SCADA Controls Automation Project Manager

Woodard & Curran is an employee-owned engineering, science, and operations firm dedicated to clean water, a safe environment, healthy communities, and happy people. We foster an inclusive, collaborative culture that supports professional growth, flexibility, and meaningful work, empowering our employees to make a lasting impact on our clients, communities, and the planet.

Woodard & Curran is seeking a dynamic, client-focused SCADA Controls Automation Project Manager to join our Water Team, supporting projects across the New England Region, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. In this role, you will lead complex, integrated automation and controls projects for municipal and industrial water and wastewater clients from planning through completion.

You’ll have the opportunity to take ownership of projects, work with a high degree of autonomy, and collaborate with technical managers, engineers, operations staff, contractors, and vendors to deliver solutions that improve system performance and reliability. As a trusted advisor, you’ll work directly with clients to understand their needs, solve operational challenges, and develop solutions that have a meaningful, long-term impact.

This role offers a strong combination of technical growth, project ownership, client leadership, and career advancement, with opportunities to lead increasingly complex programs, influence project strategy, and expand your leadership responsibilities.

The position involves regular regional travel to project sites, typically within driving distance, to support construction activities, project startups, and key client engagements.

Who are we looking for?

The successful candidate will be an experienced project leader who can independently manage medium to large automation and controls projects while balancing technical requirements, financial performance, schedule, quality, and client expectations.

We’re looking for someone with strong project and construction management experience who can lead multidisciplinary teams and coordinate effectively with clients, engineers, contractors, subcontractors, and vendors. The ideal candidate is proactive, results-oriented, and motivated by the opportunity to take ownership, solve complex problems, and deliver successful outcomes for clients.

Offering Flexible Hybrid Work Schedule

Travel: Regional travel required to support project delivery, client meetings, startups, and construction activities. Occasional overnight travel may be necessary.

What you will be doing at Woodard & Curran:

• Manage complex automation and controls projects and contracts from planning through project closure.
• Take ownership of project scope, schedule, budget, financial performance, quality, and overall delivery.
• Serve as the primary client contact and trusted advisor, identifying needs and developing solutions that support long-term operational goals.
• Lead multidisciplinary project teams and coordinate technical resources throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead preconstruction and kickoff meetings, construction coordination, startup activities, and project closeout.
• Manage contractors, subcontractors, vendors, and project partners.
• Develop, manage, and forecast financial performance across a portfolio of projects.
• Partner with technical staff to develop proposals, project scopes, and integrated client solutions.
• Perform project lifecycle QA/QC reviews to support high-quality project delivery.
• Coordinate with Regional Managers and fellow Project Managers to optimize resources and workloads.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen project delivery, efficiency, and client outcomes.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, safety, professional development, and operational excellence.
  

What you will need to succeed:

• 8+ years of experience managing construction projects, preferably involving electrical systems, automation, and/or controls.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering or equivalent applicable experience.
• Strong knowledge of municipal bidding laws and construction document preparation.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex projects, budgets, schedules, and client relationships.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams, contractors, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Strong financial management, forecasting, and project performance skills.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Self-motivated, organized, and results-driven approach to project delivery.
• Knowledge of automation and controls design and implementation is highly desirable.
• PMP certification is a plus.