Sr. Preconstruction Manager

RWE Americas, LLC
To start as soon as possible, full time, permanent

Functional area: Project Management
Remuneration: Exempt

The overall purpose of the Sr. Preconstruction Manager position is to lead and coordinate all preconstruction activities for utility-scale wind, solar, and storage renewable energy projects—including engineering, permitting, interconnection, and scope development—to ensure projects are fully designed, de-risked, and contractually prepared so construction can begin and proceed efficiently without delays or gaps.

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead preconstruction readiness for renewable energy projects by integrating engineering, permitting, procurement, and operational inputs to ensure projects are fully prepared for construction start without delays, requiring cross-functional coordination and complex project planning
• Manage engineering deliverables and timelines by coordinating internal teams and third-party engineers to produce geotechnical, civil, HV, PV, and BESS designs at required completion levels, ensuring designs are bid-ready and construction-compliant through detailed scheduling and technical oversight
• Oversee survey execution to enable engineering progress by aligning with development teams to complete topographic and ALTA surveys, ensuring accurate site data is available for design decisions through proactive planning and dependency management
• Drive site layout optimization by collaborating with engineering and development teams to balance constructability, permitting constraints, and cost efficiency, requiring analytical evaluation and trade-off decision-making to minimize LCOE
• Develop and execute civil permitting strategies by identifying required permits, defining approval pathways, and managing timelines to secure permits (e.g., grading, drainage, utility crossings), ensuring regulatory compliance through detailed planning and stakeholder coordination
• Facilitate utility crossing and critical agreement acquisition by working with legal, engineering, and external stakeholders to secure agreements on schedule, reducing project risk through proactive negotiation and issue resolution
• Coordinate interconnection planning and scheduling by aligning engineering, transmission, and compliance teams to define equipment, testing, and sequencing requirements, ensuring seamless grid integration through complex systems planning and data coordination
• Integrate operations and maintenance (O&M) requirements into project scope by defining facility needs, spare parts, and startup requirements within contracts, ensuring long-term operability through detailed specification development and lifecycle planning
• Assemble and validate comprehensive scopes of work by consolidating engineering inputs and facilitating cross-functional reviews to eliminate scope gaps, ensuring bid accuracy and execution readiness through critical analysis and collaborative validation
• Support construction procurement and contracting processes by delivering complete engineering packages, scopes, and documentation to procurement teams, enabling efficient bidding or negotiations with contractors through structured coordination and documentation control
• Incorporate lessons learned and cost optimization strategies by leading LCOE analyses and cross-functional reviews, improving design efficiency and reducing costs through data-driven insights and continuous improvement practices
• De-risk projects prior to construction mobilization by proactively identifying and resolving technical, regulatory, and logistical risks, ensuring contractors can execute without interruption through systematic risk assessment and mitigation planning

Job Requirements and Experience: 

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering or Construction related field from an accredited university
• The role requires 7 plus years of experience in Renewable Energy construction, engineering, and project management.  Preferably the individual will have an engineering degree and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to manage customer relationships
• Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company and the renewables space
• Excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Teams
• Strong leadership and communication, and ability to meet deadlines
• Strong organization skills and ability to coordinate multiple tasks and deliverables
• Ability to multi-task, while working independently and as part of a team
• Motivated self-starter, goal-oriented, and strong problem-solving abilities
• Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
• Responds well to direction, is easy to challenge and develop, and is coachable
• Is detail-oriented, has strong business acumen, and a sound understanding of business concepts
• This position is an office-based role with some travel and visits to other RWE Americas office and field locations
• Must be able to sit, walk, or stand for long durations of time

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. RWE Americas is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment visas at this time. 

Pay range: The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $140,000 - $170,000. The listed salary range represents our good faith estimate for this position and represents the range for new hire salaries across all U.S locations. Please note that the salary information is a general guideline only. RWE considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s education & work experience, training & certifications, and key skills as well as market and business considerations at the time of the offer.

Benefits offered: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. Eligible employees also participate in short-term incentives, in addition to salary.

Apply with just a few clicks: ad code 92314. Any questions? Contact HR:  rwe_americas_recruiting@rwe.com

We look forward to meeting you. Of course, you can find us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Xing, too.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

RWE Americas, a subsidiary of RWE, is a US-based energy company that is helping to meet the growing demand for energy across the United States. Backed by RWE’s 125-year global legacy of managing diverse power assets, RWE Americas operates approximately 13 GW of power projects across 27 states. With a talented workforce of 2,000 employees, RWE Americas develops, constructs and operates wind, solar and battery storage projects that safely deliver affordable, reliable electricity to our customers. Committed to responsible development, RWE Americas invests in local and rural communities, creating jobs and partnering with stakeholders to support and strengthen the places where we live and work. Learn more about how RWE Americas is generating impact at americas.rwe.com.

At RWE Americas, we foster a culture defined by our Essential Behaviors – Have Courage, Create Impact and Actively Collaborate. We encourage bold thinking and continuous learning, and we value ownership, resilience and inclusion in everything we do. When you join us, you become part of a team that supports your development, respects your contributions and celebrates shared success. This is a place where you can grow your career and make a meaningful difference.