Associate Project Director, Ports and Marine Structures

COWI; North Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 152,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangement

5 weeks vacation to start

Floating holidays

Paid sick leave

Annual Fitness spending account

RRSP with company matching

Professional development fund

Parking or transit allowance

Extended Health coverage

EAP

Referral incentive program

Social events

Job summary

COWI seeks an Associate Project Director focused on ports and marine structures to lead senior-level project delivery, client relationships, and strategic growth in Canada. You will shape proposals, oversee complex multidisciplinary programs, and drive business development while mentoring teams.

You will provide senior technical expertise, collaborate across the organization, and contribute to the Canada Leadership Team’s objectives, supporting sustainable infrastructure initiatives and market

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, or Coastal Engineering from an accredited university.
• A professional Engineering License (P.Eng.) in British Columbia.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience related to engineering, project management, and business development with emphasis on marine/ports infrastructure.
• Experience in business development, sales and project management in heavy civil structures.
• Familiarity with construction methods and industry standards.
• Aware of Canadian market trends and opportunities in heavy civil sector.
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary projects with accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and margins.
• Proven success in senior client relationship management, contract negotiations, and delivering client satisfaction.
• Background in pursuing proposals, expanding West Coast markets, and mentoring teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and deliver complex ports and marine projects as subject matter expert.
• Identify new business opportunities with the business development team and manage proposals from opportunity to award.
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with engineers, owners, and contractors to support growth.
• Lead project management duties including scheduling, resource management, budgets, and sub-consultant interfacing.
• Perform Engineer of Record duties as required.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary groups within COWI to deliver integrated projects.
• Represent COWI in technical committees, conferences, and professional groups related to ports and marine infrastructure.
• Mentor staff and contribute to local office growth, including hiring decisions and expanding COWI’s presence in the sector.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Project management

Client relationships

Education

Bachelor's degree in Civil, Structural, or Coastal Engineering

P.Eng. license in British Columbia

Job description

Associate Project Director,Ports and MarineStructures

Regular, Full-time

Hybrid

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 evolving landscape of the market 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 ports and marine projects. 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, client relationships, and business development, while contributing to the growth of our presence in the Canadian market.

We are looking for anAssociate Project Directorspecialized in structural design of complexports andmarine structures to join our highly skilled team of specialists that provides detailed engineering and project management on infrastructure projects. Your primary tasks will be todevelop andimplement strategic initiatives to improve the Company's engineering and local business development practicesand providehigh-level, senior technicalexpertisefor projects.The Associate Project Director is a major Seller-Doer for the Company, positioning COWI as a technical expert and leader in the industry.The position is part of the Canada Leadership Team,participatingin periodic strategic meetings and contributing to the development and delivery of the COWI Group’s strategicobjectivesin Canada.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

• Oversee and deliver complex projects in the ports and marine infrastructure sector, acting as a subject matter expert
• Identifynew business opportunities with the business development team, including managingthe preparation of technical and commercial proposals from opportunity to award.
• Establish andmaintainstrategic relationships with engineers, owners, and specialty contractorsto support growth.Build long-term relationships that generate repeated and negotiated work.
• Carry out project management duties andguidetechnical deliverablesfor multidisciplinary teams,including, but not limited to project scheduling, resource management, project budget controls, and client sub-consultant management and interfacing.
• Perform Engineer of Record duties asrequired.
• 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, as they pertain toports and marineinfrastructure projects.
• Mentorand develop staffwhile contributing to local office growth, including team building, hiring decisions, and expanding COWI’s presence in this sector.

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 nurturing a diverse group of high-potential team members is at the top of your agenda, as is creating an inclusive, caring, and trusting culture in your team.

On top of that, you will have:

• ABachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, or Coastal Engineering, or a related discipline from an accredited university.
• A professional Engineering License (P.Eng.) in British Columbia
• A minimum of15yearsofexperiencerelated to engineering, projectmanagement,and business development with an emphasis on design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of marine, waterfront, or heavy civil infrastructure.
• Demonstrated experience in business development,sales,and project management in heavy civil structures.
• Familiarity withconstruction methods and industry standards.
• Awareness ofCanadianmarket trends, competitors, and opportunities within the heavy civil sector.
• 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.
• Background in business development and team leadership, including pursuing proposals, expanding markets on the West Coast, and mentoring and building effective teams.
• Demonstrated networking abilities toestablishand maintain relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• 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. That is why we say no to fossil-based projects and aspire to have 100% of our revenue come from activities that move our customers towards sustainability.

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 8,000 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play.

What we also offer:

Being part of the COWI community offers more than just a competitive salary. We take care of our people both professionally and personally.

Some of our benefits include:

• Flexible working arrangement
• Top-up parental and childbirth recovery leave
• Fantastic close-knit team with a wealth of knowledge to share!
• Full time hires get minimum 5 weeks’ vacation to start
• Floating holiday to celebrate employee diversity
• Paid sick leave
• Annual Fitness spending account. Yes, you can use this for a ski pass, yoga or gym membership
• Group RRSP program with company matching
• Personal and professional development fund
• 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 North Vancouver location. Actual compensation is subject to variations due to education, experience, skill set, and location.

Get to know us even better at our website, www.cowi.com, where you can learn more about our projects, our strategy, what we want to achieve, and what life is like at COWI.

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 information.