Vice President, Engineering & Project Management

About the role: The Vice President of Engineering & Project Management is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team at Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, a leading U.S. hydropower operator. This role is responsible for overseeing all engineering and project management activities across our portfolio of hydropower assets. The Vice President of Engineering & Project Management will lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, compliant, cost-effective, and sustainable capital and maintenance projects, ensuring the long-term performance and resilience of our facilities.
While the official job posting is listed out of Badin, NC, we are open to candidates within a reasonable distance to any of our office locations:

• Badin, North Carolina
• Bethesda, Maryland
• Neshkoro, Wisconsin 

This position requires deep technical expertise in hydropower infrastructure, strategic planning, and executive-level leadership to drive innovation, compliance, and operational excellence in alignment with company goals and regulatory standards. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice President of Engineering & Project Management is responsible for the following :
What you’ll do:
Engineering Leadership

• Provide executive oversight of mechanical, electrical, and controls engineering functions.
• Ensure technical integrity, reliability, and regulatory compliance of all engineering work.
• Champion the implementation of innovative practices, advanced analytics, and emerging technologies to enhance asset performance and longevity.

Project Management

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of capital improvement and infrastructure modernization projects.
• Oversee the full project lifecycle: scoping, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout.
• Implement and enforce rightsized project management methodologies for scheduling, budgeting, risk management, and quality control.

Strategic and Operational Planning

• Contribute to corporate strategy development with a focus on infrastructure investment, regulatory trends, and environmental stewardship.
• Support the development and execution of long-range asset management and capital investment plans.
• Align project priorities with company-wide goals, financial targets, and stakeholder expectations.

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of engineers, project managers, and technical staff.
• Foster a culture of safety, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate cross-functional efforts across operations, asset management, regulatory affairs, finance, and commercial strategy.

Regulatory and Stakeholder Engagement

• Ensure all engineering and construction projects comply with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
• Support the regulatory team in their liaison with regulatory agencies, contractors, community stakeholders, and industry partners.
• Prepare and present technical reports and project updates to executive leadership, board members, and regulatory bodies as needed.

What Skills & Experience You’ll Need:

• Bachelor’s degree in civil, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering or related field, or transferable experience.
• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible engineering and project leadership experience in the energy, industrial, or utility sector.
• At least 5 years in a senior or executive leadership role managing infrastructure projects.
• Deep knowledge of hydropower systems, including dams, turbines, generators, substations, and SCADA systems.
• Demonstrated experience working with FERC, Army Corps of Engineers, and other regulatory bodies.
• Strong project portfolio management, budgeting, and scheduling skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• The ability to lead and teach others, sometimes requiring simplification of detailed/complicated engineering concepts.
• The ability to travel as needed to support project oversight, team collaboration, and stakeholder engagement across various locations (20%).

While business travel is expected as a function of this role, the successful candidate must be within reasonable commuting distance to one of our corporate offices (Bethesda, Maryland & Badin, North Carolina).