Public Works Project Manager

Cowichan Tribes; Duncan; Hybrid; CAD 102,000 - 109,000; Full time

Job summary

Cowichan Tribes is seeking a Public Works Project Manager to lead complex projects from initiation to completion, balancing scope, time and budget while incorporating climate resilience and cultural values.

The role requires coordinating internal teams with external consultants and vendors, overseeing budgets, reporting, and risk management. A PMP designation is preferred and travel within the region is expected as part of the job.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, natural resources, First Nations studies, public or business administration or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive management and project management experience.
• Experience managing multi-stakeholder projects with environmental and regulatory processes.
• Experience with budgets and reporting.
• Experience with stakeholder communication and negotiation.
• Knowledge of budgeting and cost management tools.
• PMP designation preferred; criminal record check required; BC driver’s license and decent driving record.

Responsibilities

• Define project scope, objectives and goals; plan and organize all phases.
• Direct all project phases to ensure delivery on time and within budget.
• Identify and allocate resources such as personnel, budget and tools.
• Integrate climate resilience, habitat protection and cultural values into design.
• Navigate permitting processes with regulatory bodies.
• Onboard external consultants and coordinate with vendors.
• Monitor progress, manage risk, and report to stakeholders.
• Maintain quality control and ensure adherence to policies.

Skills

Project management

Budgeting

Stakeholder communication

Contract management

Environmental permitting

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering

PMP certification

Tools

Microsoft Project

Trello

Asana

Wrike

WebEx

Zoom

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Cowichan Tribes

Public Works Project Manager

Reference No.PW-ADM-PM-0926 PURPOSE: Reporting to the Associate Director of Public Works, the Public Works Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring the successful completion of assigned department projects. The purpose of the position will be to oversee all aspects of assigned projects from initiation to completion; ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and according to specified requirements. Key responsibilities include planning & organizing, team coordination, resource management, risk management, monitoring & reporting quality control and stakeholder communication. This is a full-time permanent position that is required to work in the office, remotely, and with moderate travel required.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Cowichan Tribes offers an excellent benefit and pension plan available after successful completion of the probationary period. The position includes paid training, paid vacation and paid sick leave. Depending on experience, the position starts at $56.15-$60.15 per hour ($102,197.43 - $109,476.89 annually).

Planning and Organizing

• Define the project's scope, objectives and goals
• Direct all phases of the projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope and budget
• Identify and allocate necessary resources, such as personnel, budget and tools
• Integrate climate resilience, aquatic habitat protection and cultural values into infrastructure design and delivery
• Navigate permitting and regulatory processes (e.g., DFO, FNHA, CVRD, ECCC.)
• Establish a clear project plan that includes dependencies and critical path
• Other related duties as required

Team Coordination

• Identify and onboard external consultants, contractors and third-party vendors based on project needs
• Clearly define roles and responsibilities for each external partner involved in assigned project
• Facilitate effective communication between the project team and external partners; ensuring alignment on project objectives
• Coordinate and manage the workflow between consultants, contractors and any internal team members to ensure smooth collaboration
• Monitor progress and ensure that external partners are meeting their deadlines and deliverables
• Foster a collaborative environment and address any issues or concerns that arise between internal team members and external partners
• Ensure that all team members, including external partners, have access to necessary project information and resources
• Other related duties as required

Resource Management

• Ensure that all necessary resources (e.g., manpower, technology, budget) are available and properly allocated
• Track resource usage to prevent overuse or shortages
• Monitor project budget, ensuring financial resources are used efficiently
• Adjust resource allocation as needed to meet project demands
• Identify and resolve any resource-related conflicts or constraints
• Other related duties as required

Risk Management

• Identify potential risks (e.g., financial, technical, operational) early in the project
• Assess the likelihood and impact of each risk
• Develop risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans
• Monitor risks continuously throughout the project and adjust plans as necessary
• Address and resolve issues that arise in a timely manner to minimize project impact
• Other related duties as required

Monitoring and Reporting

• Track the progress of the project against predefined milestones and timelines
• Use tools (e.g., Gantt charts, project management software) to monitor project status
• Identify any delays, bottlenecks, or deviations from the project plan
• Provide regular progress updates to stakeholders, clients, external partners and team members
• Adjust the project plan based on performance data and feedback
• Other related duties as required

Quality Control

• Establish quality standards for the project deliverables
• Ensures that Cowichan Tribes financial policies and procedures are adhered to
• Monitor project deliverables to ensure they meet quality criteria
• Implement quality assurance processes, such as testing or reviews
• Address any defects, errors or gaps in deliverables.
• Ensure that the final product or result meets stakeholder expectations and requirements
• Other related duties as required

Stakeholder Communication

• Identify key stakeholders and understand their needs, interests and expectations
• Set up regular communication channels with stakeholders (e.g., email, meetings)
• Provide clear, consistent and transparent updates to stakeholders
• Manage stakeholder expectations by addressing concerns and providing solutions
• Ensure alignment between stakeholder goals and the project’s objectives throughout project lifecyc le
• Other related duties as required

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: (please attach all required documents)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, First Nations Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration, or other related field required
• Minimum 5 years’ experience with progressively more management responsibilities and related project management experience required
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder projects involving environmental and regulatory processes required
• Experience overseeing budgets and completing reports required
• Experience with project documentation (e.g., contracts, project charters, status reports) required
• Experience with stakeholder communication and negotiation.
• Experience identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks, including technical, financial, and operational risks
• Experience working in a First Nations community and a willingness to learn about culture, customs, and traditions of Cowichan people
• Project Management Professional (PMP) designation preferred
• Satisfactory Criminal Record Check required
• Valid BC driver’s license, satisfactory driver’s abstract and reliable vehicle required

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of Cowichan Tribes internal departments and programs
• Knowledge of Cowichan culture, customs and traditions
• Knowledge of federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations government and services
• Knowledge of budgeting and cost management tools
• Proficiency with project management methodologies
• Familiarity with contract management, including vendor agreements, service-level agreements (SLAs) and intellectual property considerations
• Strong understanding of environmental permitting and compliance in British Columbia
• Ability to create, manage and track project schedules using tools like Microsoft Project, Trello, Asana or Wrike
• Comfortable using collaboration tools (e.g., Webex, Zoom, Microsoft Teams) to maintain communication with remote teams and contractors
• Understanding of budgeting and financial forecasting
• Strong verbal and written communication, including the ability to tailor messages to various stakeholders.
• Ability to lead virtual and in-person meetings, facilitate discussions and resolve issues
• Skilled in writing clear and concise reports, presentations and updates for stakeholders
• Strong influence skills to guide, align and motivate external partners, contractors, and consultant
• Proficient in setting priorities, multitasking and meeting deadlines from multiple external partners and internal teams
• Strong decision-making skills to address challenges that arise during project execution