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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Electrical Project Coordinator

💰 $60,000 - $95,000

ConstructionElectricalProject ManagementEngineering

🎯 Role Definition

The Electrical Project Coordinator is responsible for coordinating all administrative, technical, and logistical aspects of electrical construction and installation activities from pre-construction through closeout. This role serves as the primary administrative and communication hub between design engineers, contractors, vendors, clients, and field crews to ensure projects are delivered on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with electrical codes (NEC/NFPA), safety standards (OSHA), and contract requirements. The coordinator tracks progress, manages submittals and RFIs, supports procurement and material expediting, facilitates testing and commissioning, and maintains comprehensive project documentation and reporting.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Electrical Technician / Journeyman Electrician
  • Project Administrator / Project Assistant
  • Field Engineer / Site Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Electrical Project Coordinator
  • Project Manager (Electrical / Construction)
  • Construction Manager or Program Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Estimator (Electrical)
  • Site Superintendent
  • Commissioning or QA/QC Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Coordinate day‑to‑day electrical construction activities by communicating schedules, scope, and technical requirements to subcontractors, vendors, and onsite electricians to keep milestones on track and minimize downtime.
  • Manage submittals, shop drawings, material approvals, and vendor documentation by reviewing submissions for compliance with contract documents, tracking status in the project management system (Procore, Aconex, SharePoint) and expediting approvals with engineering and client teams.
  • Prepare, issue, and administer Requests for Information (RFIs) and track responses to resolve design clarifications, avoid rework, and maintain an auditable RFI log.
  • Administer change order documentation: identify changes in scope, develop change order requests with adequate backup, secure approvals, and update schedule and cost control systems accordingly.
  • Maintain and update electrical drawings, as‑built markups, cable schedules, panel schedules, and single‑line diagrams in coordination with engineering and BIM/AutoCAD/Revit teams to produce accurate construction and closeout deliverables.
  • Develop and maintain the electrical work breakdown structure and detailed activity schedule using MS Project, Primavera P6, or equivalent, and drive weekly schedule reviews with construction and engineering leads.
  • Track project financials related to electrical scope including purchase orders, material cost tracking, subcontractor invoices, progress billing support, and variance reporting against budget.
  • Coordinate procurement and material expediting for critical long‑lead electrical equipment (switchgear, transformers, generators, MCCs, UPS), liaise with vendors on manufacturing schedules, and manage shipment logistics and receiving.
  • Support commissioning and start‑up activities by preparing pre‑commissioning checklists, coordinating test plans (megger, IR thermography, functional tests), scheduling third‑party testing, and documenting test results.
  • Ensure code and standards compliance (NEC, NFPA, IEEE, local authority having jurisdiction) by coordinating inspections, permit submittals, and regulatory approvals with field teams and authorities.
  • Implement quality control procedures for electrical work: conduct punch list management, inspect installation against drawings and specifications, and coordinate corrective actions with subcontractors.
  • Facilitate weekly coordination meetings (with agendas and minutes) among electrical, mechanical, civil, and client teams to resolve interface issues, align sequencing, and escalate risks as required.
  • Maintain comprehensive project documentation and document control: drawing revisions, transmittals, technical correspondence, meeting minutes, and change documentation in the electronic document management system.
  • Review and verify contractor scopes of work, manpower loading, and daily progress reports to validate payments and support production forecasting and resource planning.
  • Assist in developing project risk registers for electrical packages and drive mitigation actions for schedule, cost, safety, and technical risks.
  • Support health, safety, and environmental compliance for electrical activities by coordinating JHAs/JSA, toolbox talks, lockout/tagout procedures, and ensuring adherence to OSHA and client safety programs.
  • Coordinate and verify completion of punch lists and closeout packages including warranties, O&M manuals, test reports, spare parts lists, and as‑built drawings to facilitate final client acceptance and turnover.
  • Prepare and deliver status reports and KPI dashboards for electrical scope (schedule percent complete, earned value, open RFIs/submittals, safety incidents) to project management and stakeholders.
  • Manage subcontractor relations for electrical trades including onboarding, scope clarifications, performance monitoring, and enforcement of contract terms and site rules.
  • Support estimating and preconstruction activities by coordinating takeoffs for electrical scope, compiling vendor quotes, and capturing site constraints that impact pricing and schedule.
  • Administer field change documentation and coordinate rework or revisions with engineering, procurement, and construction to minimize cost and schedule impacts.
  • Coordinate temporary power and site utilities installation, outage planning, and system isolation procedures to support safe construction sequencing.
  • Serve as the single point of contact for client requests related to electrical deliverables, clarifications, and technical submittals, ensuring timely and professional responses.
  • Utilize project management and ERP tools (SAP, CMiC) to update project records, manage purchase orders, and synchronize project financials and procurement statuses.

