Senior Project Director – Major Energy Projects (EPCM)

Thorens Inc.; Montreal; On-site; CAD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy project firm in Montreal seeks a Project Director to lead a landmark $10 billion investment project from design to completion. The ideal candidate will have over 20 years of experience in managing large-scale projects, strong leadership skills, and exceptional communication abilities in both French and English. This high-profile role offers a competitive salary and a hybrid work model.

Benefits

Relocation support

Executive benefits

Group insurance

Retirement savings plan (RRSP)

Frequent travel opportunities

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience managing large-scale projects, with at least 5 years in a senior role.
• Proven success in delivering projects exceeding $1 billion in capital value.
• Experience in managing projects through the EPCM model.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall planning, execution, and monitoring of the project.
• Oversee phases of project execution including engineering and construction.
• Identify and manage project risks proactively.
• Build and manage a high-performing project team.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Thinking

Negotiation

Communication (French and English)

Risk Management

Conflict Resolution

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Overview

Job Description

COMPANY DESCRIPTION :

With 30 years of experience, our client is a key player in the execution of major energy projects. The company is renowned for its agility and the excellence of its achievements, managing large-scale investment projects while meeting the challenges of remote locations and multicultural environments. They are seeking a visionary and results-oriented Project Director to lead the execution of a landmark $10 billion investment project, from design through to completion.

JOB DESCRIPTION :

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Project Director will assume overall accountability for the project's performance delivered under the EPCM (Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management) model, including schedule, budget, quality, safety, risk, and stakeholder engagement. This is a high-profile, mission-critical role that requires exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Key Responsibilities - Strategic Leadership
  • Lead the overall planning, execution, monitoring, and control of the project.
  • Define and implement the project delivery strategy, execution plan, and governance structure.
  • Align project goals with broader corporate and stakeholder expectations.
  • Foster a culture of realism in forecasting, actively mitigating optimism bias and political pressure.
• Execution & Delivery
  • Oversee all phases of project execution including engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
  • Ensure project milestones, quality standards, and performance metrics are met or exceeded.
  • Drive rigorous cost, schedule, and change control processes.
  • Establish formal mechanisms to re-baseline scope and cost as soon as deviations are confirmed.
• Risk Management
  • Identify, assess, and manage project risks proactively.
  • Establish mitigation and contingency strategies for critical path elements.
  • Ensure independent risk reviews are embedded into project lifecycle milestones.
  • Prevent exclusion of strategic alternatives by ensuring all viable project options are evaluated and documented.
• Team Leadership
  • Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing multi-disciplinary project team, including contractors and partners.
  • Foster a culture of safety, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
  • Supervise the Deputy Director and a team of 15 to 20 Project Managers.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Serve as the principal liaison with internal and external stakeholders (government agencies, Indigenous communities, regulators, shareholders, the public).
  • Uphold inclusive and meaningful consultation processes, particularly with Indigenous communities, as emphasized in the Commission’s findings.
• Governance & Compliance
  • Ensure full compliance with legal, regulatory, ESG, and corporate governance requirements.
  • Report regularly to the executive leadership and board on project status, challenges, and achievements.
  • Promote robust and independent board oversight, with full disclosure of emerging risks, to prevent governance gaps experienced previously in the province.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• 20+ years of experience in managing large-scale, complex capital projects, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven success in delivering projects exceeding $1B in capital value.
• Experience in joint ventures, public-private partnerships, or multi-stakeholder environments is desirable.
• Proven experience in managing major projects through the EPCM delivery model, including coordination with external firms and direct client relationship management.
• Strategic thinker with strong business acumen.
• Exceptional leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in politically and culturally complex environments.
• Resilience, adaptability, and integrity under pressure.
• Deep commitment to transparency, public accountability, and documentation rigor, recognizing the critical role they play in megaproject success.
• Excellent knowledge of project management tools (Primavera P6, MS Project, etc.).
• Outstanding communication skills, both written and verbal, in French and English.

Work Conditions

• Salary around 250 000$ base / yearly & bonuses
• Relocation support and executive benefits, as applicable.
• Group insurance and retirement savings plan (RRSP).
• Frequent travel to project sites, including remote locations.
• Availability to work in high-pressure, high-stakes environments.
• Hybrid work model.

Note : The masculine is used to lighten the text without prejudice to the feminine form.

Additional Information

ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ROLE?

Contact the assigned recruiter (see at the top of the page)

514.842.7846

Check the contact information of our team here.

Requirements

COMPÉTENCES RECHERCHÉES : Baccalauréat en génie (électrique, mécanique, civil, énergie ou autre discipline pertinente) ou en gestion de projet (maîtrise un atout). Plus de 20 ans d’expérience dans la gestion de projets d’investissement à grande échelle et complexes, dont au moins 5 ans à un poste de direction. Succès avéré dans la réalisation de projets dont la valeur en capital dépasse 1 milliard de dollars. Expérience en gestion de projets énergétiques majeurs en mode EPCM. Une expérience dans des coentreprises, des partenariats public-privé ou des environnements impliquant de multiples parties prenantes est souhaitable. Penseur stratégique doté d’un solide sens des affaires. Compétences exceptionnelles en leadership, négociation et résolution de conflits. Capacité à évoluer efficacement dans des environnements politiquement et culturellement complexes. Résilience, adaptabilité et intégrité en situation de pression. Engagement profond envers la transparence, la responsabilité publique et la rigueur documentaire, en reconnaissant leur rôle essentiel dans le succès des mégaprojets. Excellente maîtrise des outils de gestion de projet (Primavera P6, MS Project, etc.). Excellentes aptitudes en communication, tant à l’oral qu’à l’écrit, en français et en anglais.