Project Manager I - Telecom

About the position More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives. Build an exciting, rewarding career with us – help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits. Job Summary The Telecom Project Manager I (PM I) supports Agile delivery within the Telecom organization by enabling planning, flow, execution, and continuous improvement across cross‑functional teams. This role partners closely with Product Owners, Product Managers, Agile teams, and business stakeholders to ensure work is planned, prioritized, and executed in alignment with business objectives and strategic outcomes . The PM I helps facilitate Program Increment (PI) Planning , supports PI execution , and promotes effective delivery through Kanban‑based pull systems , transparency, and proactive dependency management. Operating under the guidance of a Senior Project Manager, Release Train Engineer (RTE), or Project Director , the PM I reinforces Agile and SAFe best practices , improves flow, and supports disciplined delivery across Telecom initiatives. This role is typically assigned to low‑to‑moderate complexity initiatives and serves as a developmental position for future leadership roles such as Project Manager II (PM II), Release Train Engineer (RTE), or Product Delivery leadership within Telecom. Project Scope Typically assigned to White or Green I projects per the PMCoE Project Profile Matrix Initiatives generally have low to moderate risk and complexity May support larger or higher‑risk initiatives under enhanced oversight Acts as a delivery and coordination agent ensuring alignment to Duke Energy standards, processes, and controls

Responsibilities

• Agile Planning & PI Execution Support Support and help facilitate Program Increment (PI) Planning , backlog readiness, and execution activities in partnership with Product Owners, Product Managers, and delivery teams. Assist with tracking PI objectives, milestones, risks, and dependencies throughout the increment. Support execution rhythms such as reviews, syncs, and retrospectives to ensure commitments remain visible and achievable.
• Flow Optimization & Dependency Management Promote effective delivery using Kanban principles , focusing on flow, WIP management, and prioritization. Identify, track, and escalate cross‑team dependencies, risks, and impediments that impact delivery. Support actions that reduce bottlenecks, handoffs, and delivery delays.
• Business Alignment & Stakeholder Engagement Ensure work remains aligned with business goals, strategic priorities, and value delivery . Partner with Product Owners, Business Partners, and key stakeholders to maintain transparency on progress, risks, and outcomes. Prepare and communicate delivery status in a clear, actionable, and leadership‑appropriate manner.
• Coaching & Agile Ways of Working Support coaching of Product Owners, stakeholders, and team members on Agile execution and SAFe practices . Reinforce consistent use of Agile ceremonies, artifacts, and metrics. Encourage continuous improvement through retrospectives, feedback loops, and data-driven insights.
• Delivery Governance & Controls Support delivery tracking using approved tools (e.g. JIRA ) in alignment with Telecom standards. Assist with basic financial tracking, forecasting, and reporting for assigned work. Ensure delivery activities align with organizational expectations for quality, security, compliance, and operational readiness.
• Continuous Improvement & Best Practices Promote and support continuous improvement across teams and delivery processes. Help foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and learning. Contribute to the evolution and adoption of Agile and SAFe best practices within the Telecom organization.

Requirements

• Associates degree
• Minimum 2 years related work experience
• In lieu of Associates degree(s) AND 2 year(s) related work experience listed above, High School/GED AND 5 year(s) related work experience

Nice-to-haves

• Previous Duke Energy experience
• Related experience may include project coordination, engineering support, operations, delivery, construction, telecom, IT, or utility‑based roles.
• Experience supporting Telecom, IT, Utility, Transmission, or Distribution projects (project coordination, delivery, engineering support, or operations exposure).
• Demonstrated understanding of foundational project management practices (scope, schedule, cost, risk, stakeholder communication).
• Exposure to Agile, Kanban, or hybrid delivery models , and working effectively with product and delivery teams.
• Project management certifications (preferred): PMP / PE / CAPM .
• Flow‑based delivery certifications (preferred): Kanban Management Professional (KMP / KMP II) .
• Scaled Agile certifications (preferred): SAFe Product Owner / Product Manager (Agile) .
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of delivery updates and leadership‑level summaries.
• Proficiency in project tracking, documentation, and reporting
• Basic understanding of financial tracking and forecasting
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed organization
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
• Demonstrated interest in growing into increased delivery leadership and complexity