SIKANDAR CHEEMA
Richmond
Summary
Electrical Project Manager with 10+ years of experience delivering complex electrical construction across mission-critical, commercial, and high-rise projects. Combines technical depth, field awareness, and commercial judgment to manage project risk, protect margin, support client relationships, and drive disciplined execution from preconstruction through turnover. Currently supporting a $40M data center electrical scope with exposure to critical power systems, high-stakes coordination, and financial controls. Known for bringing structure to ambiguous project conditions, aligning stakeholders around timely decisions, and converting project complexity into executable, commercially sound paths forward.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Manager
ColonialWebb
06.2024 - Current
- Led cross-functional project coordination across all phases of electrical construction, aligning design-assist, preconstruction, procurement, BIM, prefab, field operations, change management, commissioning, and closeout with project schedule, cost, quality, and client objectives.
- Managed electrical construction activities for mission-critical electrical systems including emergency generators, UPS systems, ATS/switchgear lineups, busway, STS/PDUs, and medium-voltage ductbanks
- Owned project financial controls including progress billing, change order tracking, cost forecasting, procurement commitments, margin analysis, and financial reporting to support cash flow and protect project profitability
- Reviewed contracts, exhibits, drawings, and specifications to identify scope gaps, discrepancies, open-ended obligations, and potential cost exposure before issues affected field execution
- Identified and substantiated entitlement for gray-area scope changes by evaluating contract language, design documents and field conditions to support negotiation through final change order execution
- Prepared detailed Accubid-based change order estimates, including quantity takeoffs, labor units, material pricing, vendor quotes, and proposal documentation
- Developed timely RFIs to resolve design ambiguities and constructability conflicts, framing proposed solutions to support field execution, clarify scope responsibility, and maintain project momentum
- Reviewed subcontractor, vendor, and OFCI equipment submittals to verify compliance with project specifications, design intent, equipment coordination requirements, and field installation constraints
- Represented the electrical contractor in project meetings with owners, GCs, design teams, vendors, and field leadership to align priorities, communicate risks, resolve constraints, and support timely, well-documented decisions
- Coordinated utility service layouts and temporary power strategies with Dominion Energy, AHJs, design teams, and field leadership to resolve permitting, access, and constructability requirements
- Oversaw NEC-compliant installation of electrical systems while supporting company safety policies, field inspections, OSHA-aligned jobsite practices, and quality expectations
Electrical Project Manager
Reliance Engineering
01.2017 - 10.2023
- Managed electrical construction scope for high-rise building projects, coordinating power distribution, lighting, fire alarm, ELV systems, emergency power, containment, grounding, and vertical riser infrastructure from construction through handover
- Led coordination with consultants, main contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, and site teams to resolve design conflicts, maintain construction progress, and align electrical works with architectural, structural, and MEP requirements
- Reviewed drawings, specifications, shop drawings, material submittals, method statements, and inspection requests to ensure compliance with project requirements, authority standards, and approved design intent
- Coordinated electrical works across basements, podium levels, typical floors, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, shafts, rooftops, and common areas to support phased construction and floor-by-floor progress
- Managed procurement coordination for electrical equipment and materials including switchgear, distribution boards, transformers, cables, containment, lighting fixtures, wiring devices, fire alarm devices, and ELV systems
- Tracked project progress, manpower, material delivery, inspections, and subcontractor productivity to support schedule milestones, lookahead planning, and timely issue resolution
- Prepared and reviewed variation claims, quantity takeoffs, pricing backup, site instructions, and commercial documentation to support change management and protect project profitability
- Coordinated testing, commissioning, inspections, snagging, authority approvals, as-built documentation, O&M manuals, and final handover requirements for electrical systems
Electrical Site Engineer
Reliance Engineering
03.2013 - 12.2016
- Supervised day-to-day electrical installation activities for building construction projects, coordinating manpower, materials, drawings, inspections, and field execution requirements
- Coordinated installation of LV power distribution, lighting, containment, cable pulling, distribution boards, grounding/earthing, fire alarm, and ELV systems in accordance with approved drawings and specifications
- Reviewed drawings, specifications, and site conditions to identify conflicts, raise technical queries, and support timely field resolution
- Prepared inspection requests, coordinated consultant inspections, addressed site comments, and supported approval of completed electrical works
- Tracked daily progress, manpower allocation, material availability, and subcontractor productivity to support lookahead planning and schedule requirements
Education
Bachelors of Engineering - Electrical Engineering
National University of Science and Technology
09-2012
A-Levels/High School - undefined
University of Cambridge
09-2008
Skills
- Bluebeam Revu
- Procore
- Microsoft Project
- Microsoft Excel
- BIM 360
- Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Navisworks
- Penta
- Onbase
Timeline
Project Manager
ColonialWebb
06.2024 - Current
Electrical Project Manager
Reliance Engineering
01.2017 - 10.2023
Electrical Site Engineer
Reliance Engineering
03.2013 - 12.2016
A-Levels/High School - undefined
University of Cambridge
Bachelors of Engineering - Electrical Engineering
National University of Science and Technology