Utility Project Manager

Salary : $70,520.30 - $106,554.45 Annually
Location : Cedar Park, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 202500036
Department: Public Works
Division: Utility Administration
Opening Date: 03/11/2025
Closing Date: 4/11/2025 5:00 PM Central

The City of Cedar Park
The City of Cedar Park is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Utility Project Manager. The Utility Project Manager will be responsible for developing project plans, managing resources, mitigating risks, and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements. This is a key role within the Utility department and will be leading projects from initiation to closeout, ensuring adherence to scope, time, cost, and quality constraints.

ABOUT CEDAR PARK
Cedar Park is a well-organized city offering great benefits and perks available on your first day of employment, including: City-subsidized health benefits; life and disability insurance; a variety of voluntary benefits; robust
pension plan with TMRS to set you up for a fulfilling retirement; a down-to-earth casual environment and dress code; and a positive team-oriented culture. This is an excellent time to join our team and truly make an impact
in our local community!!!

The City of Cedar Park is a vibrant community of 82,220 consistently ranked by the U.S. Census Bureau as one of the fastest growing communities in the Austin metro. Named for a popular park and rail stop in the late 1800s, Cedar Park is now home to two professional sports teams, the Texas Stars AHL hockey team and the Austin Spurs NBA G-league basketball team, as well a growing number of high tech and major manufacturing employers. Cedar Park has several rankings by a variety of sources as one of the Best Cities for Families and one of the Safest Cities in Texas.
The Position
JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Utility Engineering Services manager, the Utility Project Manager will provide end-to-end project management for water and wastewater utility projects. This role involves leading projects from initiation to closeout, ensuring adherence to scope, time, cost, and quality constraints. The Utility Project Manager will be responsible for developing project plans, managing resources, mitigating risks, and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements. Regular interaction with stakeholders, contractors, and city departments will be critical to successful project delivery.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Project Initiation and Planning: Develops comprehensive project plans, defines scope, and identifies project deliverables in collaboration with City management and key stakeholders. Establishes project objectives and ensures alignment with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.
• Project Scheduling and Budgeting: Creates detailed project schedules, work breakdown structures (WBS), and budgets using project management best practices. Establishes key milestones and critical path activities to ensure timely completion of projects. Manages the development of cost estimates and monitors financial performance, ensuring alignment with approved funding.
• Project Resource Management: Manages external project related resources, including, contractors, and consultants, ensuring the right resources are allocated and available at each project phase. Coordinates procurement activities, including preparing RFP/RFQ documents, evaluating bids, and managing contracts in partnership with the Finance Department.
• Project Risk Management: Identifies potential project risks, including technical, environmental, and regulatory risks, and develops mitigation plans. Proactively monitors risk throughout the project lifecycle, adjusting plans and coordinating with engineers and contractors as necessary to address issues before they become critical.
• Project Stakeholder Management: Engages with a wide variety of stakeholders, including City departments, regulatory agencies, contractors, and the community. Conducts regular meetings to provide project updates, manage expectations, and resolve issues. Ensures project communication is clear, timely, and consistent across all stakeholder groups. Attend City Council and Board meetings as needed to provide project updates. May serve as staff liaison to City Boards as required. Respond to customer inquiries.
• Project Quality Assurance and Compliance: Ensures that all projects adhere to technical specifications, safety standards, and regulatory requirements, including TCEQ, EPA, and other local, state, and federal standards. Implements quality management processes to review and approve submittals, manage changes, and conduct site inspections. Inspect projects to ensure adherence to plans and specifications.
• Project Monitoring and Controlling: Monitors project progress through the use of KPIs and performance metrics. Tracks project status, including scope, schedule, and budget adherence, ensuring any deviations are promptly addressed. Prepares status reports and dashboards for City management, keeping them informed of project health and performance. Review submittals for compliance with specifications.
• Project Change Management: Manages scope changes through formal change control processes, ensuring changes are properly documented, evaluated for impact, and approved before implementation. Ensures alignment between change requests and project objectives without jeopardizing project timelines or budgets.
• Procurement and Contract Administration: Oversees the procurement of goods and services for projects, ensuring contracts are executed properly and that contractor performance meets contractual obligations. Manages pay applications, change orders, and contract closeouts in a timely manner.
• Project Closeout: Ensures all project deliverables are completed to satisfaction, including final inspections, punch lists, and the handover of O&M manuals. Prepares final project reports, lessons learned, and closeout documentation. Conducts post-project evaluations to capture successes, challenges, and areas for improvement for future projects.
• Regulatory and Environmental Compliance: Collaborates with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with all environmental permits, water quality standards, and construction-related regulations. Manages any required documentation, including environmental impact assessments, compliance reports, and audits.
• Continuous Improvement: Continuously improves project management processes by integrating lessons learned, adopting industry best practices, and refining project tools and methodologies. Actively participates in professional development and stays current with project management standards.
• Perform such other related duties as may be assigned.

Acceptable Experience, Training, Certifications and Licenses
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

Bachelor's degree in project management, Sciences, Public Administration, Business Management, Engineering or related field is required plus at least five (5) years of related experience.

or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

PMP certification is preferred

Valid Texas Driver's License, with acceptable driving record.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of: planning, project management, budgeting and financial analysis, procurement processes, contract management, city goals, and utility operations. Knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations applicable to water and wastewater utilities, including TCEQ and EPA requirements. Knowledge of municipality operations is preferred
Skill/Ability to:

• Manage multiple, complex projects simultaneously.
• Operate computers, including utilizing project management software (e.g., MS Project) and standard office tools (e.g., MS Office, Excel).
• Lead cross-functional teams and coordinate with diverse stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, consultants, board members, and the public.
• Gather, compile, and analyze data to make informed project decisions.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Meet deadlines and manage project deliverables.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Supplemental Information
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: Utility Engineering Services Manager

Directs: This is a non-supervisory position

Other: This position frequently interacts with department heads, engineers, vendors, contractors, elected officials, board members, and citizens.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please submit your application as soon as possible to ensure you are considered for this position. Include a cover letter and resume. Upon receipt, resumes will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this posting. Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted by the hiring manager. For consideration, please apply online .

Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Cedar Park is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. As an EEO employer, the City will conduct its staffing activities, selection, promotion, demotion, transfer, training, and separation in accordance with Federal, State, and Local EEO laws and regulations as they affect the City. The City of Cedar Park will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, veteran status, or disability.
The City of Cedar Park strives to provide the best quality of life for its employees, the City provides a number of opportunities for all regular full-time employees to participate in group medical, dental, life insurance and long-term disability programs. Retirement options are provided by the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS). Other programs such as paid vacation time, deferred compensation and educational assistance are also offered. Click here to view our
01

What best describes your highest level of education?

• High School Diploma/ GED
• At least 30 hours of college credit
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or higher

02

Which best describes your Project Management experience?

• PM working for a municipality (public sector) 3-5 years
• PM working for a municipality (public sector) 6 years or more
• PM working on municipal projects for a contractor (private sector) 3 to 5 years
• PM working on municipal projects for a contractor (private sector) 6 years or more
• PM with less than 3 years experience

03

Describe your approach to providing customer service under extremely busy and demanding situations.
04

Which best describes your years of experience with Project Scheduling and Budgeting.

• I have one year or less experience
• I have at least one (1) year but less than three (3) years of experience
• I have at least three (3) year but less than five (5) years of experience
• I have five (5) or more years of experience

05

Briefly describe why you want to work for the City of Cedar Park and what makes you the best candidate?
Required Question