Project Director - South Australia

Laing O'Rourke; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 300,000 - 380,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

In-house training programs and on-the‑

Six months paid parental leave

Purchased leave options

Volunteering leave

Exclusive discounts across Australia

Job summary

Laing O’Rourke is leading Australia’s largest-ever defence infrastructure program and seeks a Project Director to join the AUKUS team in Osborne, South Australia. You will direct the end‑to‑end delivery of complex projects, collaborating with JV partners and government stakeholders.

You will shape delivery strategies, lead a multidisciplinary leadership team, and ensure safety, quality, and program performance while managing budgets and contractual obligations.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience delivering major infrastructure, defence, transport, energy, resources or complex construction projects.
• Proven ability to lead large multidisciplinary teams and manage complex governance environments.
• Australian citizenship and ability to obtain Australian Defence NV1 clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for successful delivery of the project across safety, quality, programme, commercial and client objectives.
• Develop and execute project delivery strategies for safe, efficient, and profitable outcomes from design through commissioning and handover.
• Lead multidisciplinary project leadership teams with a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Drive project performance through management of programme, cost, risk, resources and delivery activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, Joint Venture partners, government stakeholders and supply chain partners.
• Ensure compliance with contracts, statutory, regulatory and governance requirements with high safety and quality standards.
• Identify and manage project risks and opportunities with proactive mitigation strategies.
• Act as senior representative for the project, engaging with client executives and key stakeholders on strategic matters.
• Champion safety, inclusion, wellbeing and high performance across all teams.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Budget management

Communication

Regulatory compliance

Defense/defence sector knowledge

Clearance eligibility (NV1)

Education

Engineering degree (or related)

Job description

Benefits

At the heart of Laing O’Rourke is our commitment to helping our people do their best work and grow meaningful, fulfilling careers. Through exceptional development opportunities, wellbeing support, and employee benefits, we empower our teams to succeed.
We celebrate diversity and welcome applications from First Nations Peoples and candidates from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Our industry-leading benefits include:

• In-house training programs and on-the-job skill development.
• Industry-leading parental leave giving all employees access to six months paid parental leave at full pay.
• Additional purchased leave options, and access to volunteering leave.
• Exclusive discounts and savings across hundreds of retailers across Australia.
  

Head to our benefits page here - Benefits & Rewards

About the Project

At Laing O’Rourke, you won’t just build projects, you’ll help shape the future. As a $6 billion privately owned global engineering and manufacturing-led construction leader, we deliver some of the nation’s most complex infrastructure, from transport networks to defence and utilities.

Be part of Australia’s largest-ever defence infrastructure program

Laing O’Rourke, with joint venture partner Amentum Australia,will play a central role in supporting Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI) to develop and deliver the Nuclear-Powered Submarine Construction Yard (NPSCY) project at Osborne, South Australia.We will provide program and construction management services of nuclear related civil infrastructure, site‑wide nuclear licensee development expertise, and nuclear safety leadership.
We are currently seeking a Project Director to join our AUKUS team.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction for the successful delivery of the project, ensuring performance across safety, quality, programme, commercial and client objectives.
• Develop and execute project delivery strategies that support the safe, efficient and profitable delivery of project outcomes from design through to commissioning and handover.
• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary project leadership team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Drive project performance through effective management of programme, cost, risk, resources and operational delivery activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, Joint Venture partners, government stakeholders, supply chain partners and industry representatives.
• Ensure project delivery complies with contractual, statutory, regulatory and governance requirements while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.
• Lead the identification and management of project risks and opportunities, ensuring proactive mitigation strategies are implemented to support successful delivery outcomes.
• Act as the senior representative for the project, leading engagement with client executives and key stakeholders on strategic delivery matters.
• Champion a culture of safety, inclusion, wellbeing and high performance across all project teams.
  

About You

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience leading the delivery of major infrastructure, defence, transport, energy, resources or complex construction projects.
• Demonstrated success in leading large multidisciplinary teams and delivering projects within complex stakeholder and governance environments.
• Proven ability to develop and execute project delivery strategies that achieve safety, commercial, programme and client outcomes.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing large project budgets, contracts, risk, opportunities and financial performance.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at executive level.
• Strong leadership capability with a track record of building, mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation and decision-making skills, with the ability to lead confidently in a fast-paced and highly regulated environment.
• Experience delivering projects within Defence, Nuclear, Utilities or other highly regulated sectors will be highly regarded.
• Applicants must be Australian citizens and hold or be able to obtain an Australian Defence Security Clearance to NV1 level.