Project Manager, Smart Utility

Based in St. Louis, Core & Main is a leader in advancing reliable infrastructure™ with local service, nationwide®. As a specialty distributor with a focus on water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products and related services, Core & Main provides solutions to municipalities, private water companies and professional contractors across municipal, non-residential and residential end markets, nationwide. With over 370 locations across the U.S., the company provides its customers local expertise backed by a national supply chain. Core & Main’s 5,700 associates are committed to helping their communities thrive with safe and reliable infrastructure. Visit coreandmain.com to learn more.

Job Summary

Responsible for the improvement, development, and tracking of AMI deployment projects, including smart water meter installations, software integration, and coordination with subcontractors and vendor partners. This role ensures successful execution of utility modernization initiatives through standardized project management practices, contract-driven delivery, and cross-functional collaboration.

Major Tasks, Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities

• Develops and monitors a project plan for each project, with accurate timelines for collaboration of each department involved.
• Possesses a working understanding of utility regulations, municipal guidelines, and technical standards relevant to AMI projects.
• Oversees integration of smart utility software platforms with customer systems, ensuring operational readiness and data accuracy.
• Coordinates project meetings with contractors and vendor partners involved, including the kickoff and progress updates.
• Collaborates with other departments to ensure proper planning and execution of each project.
• Maintains and updates all project plans to ensure real time accuracy.
• Shares best practices and supports cross-functional collaboration to strengthen AMI sales and deployment strategies.
• Communicates regularly with field leadership on project needs and status, and proactively alerts leadership to any barriers or issues that will delay project timelines.
• Applies problem-solving skills to creatively address complex deployment challenges.
• Understands and maintains knowledge of current Metering and AMI industry standards, methods and materials and can make value suggestions to the team based on this knowledge.

Nature and Scope

• Identifies key barriers/core problems and applies problem solving skills in order to deal creatively with complex situations.
• Troubleshoots and resolves complex problems.
• Makes decisions under conditions of uncertainty, sometimes with incomplete information, that produce effective end results
• Independently performs assignments with instruction limited to the results expected. Determines and develops an approach to solutions. Receives technical guidance only on unusual or complex problems or issues.
• May oversee the completion of projects and assignments, including planning, assigning, monitoring and reviewing progress and accuracy of work, evaluating results, etc. Contributes to employees' professional development but does not have hiring or firing authority.

Work Environment

• Typically requires overnight travel 20% to 50% of the time.
• Primarily remote office-based with occasional field visits.
• Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position and there is frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions there may be a need to move or lift light articles.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a minimum of 18 years of age or older

Education and Experience

• · 5–8 years of experience in utility infrastructure, smart meter deployment, or related project management.
• PMP or similar certification preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AMI technologies and smart water meter systems.
• Familiarity with utility software platforms and data integration.
• Strong vendor management and subcontractor coordination skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and scheduling/reporting tools.
• Experience with municipal contracts and utility regulations.
• This role will require frequent travel, this is a high-priority requirement and would be ideal for a candidate to live near a major airport in case flying is necessary.
• PMP certification preferred (if not currently certified, preference towards a candidate that would be willing to get it)
• Experience with deployment of large-scale AMI projects for meter lines - Sensus, Neptune, Kamstrup, or Master Meter
• Multi utility experience

Core & Main is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Employment at Core & Main is based solely on a person’s merit and qualifications directly related to professional competence.  Core & Main does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, disability, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding), affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship, or any other basis protected by law.

None of the questions in this application are intended to elicit information regarding any protected characteristics, nor imply any limitation, illegal preferences or discrimination based upon non-job-related information or protected characteristics.

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