Director, Project Services

NES Fircroft; Calgary; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking a seasoned Director, Project Services to lead project controls, cost management, planning and scheduling, risk, and reporting for the Clearwater Project in Alberta from the Calgary headquarters. This full-time role oversees a robust project services framework to support delivery of facilities and related systems.

Based in Calgary, the successful candidate will drive governance, ensure integration with engineering, procurement, and construction, and mentor the project

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, or related field.
• 20+ years of project execution experience in large-scale industrial or energy projects.
• Proven leadership in cost control, scheduling, and risk management systems.
• Experience with Primavera P6 and cost management tools.
• Experience in EPC or owner's team delivery environments.
• Strong understanding of capital project execution and governance.

Responsibilities

• Champion a strong safety culture across the organization.
• Lead project services functions: cost control, estimating, scheduling, progress measurement, and risk management.
• Develop and implement project controls standards and reporting frameworks across all project phases.
• Oversee development of capital cost estimates, budgets, and forecasts for all project components.
• Ensure integration of project controls with engineering, procurement, and construction activities.
• Provide regular reporting to executive leadership on cost, schedule, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Manage and develop the supply chain team, setting priorities, workload, and performance goals to meet timelines.
• Oversee supplier relationships, contract negotiations, and vendor performance to secure cost-effective sourcing.
• Develop and manage the construction services team, coordinating early contractor involvement in design and scheduling.
• Manage contingency planning, change management processes, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Coordinate with EPC contractors and internal teams to align project performance metrics.
• Support establishment of a strong project governance framework.
• Support planning, stage-gate reviews, and investment decision processes.

Skills

Leadership

Cost control

Scheduling

Risk management

Project controls

Stakeholder reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business/Finance

Tools

Primavera P6

Cost management systems

Job description

Director, Project Services

Position Summary

Our client is seeking a full-time Director, Project Services to lead project controls, cost management, planning and scheduling, risk, and reporting functions for the Clearwater Project in Alberta, with activities coordinated from the client's Calgary headquarters.

This role will establish and oversee robust project services frameworks to support delivery of the Central Processing Facility, gathering systems, utilities, and offsites from FEED through construction and commissioning.

About Our Client

Our client is pioneering a new industry and redefining what is possible by deploying local expertise to bring lithium into Alberta's value chain. This is innovation at scale, driven by bold ideas, cutting-edge technology, and a team that thrives on solving complex challenges.

Joining the organization means more than building a career—it means becoming part of an ambitious team that collaborates naturally and is committed to building a new industry within Canada. This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to a company experiencing significant growth in one of the most important industries of our time. The organization supports growth and curiosity, celebrates work-life balance, and provides the space to achieve meaningful results.

Based in Calgary, recognized as one of North America's most livable cities, employees work at the intersection of innovation, impact, and quality of life.

Responsibilities

• Champion a strong safety culture across the organization, reinforcing that safety is a core value and a shared responsibility rather than a compliance exercise.


• Lead project services functions including cost control, estimating, scheduling, progress measurement, and risk management.


• Develop and implement project controls systems, standards, and reporting frameworks across all project phases.


• Oversee development of capital cost estimates, budgets, and forecasts for all project components.


• Ensure integration of project controls with engineering, procurement, and construction activities.


• Provide regular reporting to executive leadership on cost, schedule, and risk mitigation strategies.


• Manage and develop the supply chain team, setting priorities, workload, and performance goals to ensure procurement, logistics, and inventory functions meet project and operational timelines.


• Oversee supplier relationships, contract negotiations, and vendor performance to secure reliable, cost-effective sourcing of materials and equipment.


• Develop and manage the construction services team, coordinating early contractor involvement in design, early construction planning, as well as estimating and scheduling efforts.


• Manage contingency planning, change management processes, and cost optimization initiatives.


• Coordinate with EPC contractors and internal teams to ensure alignment on project performance metrics.


• Support the establishment and implementation of a strong project governance framework.


• Support project planning, stage-gate reviews, and investment decision processes.


• Lead and mentor project controls personnel while building scalable systems for future project phases.


• As part of a young and growing company, establish processes and procedures that set the team up for long-term success, taking a systematic approach in areas where no formal processes or procedures currently exist, and continuously evolving them to support organizational growth.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, or a related discipline.


• 20+ years of experience in project execution for large-scale industrial or energy projects.


• Demonstrated leadership in cost control, scheduling, and risk management systems.


• Strong experience with project controls tools (e.g., Primavera P6, cost management systems).


• Experience in EPC or owner's team integrated project delivery environments.


• Strong understanding of capital project execution and governance frameworks.