Associate Project Director, for COWI in North America

COWI A/S; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 152,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks vacation

Floating holiday

Paid sick leave

Parental leave

Fitness spending

Development fund

RRSP matching

Transit allowance

Health coverage

EAP

Life Insurance

Referral program

Social events

Job summary

COWI A/S in Toronto is seeking an Associate Project Director of Tunnels and Underground Infrastructure to lead key projects in North America. You will join the Canada Leadership Team, shape strategy, and provide senior technical leadership to the geotechnical and tunnel teams while developing client relationships and winning opportunities.

The role blends project management, business development, and technical excellence, with responsibility for proposals, budgeting, and coordinating with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or master's degree in civil or geotechnical engineering from an accredited university.
• P.Eng. license; USA license is considered an asset.
• Minimum of 15 years' experience in engineering, PM and business development focused on tunnels/undergrounds.
• Experience in business development, sales and PM in tunnels/underground structures.
• Experience on major tunnel projects (transportation, utilities, railways).
• Familiarity with tunnelling methods and industry standards.
• Awareness of Toronto market trends and opportunities in tunnelling.
• Strong verbal and written communication for client presentations and negotiations.
• Networking abilities to establish relationships with clients, partners, stakeholders.
• Experience preparing technical and commercial proposals, bids and presentations.
• Understanding of project planning, budgeting, execution for large-scale infra.
• Ability to collaborate with technical, commercial and management teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects in the tunnels and underground infrastructure sector.
• Identify new business opportunities with the business development team.
• Manage preparation of technical and commercial proposals from opportunity to award.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with engineers, owners, and specialty contractors.
• Build long-term relationships generating repeated and negotiated work.
• Carry out project management duties and technical deliverables per the Quality Management System.
• Act as subject matter expert for tunnels and underground structures.
• Act as EOR as appropriate.
• Represent the Company in external settings including technical committees, conferences and groups.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Project management

Geotechnical engineering

Tunnel engineering

Client relationships

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's or master's degree in civil/geotechnical/structural engineering

Professional Engineer License (P.Eng.)

Job description

Associate Project Director, for COWI in North America

Associate Project Director – Tunnels and Underground Infrastructure

Toronto

Permanent, Full-Time

Hybrid

Do you want to join one of the leading engineering consulting companies, creating value for customers, people, and societies worldwide? Can you add to our growth with your demonstrated leadership skills and expertise in regional and international underground and tunnel projects? Then this could be the next step in your career!

Create Solutions that will enable a better tomorrow

COWI is looking for an Associate Project Director of Tunnels and Underground Infrastructure to join our global team of experts that deliver specialized infrastructure projects and collaborate with our business development team, build and maintain client relationships, and provide technical leadership to our geotechnical and tunnel team. The incumbent will provide high level, senior technical expertise for projects and develop and implement strategic initiatives to improve the Company's engineering and local business development practices. The Associate Project Director is a major Seller-Doer for the Company, positioning COWI as a technical expert and leader in the industry.

The role is part of the Canada Leadership Team, and the incumbent will participate in periodic strategy meetings and contributes to development and delivery of the COWI Group’s strategic objectives in Canada.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Lead projects in the tunnels and underground infrastructure sector.
• Identify new business opportunities with the business development team.
• Manage the preparation of technical and commercial proposals from opportunity to award.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with engineers, owners, and specialty contractors.
• Build long-term relationships that generate repeated and negotiated work.
• Carry out project management duties and technical deliverables in accordance with the Company Quality Management System including, but not limited to project scheduling, resource management, project budget controls, and client sub-consultant management and interfacing.
• Act as a subject matter expert for tunnels and underground structures.
• Act as EOR as appropriate.
• Represent the Company in external settings including technical committees, conferences, seminars, professional bodies and business groups.

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future.

The first step to success in this role is that you are eager to collaborate with the people around you, whether they are colleagues, partners, or clients. Developing ties with others is something you do by acting respectfully and delivering on your promises.

On top of that, you will have:

• Bachelor's or master's degree in civil engineering, geotechnical or structural engineering, or a related discipline from an accredited university
• A registered Professional Engineer License (P.Eng.) A registered Professional Engineer in the USA is considered an asset.
• A minimum of 15 years’ experience related to engineering, project management and business development with an emphasis on design, construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of tunnels and underground structures.
• Demonstrated experience in business development, sales, and project management in tunnels and underground structures.
• Experience working on major tunnel projects (e.g., transportation, utilities, railways).
• Familiarity with tunnelling methods, construction processes, and industry standards.
• Awareness of Toronto market trends, competitors, and opportunities within the tunnelling sector.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills for client presentations and negotiations.
• Demonstrated networking abilities to establish and maintain relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• Skills in preparing technical and commercial proposals, bids, and presentations.
• Understanding of project planning, budgeting, and execution, especially for large-scale infrastructure projects.
• 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 lead by example 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 minimum 4 weeks' vacation to start
• 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: $152,000 to $234,000 for the Toronto 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.