Commissioning Manager - High Voltage Substation

Job Title: Commissioning Portfolio Manager / High Voltage AC Substations (Germany)

Location: Berlin, Germany (Remote + Travel)

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Commissioning Manage r to lead the commissioning portfolio for major High Voltage AC substation projects across Germany.

This is a high-impact leadership role overseeing commissioning activities for large-scale transmission substations (AIS and GIS), grid expansion programs, renewable integration projects, and complex brownfield extensions in collaboration with TSOs, utilities, and consortium partners.

Commissioning is critical to grid reliability and energisation milestones. This role operates at a level comparable to a Project Director in terms of delivery accountability and portfolio impact, leading both the commissioning management team and the wider commissioning organisation.

Strategic & Organisational Leadership

• Operate at peer level to Project Directors within the portfolio governance structure.
• Establish and implement commissioning strategy, governance frameworks, and operational standards across the portfolio.
• Develop sustainable processes, procedures, and long-term departmental capability.
• Lead commissioning across multiple HV AC substation projects (110kV–400kV+).

Oversee commissioning managers responsible for:

• AIS and GIS switchgear systems
• Power transformers and reactors
• Protection & control systems
• SCADA and grid automation systems
• Secondary injection, primary testing, and energisation sequences
• Ensure safe, on-time, and specification-compliant execution of commissioning plans.
• Act as primary customer interface for all commissioning-related topics.
• Lead discussions on energisation strategies, outage planning, and grid compliance.
• Ensure structured reporting, transparency, and credible communication with TSOs and utilities.

Governance, Safety & Quality

• Establish reporting KPIs, risk management frameworks, and readiness gates.
• Ensure strict adherence to German grid codes and utility standards.
• Champion a strong safety culture across all energisation and high-risk activities.

Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience in commissioning of HV AC substations (AIS/GIS preferred).
• Proven track record leading large technical teams (50+ staff or equivalent scale).
• Strong understanding of transmission-level equipment commissioning (transformers, switchgear, protection & control).
• Experience building or restructuring commissioning teams, processes, or organisations.
• Strong commercial and contractual awareness within EPC or utility environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication capability.
• Ability to operate in high-stakes, multi-project portfolio environments