Schneider Electric has an opportunity for a Customer Project Manager in our Houston, TX location. If you love innovation, problem solving and customer interactions, this job is for you!

Schneider Electric creates connected technologies that reshape industries, transform cities and enrich lives. Our 135,000+ employees thrive in more than 100 countries. From the simplest of switches to complex operational systems, our technology, software and services improve the way our customers manage and automate their operations. Help us deliver solutions that ensure Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment.

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What do you get to do in this position?

SUMMARY OF JOB

OG (Outside Group) Business

The Customer Project Manager is the permanent and primary customer contact person for the duration of the project contract from the stage of project transfer from the Sales department (P0) through to the closure of the project (P3).

IG (Inside Group) Business

For IG Business the customer is usually represented by Schneider Front Office Project Manager or Schneider Execution Center Project Manager. These projects shall be handled the same way as OG business, except that the customer is represented by Schneider.

The Customer Project Manager manages from standard ETO up to large and complex ETO customer projects in line with the ETO CPP process and with the objective of executing the project to meet the required standard of quality, time and cost. He reaches a high level of customer satisfaction and maximizes the margin.

The Customer Project Manager has a good knowledge of the Gutor UPS solution (XXW, SDC, PXP, etc.) and is the first point of contact related to technical questions raised by the customer. Depending on selected project setup he will be supported by a Customer Project Technical Leader/Manager in front of the customer.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Management:

• Point of contact for Project and Technical Communication (except Customer Technical Leader/Manager is part of the Project Team) with the customer
• Involves the customer in decision-making processes and provides regular information on project progress (progress reports)
• Responsible for customer inspections (PIM/FAT/Packing Inspection)
• Identifies and creates additional business opportunities out of the ongoing project
• Actively gathers information on the customer and the customer’s requirements / targets

Project Execution (Planning, Steering & Controlling):

• Ensures that Sales initiates the hand over to execution. Participation at Customer Kick Off Meeting and initiates internal project Kick Off Meeting.
• Handles the planning elements and milestones according Schneider Customer Project Process (ETO CPP) in coordination with the Project Planning, Operation, Engineering (Customer Service teams).
• Identifies and minimizes non-conformance costs
• Leads and organizes status meetings for a regular project status review with the project team if required. Close cooperation with the assigned Application Design Engineer.
• Monitors document submission status in cooperation with documentation teams.
• Ongoing monitoring of project status, early identification of discrepancies and initiating targeted measures/action
• Performs project close review (commercial, lessons learnt, best practice)
• Ensures a proper handover of the project to the Customer Service department

Finance Management:

• Leads the project within the defined budget
• Has cost and margin responsibility for the project as defined at project start
• Initiates invoicing according to project progress and follows up payment status
• Reviews initial project calculation, highlight and clarify discrepancies
• Participate at monthly project control reviews
• Optimizes project profitability
• Review final project performance

Risk-, Opportunity- and Claim Management:

• Throughout project life cycle, identifies, assesses and monitor all risk factors and opportunities
• Assesses the contract in terms of claim-relevant significance
• Work closely with Legal department for legal advise
• Devise suitable strategies for risk mitigation (elimination, reduction)
• Inform customer, management and project team about scope deviations
• Identifies and mitigates external claims (defines costs and argumentation, prepares claim and negotiates change order) in close collaboration with purchasing and Sales/Tendering
• Identifies opportunities for additional business (defines costing, prepares offers and negotiates change order) in close collaboration with purchasing and Sales/Tendering)

3rd party supplier (sub supplier) Management

• Involves qualified subcontractors/partners in a timely manner
• Leads commercial clarifications with support of purchasing and procurement
• Rigorously monitors the performance of the subcontractors/partners, conducts timely escalation (in the event of qualitative shortfalls and problems in cooperation) and, where there are any discrepancies , initiates timely suitable action
• Involves purchasing at an early stage of the project

Leadership & Communication:

• Participates at internal project reviews and management information meetings concerning the project status
• Ensures targeted and full communication within the project team and with stakeholders on an international basis
• Establishes key relationships with all business relevant Stakeholders
• Regularly listens to others and conveys messages in an accurate and effective manner.

• Solution Support (except Customer Technical Leader/Manager is part of the Project Team)
• First point of contact related to technical questions raised by the customer
• Reviews technical specification Reviews technical comments (Approval Back) and validates which points will be incorporated or rejected
• Creates project execution related documents (schedules, ITP, Quality Plan, Vendor Document List,etc.)
• Close cooperation with Customer Project Technical Leaders/Managers

• Supports, trains and coaches new team members based on ETO CPP
• Supporting the sales/tendering team during the tendering phase
• Travelling for maximum 20% (Depending on projects)

EDUCATION—MINIMUM REQUIRED LEVEL:

Technical Engineering Degree (FH)

EXPERIENCE—MINIMUM REQUIRED:

• 
  
• 5 years of project management experience, in systems / equipment business (8,)
• Experience in Electrical Industry
• Experience in execution of large and complex projects

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS —REQUIRED:

• Strong communication skills (situational adapted, sensitivity, politeness)
• Project Management skills (Tools, Methods concerning duties and responsibilities, knowledge of economics in project business)
• Fluent in English (written and oral), Optional: German, Spanish, Portuguese
• Ability to handle several projects in parallel
• UPS knowledge
• Experience in the O&G Industry

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS —DESIRED BUT NOT ESSENTIAL:

• Education in Business Administration
• Knowledge about UL1778 standard

• Leadership Capabilities, e.g. team development, team motivation, coaching, mentoring
  
  • Results/Solution Orientation
  • Motivation and Inspiration
  • Customer Focus
  • Decision Making
  • Organizational and Quality orientation
• Ability to work in an international and multicultural environment
• Initiative to acquire knowledge and skill to continuously improve job performance

Schneider Electric offers a robust benefits package to support our employees such as flexible work arrangements, paid family leave, 401(k)+ match, and more. Click here to find out more about working with us: http://se.com/us/careers

We seek out and reward people for putting the customer first, being disruptive to the status quo, embracing different perspectives, continuously learning, and acting like owners. We’re recognized around the world for welcoming people as they are. We create an inclusive culture where all forms of diversity are seen as a real value for the company. See what our people have to say about working for Schneider Electric.

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