Project Manager I

Join the Carolina Cat Team

As a family-owned company under our third generation of leadership, we have built our business based on the principles of trust, integrity, and a desire to help our customers and employees succeed.

Since 1926, we've supported our communities by supplying equipment for critical infrastructure and commerce and by donating our time and resources to area nonprofits. We make smart investments in our company and continuously improve as part of our vision to be a trailblazing company that's built to last.

We're looking for hard-working, team-oriented professionals who enjoy working on new challenges every day. We believe our employees are the key to our success, and we're committed to providing a work experience that helps our team grow to their full potential.

Collectively, our employees work together to make a difference for our customers, our communities, and our company. Learn more about what it means to become a team member with Carolina Cat.

Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Project Manager 1 to oversee the successful execution of Power Systems projects. This role manages and coordinates various projects for Power Systems, tracks the equipment placed into service from initial purchase order receipt to project completion and conducts follow- ups as necessary with customers and vendors. The Project Manager 1 works with the Project Coordinators, answers technical questions, and negotiates pricing with vendors. The successful candidate must ensure compliance of equipment to customer specifications to achieve customer satisfaction while maximizing profit in support of the division's budgets and goals.

Depending upon the qualifications of the successful applicant, this position may be filled at a higher level within the job hierarchy.

Essential Functions

• Plans, manages, and coordinates all aspects of Power Systems projects from initial receipt of the purchase order through completion.
• Must be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining all project schedules and fostering high levels of customer satisfaction. Load frequently exceeds 25 projects at various lifecycle stages.
• Position is 80% Administrative with typical responsibilities including:
  • Safety
    • Promote a culture of safety on led projects, ensuring compliance with all safety policies and procedures
  • Communication
    • Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, providing regular updates on progress
    • Address customer concerns promptly and professionally to maintain high customer satisfaction, elevating issues when necessary
    • Maintain regular contact with vendors and contractors for status updates on their scope of responsibility for the project
    • Maintain regular contact with field service personnel to assist in resolving questions related to delivery, installation, and startup
  • Project Planning and Scheduling
    • Assist sales team in the quoting process and initial site evaluation
    • Create and maintain the project's schedule
    • Schedule startup with the customer and the Field Service Department
    • Arrange delivery of equipment to the job site
  • Problem Solving and Issue Resolution
    • Identify and resolve project issues, risks, or unexpected challenges
    • Use critical thinking skills and leverage the project team when developing solutions
    • Implement contingency plans to mitigate delays and disruptions
  • Documentation and Reporting
    • Review equipment specifications
    • Prepare and process submittals for projects
    • Submit Customer Solutions Quoter inquiries (CSQi's) to Caterpillar
    • Track project using Salesforce (current) and Procore (future)
    • Review equipment orders before release for manufacture
    • Issue purchase orders to vendors upon submittal approval
    • Provide as-built drawings/interconnects and compile operation manuals for customer
    • Initiate and document equipment warranty
    • Attend project kickoff, closeout, and monthly internal update meetings
    • Attend customer led project update meetings as requested
• Position is 20% Field Based with typical responsibilities including:
  • Safety
    • Ensure safety briefings and site inspections are utilized in the field to maintain a safe working environment
  • Site Assessment and Coordination
    • Conduct job site evaluations before delivery and startup
    • Collaborate with site personnel to prepare for project initiation
    • Coordinate delivery of parts and equipment to job sites
  • Installation Oversight
    • Oversee field service personnel, vendors, and contractors, ensuring work quality and adherence to project schedule
    • Monitor performance and elevate issues when necessary
    • Direct the installation, testing, and commissioning of various Power Systems projects
  • Quality Control and Compliance
    • Ensure all work adheres to regulatory requirements, industry standards, and quality requirements
    • Coordinate and attend any required witness tests
    • Periodically inspect installation activities to verify compliance
    • Implement corrective actions to resolve quality issues
• Develops a close working relationship with CAT and their field representatives, Sales and Product Support, as it pertains to the sale, service, and support of the project.
• Work weeks are 40 - 50 hours. Must be able to work evenings and weekends as needed. Must be able to travel overnight as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualifying individuals to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor of Science in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering preferred OR High School Diploma with 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Three to Five years of experience or the equivalent in project management, construction, purchasing and/or customer service, preferably in the power generation industry and particularly with Caterpillar.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at one time while maintaining performance and schedule.
• Strong operational discipline working within a standard Project Management tool set
• Working knowledge of:
  • 50 - 1500kW diesel fuel, natural gas, methane, etc. Standby, continuous and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) generator applications.
  • Fuel systems, ventilation systems and electrical systems that are utilized in power generation applications.
  • Automatic Transfer Switches (ATSs), Paralleling Switchgear and operation of multiple Generator Sets in parallel.
  • Hand and power tools used in generator and switchgear installation

Computer Skills

• Advanced computer skills, including experience using Microsoft Office software, such as Word and Excel, data base systems and the ability to operate CAT PC and Main Frame Programs.
• Auto CAD, Scheduling Software, Adobe Professional and Salesforce.
• Prior experience with Procore is a plus but not required.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or other Certification preferred, but not required
• For engineers, Engineering Intern (EI) certification a plus

Language Skills

Must be able to communicate with internal and external customers. Must be able to communicate in a calm, professional manner to foster a collaborative problem-solving process with individuals of various backgrounds, including company service technicians and customer representatives.

Mathematical Skills

Must understand and utilize mathematical methods and techniques used in Engineering.

Reasoning Ability

Must be able to understand how and why power generation systems operate as a complete system. Use this ability to orchestrate a project and present a complete working system to the customer.

Workplace Requirements

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee must frequently lift, carry, push, pull and /or otherwise move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this Job, depending on site location, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts and equipment. The employee may occasionally be exposed to high, precarious places, fumes or airborne particles; outside weather conditions and vibration. The employee may occasionally be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme cold; extreme heat and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in some work environments is occasionally loud.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

We require all employees to treat all our employees and candidates as equals. All personnel actions are conducted in the spirit of equal employment. We're committed to recruit, train, promote and retain associates without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal laws.

#CarolinaCAT

EEO/AA Employer. All qualified individuals - including minorities, females, veterans and individuals with disabilities - are encouraged to apply.