Project Director

Downer; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration and benefits

Career development opportunities

Zero Harm culture

Job summary

Downer seeks an accomplished Project Director to lead the national Substations and Battery Energy Storage Systems portfolio within Power Projects, delivering safe, compliant and commercially disciplined outcomes.

You will oversee major energy infrastructure across Australia, guiding governance, client relationships, and team capability. The role reports to the General Manager and manages projects up to AUD 100 million with a focus on delivery excellence.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience delivering major energy infrastructure projects.
• Tertiary qualification in Engineering or Project Management.
• Experience delivering substations, Battery Energy Storage Systems or similar networks.
• Strong commercial capability across forecasting, cost control, contracts and cash flow.
• Knowledge of governance, assurance and disciplined delivery frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead the national Substations and BESS portfolio to meet safety, financial, schedule and client outcomes.
• Provide Zero Harm leadership with site engagement and hazard management.
• Oversee planning, resourcing, budgets, cost control, risk, quality and reporting.
• Maintain commercial discipline across variations, ET claims, payments and subcontractor performance.
• Own portfolio financial performance including budgets, forecasts and cash flow.
• Lead bid-to-delivery handover with clear scope, assumptions and risks.
• Direct delivery inputs to bids including strategy, resourcing and pricing assumptions.
• Develop capable teams through coaching, mentoring and performance management.
• Drive standardised systems, reporting and continuous improvement across the portfolio.

Skills

Project leadership

Safety leadership

Budgeting & cost control

Contract governance

Stakeholder management

Risk management

BESS/substations exp

Team coaching

Communication

Decision making

Education

Engineering degree

Project Management qualification

CPPD certification (beneficial)

Job description

Downer is seeking an accomplished Project Director to lead the national delivery and bid performance of our Substations and Battery Energy Storage Systems portfolio within Power Projects.

The opportunity

This is a senior leadership opportunity with responsibility for major energy infrastructure projects across Australia. You will provide visible leadership across safety, delivery, commercial performance, governance, client relationships and team capability.

Reporting to the General Manager, Downer Utilities Power Projects Substations and BESS, you will oversee a portfolio of projects valued up to 100 million dollars and lead teams responsible for delivering safe, compliant and commercially disciplined outcomes.

Your responsibilities will include

• Leading the national Substations and BESS portfolio to achieve agreed safety, financial, schedule, quality and client outcomes
• Providing visible Zero Harm leadership through regular site engagement, assurance reviews and effective management of hazards, incidents and corrective actions
• Directing project planning, resourcing, budgets, cost control, risk, opportunity, quality, scheduling and performance reporting
• Maintaining strong commercial and contractual discipline across variations, delays, extension of time claims, payment claims, subcontractor performance and project close out
• Owning portfolio financial performance, including budgets, forecasts, cost to complete, revenue, margin and cash flow
• Ensuring effective transition from bid to delivery, with clear understanding of scope, commercial position, assumptions, risks and client requirements
• Leading operational inputs to bids, including delivery strategy, execution methodology, resourcing, risk and pricing assumptions
• Developing capable and accountable teams through clear direction, coaching, mentoring and performance management
• Driving standardised systems, reporting, lessons learned and continuous improvement across the Power Projects portfolio.

What we're looking for

• You are a practical and commercially astute project leader with significant experience delivering major projects or programs in utilities, energy infrastructure or a comparable heavy engineering environment.
• A tertiary qualification in Engineering, Project Management or a related discipline
• Significant leadership experience across major project or program delivery
• Proven experience delivering substations, Battery Energy Storage Systems, transmission, distribution or similar network construction projects
• Strong commercial capability across forecasting, cost control, contracts, risk, financial management and cash flow
• Demonstrated knowledge of project governance, assurance, audit and disciplined delivery frameworks
• Strong project controls capability, including planning, scheduling, reporting, cost to complete and performance dashboards
• Experience leading complex bids and supporting effective handover into project delivery
• The ability to lead, coach and hold multidisciplinary teams accountable in complex and high pressure environments
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across clients, employees, subcontractors, suppliers and support functions
• Sound judgement, clear decision making and the ability to remain calm under pressure
• Project delivery certification such as CPPD or an equivalent qualification would be highly regarded.

What we offer

• The opportunity to lead a nationally significant portfolio of Substations and Battery Energy Storage Systems projects
• A senior role supporting the development and reliability of Australia's energy infrastructure
• A supportive and inclusive environment where your leadership and expertise will have a visible impact
• Access to career development and leadership opportunities across Downer
• The opportunity to work with experienced teams, clients and delivery partners across the energy sector
• A strong commitment to Zero Harm, operational excellence and continuous improvement
• Competitive remuneration and benefits appropriate to the seniority and scope of the role

About Energy & Utilities

Downer is the leading provider of integrated services in Australia and New Zealand. Through trusted relationships and world leading insight we work closely with our customers to design, build and sustain assets, infrastructure and facilities.

Our Energy and Utilities business provides end to end services across power, gas, water, renewable energy and telecommunications. We work with our customers to deliver critical infrastructure and services that connect communities and support Australia's energy transition.

Downer is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture where people feel respected, valued and supported. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities.