Project Director (leading M&E Contractor)

PeopleSearch; Região Norte; On-site; BRL 450,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

PeopleSearch is seeking a seasoned Project Director to lead a portfolio of large, complex M&E projects across data centre, residential and office fit-out segments. You will own strategy, governance and client relationships, reporting directly to the Business Unit General Manager.

You will oversee multiple projects, mentor managers and engineers, manage budgets, risks and commercial performance, and drive client satisfaction and long-term partnerships with key stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering or related discipline.
• Proven leadership in M&E, construction, data centre, or built environment projects.
• Certifications such as PE or PMP are advantageous.
• Experience in contract administration, claims management and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of a portfolio of large, complex M&E projects from award to handover, setting execution strategies.
• Monitor schedule, cost, quality, safety and risk across projects and drive timely issue resolution.
• Ensure compliance with specifications, standards and procedures.
• Build relationships with clients, consultants and stakeholders as the senior company representative.
• Lead executive meetings, drive client satisfaction and long-term partnerships.
• Manage budgets, cash flow, variations and commercial performance for each project.
• Provide technical guidance in at least one M&E discipline and support design coordination.
• Mentor and develop project managers, engineers and site teams to foster safety and accountability.
• Champion integrity and compliance with anti-corruption, sanctions and governance policies.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

Delivery management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

PMP/PE certification (advantageous)

Tools

Project management methods

Job description

About the Opportunity

Our client is an established Mechanical & Electrical (M&E) engineering and building services contractor with a strong track record across the built environment sector. As part of its continued growth, the business is seeking an accomplished Project Director to take full accountability for a portfolio of large and complex projects across its data centre, residential and office fit-out segments.

This is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the Business Unit General Manager. You will oversee several concurrent projects, each led by a Project Manager or Senior Project Manager, and will be the senior face of the company to clients and key stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of a portfolio of large, complex M&E projects from award to handover, setting execution strategies, resource plans and delivery objectives.

• Monitor schedule, productivity, cost, quality, safety and risk across all projects, and drive timely resolution of critical issues and milestones.

• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, client specifications, engineering standards and company procedures.

• Build strong relationships with clients, consultants, contractors, government agencies and other stakeholders, acting as the senior representative and primary escalation point.

• Lead executive meetings and progress reviews, and drive client satisfaction, repeat business and long-term partnerships.

• Manage the contractual, commercial and financial performance of each project, including variations, claims, extension of time submissions and negotiations.

• Identify and mitigate commercial and contractual risks, and ensure compliance with contractual obligations and corporate governance requirements.

• Lead the resolution of disputes, contractual disagreements and complex stakeholder issues, and provide strategic direction on project risks, claims and conflict situations, working with project teams, clients, consultants, subcontractors and legal stakeholders to reach practical, commercially sound outcomes.

• Review budgets, forecasts, cash flow and cost controls, present monthly management reports on project status, financials, risks, safety and contractual matters, and provide regular recommendations to senior management on performance and strategic issues.

• Provide technical guidance in at least one M&E discipline (Electrical, ACMV or Fire Protection), and support design coordination, technical approvals, testing and commissioning, and operational readiness.

• Lead, mentor and develop Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, Engineers and site teams, fostering a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement, and supporting succession planning.

• Champion integrity and ethical conduct, ensuring compliance with anti-corruption, anti-bribery, anti-competition, sanctions, human rights and conflict of interest policies, and holding subcontractors, suppliers and partners to the same standards.

• Support audits, compliance reviews, investigations and corrective actions as required.

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline, with a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in M&E, construction, infrastructure, industrial, healthcare, commercial, data centre or other built environment projects.

• Diploma holders with significant industry experience and proven leadership capability will also be considered, with a minimum of 20 years of relevant experience, including senior project leadership responsibilities.

• Professional certifications such as PE, PMP, Chartered Engineer or equivalent are advantageous.

• Proven track record managing large and complex M&E projects with full accountability for delivery, commercial performance and stakeholder management.

• Demonstrated experience in contract administration, claims management, dispute resolution, risk management and commercial negotiations.

• Experience managing client relationships at executive and senior management levels.

• Experience managing multiple projects concurrently through Project Managers or Senior Project Managers is highly desirable; exposure to data centre, residential or office fit-out projects is a strong advantage.