Project Manager – Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)

Primary Talent Partners has a new contract opening for a Project Manager - Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to join our electric utility client in Portland, OR. This is a 7-month contract to start with the potential for extensions. 

Pay: $61.00 - $71.00/hr; W2 contract, no PTO, no Benefits. ACA-compliant supplemental package available for enrollment. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must be able to sit on Primary Talent Partners W2 without sponsorship.


Description:
The AMI Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and delivering projects and workstreams that support the utility's Advanced Metering Infrastructure program. This role manages cross functional efforts spanning metering hardware, communications networks, IT systems, field operations, vendors, and customer programs. The Project Manager ensures AMI initiatives are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with regulatory and operational requirements.


Key Responsibilities
Program & Project Delivery

• Manage end to end delivery of AMI projects, tracks and sub projects, including scope, schedule, budget, risks, issues, and dependencies
• Coordinate dependencies across IT, Operations, Meter Services, Customer Operations, Regulatory, and external vendors
• Support program level planning, sequencing, and milestone tracking across multiple concurrent AMI initiatives

Vendor & Field Coordination

• Manage vendor relationships for meters, communications networks, system integrators, and field services
• Coordinate field deployment activities, installation schedules, testing, and cutover planning
• Track vendor deliverables, SLAs, and contractual milestones
• Support issue resolution related to field execution, system performance, or vendor dependencies

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Identify, assess, and actively manage program and project risks (technical, operational, customer, and regulatory)
• Support governance reviews, gate approvals, and executive updates
• Ensure alignment with utility standards, cybersecurity requirements, safety policies, and regulatory commitments
• Support documentation for regulatory filings, audits, and funding or grant reporting (as applicable)

Stakeholder Communication

• Develop and deliver clear project status reports, dashboards, and executive summaries
• Facilitate cross functional working sessions and decision forums
• Translate technical AMI topics into clear business and operational impacts for non technical stakeholders
• Coordinate change management and readiness activities with impacted teams
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Technology, Business, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• 4 years of project management experience delivering complex infrastructure, technology, or utility programs
• Demonstrated experience managing schedules, budgets, and cross functional teams
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including executive level reporting
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast moving, highly interdependent environment
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), smart grid, or utility technology programs
• Familiarity with AMI components such as meters, RF/mesh/cellular networks, HES, MDMS, and system integrations
• Experience working in a regulated utility environment
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar certification
• Experience with vendor led implementations and field deployment programs
  
  

Core Competencies:

• Utility program and project management
• Cross functional coordination and influence
• Vendor and contract management
• Risk, issue, and dependency management
• Financial and schedule tracking
• Clear, structured communication
  
  

Can you give a high-level overview of your team size, roles, its initiatives/deliverables, and any tool/technologies specific to your team/department/project they will be supporting:

Team size: 7 mix of permanent and contractors.
The Work: Team is delivering Next Gen AMI Program. For scale the program ROM estimate is ***M
M365 Planner for Project Schedules


What would "a day in the life” of this role look like?:
Across the day, the AMI project manager consistently acts as:

• Integrator of technical, operational, and business workstreams
• Communicator translating complexity into clarity
• Risk manager identifying and mitigating issues early
• Owner of program truth, ensuring schedules and reports reflect reality
• This combination of coordination, documentation, and decision support is what enables large, multi year AMI programs to move from planning to successful deployment.
  
  

What would you say is the top priority for the worker over the first few weeks/months?:

• Getting up to speed on OSPMM process and documents to begin scoping, schedule and other stage 2 documentation.
  

Is utilities experience required? (Y/N): No but preferred


Top 3 Must-Haves (Hard and/or Soft Skills):
1. Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Clearly communicates project status, risks, and decisions to diverse audiences
• Facilitates alignment across cross functional teams, vendors, and leadership
• Produces concise status reports, dashboards, and executive summaries
• Explicitly called out as a top required skill in PM intake and role definitions
  

2. Planning & Execution (Scope, Schedule, Budget)

• Develops and manages project plans, milestones, and deliverables
• Directs and monitors project work from initiation through closeout
• Manages scope changes, schedule impacts, and cost variances
• Core responsibility across all project lifecycle stages
  

3. Risk & Issue Management

• Identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks proactively
• Tracks issues and dependencies and escalates when necessary
• Supports governance gates, change control, and decision‐making
• Consistently defined as a key PM accountability across execution frameworks
  
  

Top 3 Nice-To-Haves (Hard and/or Soft Skills)

• Utility Experience 
• AMI Program Knowledge
• Flexible mindset
  

Education Requirements (Experience in Lieu of Degree):

• Bachelors degree or 4 years experience
  

Certification Requirements (Any Preferences):

• PMP preferred but not required
  

How many years of experience are you looking for?: 4

What is your preference when interviewing candidates? (Phone, In Person, Teams):  Teams



Primary Talent Partners is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer committed to diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

If you are a person with a disability needing assistance with the application or at any point in the hiring process, please contact us at info@primarytalentpartners.com

#PTPJobs