team in Butler, PA. This is a great role if you're looking to get more exposure to the business and build your leadership skills. You will be responsible for daily testing at the wastewater facility, as well as new service investigations, partnering with developers and customers, involvement with mainline extension projects, and working with planning committees for municipalities. Our ideal candidate will be a strong partner to internal and external business, as well as have exceptional communication skills.

The Associate, Operations Project Manager is an entry level position that assists operations and functional areas in projects that support investment, growth and continuous improvement.

Key Accountabilities

• Support strong customer relationships; maintain consistent communication, manage customer needs and expectations by meeting project timelines
• Fosters strong working relationships with engineering firms, vendors, and contractors
• Assist in the implementation of new customers and developments into the distribution system and expand the customer base.
• Assist in preparation of correspondence, information for distribution and/or presentation to other agencies, municipal departments, general public, special interest groups, property owners, consultants.
• Work with assigned business areas to identify opportunities, prioritize, select/assign and execute projects to successful completion by working with management and project teams.
• Assist business leaders in identifying continuous improvement opportunities and execute projects to successful outcome.
• Support activities at all stages of new acquisitions, including relationship building, research, review of proposals, polling, due diligence, public communication, asset control development, customer integration and other related activities which may include after-hours work.
• Assist in planning and permitting water distribution infrastructure.
• Use critical thinking methods to demonstrate opportunity and execute for continuous improvement.
• Perform data analysis, gather data through SAP/BI and develop process controls through analytics and statistical methods.
• Ensure that appropriate Safety Management systems are established and implemented for all projects.
• Follow up with customers (engineering firm/plumber/contactor etc.) from BPEM, email, phone call.
• Perform daily Koppel testing
• Operate the filter press at Koppel weekly or as needed
• Perform light maintenance on equipment at Koppel
• Share on-call duties for Butler wastewater only

Knowledge/Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of engineering design theory and practice, water resources, project management, construction and contract management, water and wastewater facilities and utility operations
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements (commercial and environmental), industry standards, and trends impacting the water industry
• Enterprise systems knowledge, SAP preferred, Statistical package experience (Minitab, SAS, SPSS or similar)
• Sound business acumen and judgment
• Effective quantitative and analytical skills; attention to detail
• Effective verbal and written communications skills (e.g., report writing, listening, plan reading and creating, and presentation)
• Strong interpersonal skills (e.g., tact/diplomacy, persuasion, team building, cooperation, leadership, ability to motivate others

Experience/Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Construction Management, or related field; Combination of education and/or experience in related field in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree will be considered
• With a bachelor’s degree, 0 - 2 years’ experience in project management focused on Engineering projects, Planning, Construction, Project delivery
• Without a bachelor’s degree, a minimum of 5 years’ experience in project management focused on Engineering projects, planning, construction, project delivery
• Water and/or wastewater experience is a plus

Certifications & Licenses

• Valid driver’s license

Work Schedule

• Full-time, On-site
• Monday-Friday, 7am-3:30pm
• On-call responsibility

Travel Requirements

• 30% but could be more or less depending on the project demands which will vary
• Local travel within service territory

Work Environment

• Combination of office and field work

Competencies

Champions safety

Collaborates

Cultivates innovation

Drives Results

Customer obsessed

Nimble learning