Secondary Functions

  • Support continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned, suggesting process improvements for submittal and RFI workflows, and updating project checklists and templates.
  • Assist in onboarding and mentoring junior coordinators or administrative staff on project systems, document control practices, and site coordination processes.
  • Coordinate training sessions with field teams and vendors on new electrical systems, safety protocols, and testing procedures.
  • Participate in pre‑installation and pre‑commissioning walkdowns with design engineers and vendors to verify readiness and identify gaps.
  • Support claims and dispute documentation by compiling technical records, correspondence, and photographic evidence to substantiate positions.
  • Contribute to company bids by providing historical productivity, lead times, and lessons learned from completed electrical scopes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient reading and interpretation of electrical construction drawings, single‑line diagrams, panel schedules, and cable routing plans.
  • Submittal, RFI and contract administration experience using Procore, Aconex, Autodesk Construction Cloud, or equivalent document management tools.
  • Scheduling proficiency with MS Project or Primavera P6 including baseline management, critical path analysis, and resource leveling.
  • Strong knowledge of electrical codes and standards (NEC, NFPA 70, IEEE standards) and local permitting and inspection processes.
  • Experience with AutoCAD and/or Revit (BIM) for maintaining as‑built drawings and coordinating MEP interfaces.
  • Hands‑on familiarity with commissioning tests and electrical testing procedures (megger, insulation resistance, hipot, continuity, functional testing).
  • Cost control and financial tracking skills: ability to review invoices, manage PO status, support progress billing, and reconcile cost reports.
  • Procurement and vendor management experience: issuing PO's, expediting long‑lead items, and tracking delivery schedules.
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, formulas) for reporting, BOM reconciliation, and data analysis.
  • Experience with ERP/financial systems such as SAP, CMiC, or Viewpoint to track purchase orders and invoicing.
  • Change order and claims management skills: preparing change documentation, cost backup, and negotiating approvals.
  • Knowledge of safety programs and procedures specific to electrical work, including LOTO, arc‑flash awareness, and confined space procedures.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interfacing with clients, subcontractors, and internal teams.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and tight deadlines across several projects.
  • High attention to detail to ensure technical accuracy in submittals, RFIs, and as‑built documentation.
  • Problem solving and critical thinking to anticipate site constraints, escalate risks, and propose practical solutions.
  • Stakeholder management and diplomacy to balance client expectations, contractor performance, and contractual requirements.
  • Time management and proactive follow‑through to ensure closures on open items, approvals, and deliveries.
  • Team player with the ability to lead cross‑functional coordination meetings and drive outcomes.
  • Negotiation skills for managing subcontractor performance issues and change order settlements.
  • Adaptability and resilience working in fast‑paced construction environments and changing site conditions.
  • Customer‑focused mindset to deliver quality project deliverables and maintain positive client relationships.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Associate degree or diploma in Electrical Technology, Construction Management, or related technical field; or an equivalent combination of relevant experience and vocational training.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, or Engineering Technology.
  • Certifications such as PMP, CAPM, NICET, or OSHA 30 are a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Electrical Engineering / Electrical Technology
  • Construction Management / Project Management
  • Mechanical/Electromechanical Engineering Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3–7 years of experience in electrical construction coordination, field engineering, or project administration on commercial, industrial, or utility projects.

Preferred: 5+ years coordinating medium to large electrical construction projects with demonstrated experience in submittal and RFI management, procurement/expediting of long‑lead electrical equipment, commissioning support, and use of construction management software (Procore, MS Project, SAP).

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