Associate Project Director - Construction Lead, for COWI in North America

COWI; Surrey; On-site; CAD 153,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangement

5 weeks vacation

Floating holiday

Paid sick leave

RRSP matching

Transit/parking allowance

EAP

Job summary

COWI invites a seasoned Executive to join as Associate Project Director, specializing in complex heavy civil projects, including the Fraser River Tunnel Project in the Vancouver area. You will lead the construction services team, collaborate with the Owner and contractor groups, and drive high-level project strategy and client engagement.

You will head multidisciplinary teams, shape project management practices, and contribute to COWI Canada's growth while representing the firm in strategic

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Civil, Structural, or related discipline.
• Professional Engineering License (P.Eng.) in British Columbia or ability to obtain.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in engineering and project management for heavy civil infrastructure.
• Experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects with accountability for scope, schedule, budget and commercial performance.

Responsibilities

• Lead COWI's construction services on the Fraser River Tunnel Project (FRTP) including budget, scope and schedule and supervise the on-site team.
• Coordinate with Client's construction team and OE input to RFIs and close out defects.
• Coordinate with Contractor(s) on site for observations, inspections and non-conformances.
• Guide teams to practical construction solutions and coordinate engineering input.
• Manage and deliver complex projects in the heavy civil sector.
• Oversee project management duties including scheduling, resources, budget controls and client sub-consultant management.
• Support development of technical and commercial proposals from opportunity to award.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with engineers, owners and key contractors.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary groups within COWI to deliver integrated projects.
• Represent COWI in external settings such as committees, conferences and professional bodies.
• Mentor staff and contribute to local office growth including hiring decisions.

Education

Civil/Structural degree

BC P.Eng license

Job description

Do you want the opportunity to co-create with our experts on some of the most prestigious infrastructure projects in North America? Can you navigate the changing market landscape by adapting strategies swiftly, capitalizing on emerging opportunities, and mitigating risks? And are you motivated to accelerate growth, promote innovation, and deliver impactful solutions? Then, this could be your next career move.

Create the solutions that will enable a better tomorrow

In this role, you will be challenged to work every day on some of the most advanced heavy civil structures projects (bridges, tunnels, marine and more). You will be exposed to projects in North America working with colleagues across the globe who are highly skilled and deliver innovative solutions. You will provide senior leadership across project delivery and client relationships while contributing to the growth of our presence in the Canadian market.

We are looking for an Associate Project Director specialized in management of complex heavy civil projects with an understanding of structural design and construction services. Initially, this position specifically supports COWI’s role as the Owner’s Engineer (OE) for the new Fraser River Tunnel Project (FRTP). The FRTP project will replace the existing Massey Tunnel between Richmond and Delta, near Vancouver, BC. The candidate will be the Construction Services Lead for the OE team. In this role, the Construction Services Lead will lead COWI's construction services team and support the Client in providing an overview of construction activities in collaboration with the Owner's construction management team, the EOR's Construction Services team, and the Contractor(s). A significant amount of time is expected to be spent in the Client’s office in downtown Vancouver and on the construction site in Richmond where the construction team will be located.

Alongside the Construction Services Lead role, you will be tasked with developing and implementing strategic initiatives to improve the Company's project management practices and provide high level, senior project management expertise for projects. The Associate Project Director contributes to position COWI as a technical expert and leader in the industry. The position is part of the Canada Leadership Team, participating in periodic strategic meetings and contributing to development and delivery of the COWI Group’s strategic objectives in Canada.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Lead COWI's construction services on the FRTP project (budget, scope, schedule) and supervise the team on site.
• Liaise with the Client's construction team, and coordinate COWI's technical OE input to responses to RFIs and mitigation close out of non-conformances and defects.
• Liaise with the Contractor(s) on site to coordinate any required observations and inspections, identify non-conformances, and coordinate engineering inputs.
• Guide the team to find practical solution for issues occurring during construction, and coordinate engineering input as required.
• Project manager to manage and deliver complex projects in the heavy civil sector.
• Carry out project management duties and guide technical deliverables for multidisciplinary teams including, but not limited to project scheduling, resource management, project budget controls, and client sub-consultant management and interfacing.
• Support managing the preparation of technical and commercial proposals from opportunity to award.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with engineers, owners, and specialty contractors to support growth. Build long-term relationships that generate repeated and negotiated work.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary groups within COWI to develop and deliver integrated projects.
• Represent COWI in external settings, such as technical committees, conferences, seminars, professional bodies, and business groups.
• Mentor and develop staff while contributing to local office growth, including team building, hiring decisions, and expanding COWI’s presence in Canada.

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future

Like us, you believe that leadership growth comes from setting a clear and meaningful direction for your team and supporting them in taking ownership of their work. You always delegate responsibility and ensure an open and safe dialogue, and you coach your people to achieve their aspirations through constructive, fact-based feedback. You collaborate with those around you, whether they are colleagues, clients, or partners. Attracting and developing a diverse group of high-potential team members is at the top of your agenda, as is creating an inclusive, supportive, and trusting culture in your team.

On top of that, you will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, or a related discipline from an accredited university.
• A professional Engineering License (P.Eng.) in British Columbia or ability to obtain, PE is an asset.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience related to engineering and project management with an emphasis on design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of heavy civil infrastructure. Site and construction experience are considered an asset.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and commercial performance. Including managing margins and securing follow-on work.
• Demonstrated success in senior client relationship management, including contract negotiations, risk management, and delivering high client satisfaction.
• Experience in business development, sales and project management in heavy civil structures.
• Skills in preparing technical and commercial proposals, bids, and presentations.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with technical, commercial, and management teams.

A place to work and so much more

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability. We strive to show in our actions by embedding environmental management, social responsibility and good governance into our business practices and the options we provide to our customers.

We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home.

With offices primarily located in the Nordic region, the UK, North America and India, we are currently more than 7,500 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play.

What we also offer:

To us, a fair reward is more than a competitive salary. We invest in our people’s professional and personal well‑being.

Our benefits include:

• Flexible working arrangement
• Full time hires get 5 weeks of vacation
• Floating holiday to celebrate employee diversity
• Paid sick leave
• Top-up parental and childbirth recovery leave
• Annual Fitness spending account. Yes, you can use this for a ski pass, yoga or gym membership
• Personal and Professional development fund
• Group RRSP program with company matching
• Parking or public transit allowance
• Extended Health coverage with 100% of premiums paid by us
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Referral incentive program
• Frequent social events

Base compensation: $152,800 to $234,000 for the North Vancouver office only. Actual compensation is subject to variations due to education, experience, skill set and/or location.

Equal opportunity employer

COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, COWI complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.