Senior Project Manager, Infrastructure & Offsites NES Fircroft

Project Management Institute - Southern Alberta Chapter (PMI-SAC); Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead the design and execution of the lithium extraction and refining process for the Clearwater Central Processing Facility in central Alberta, with work centered at Calgary headquarters.

You will oversee FEED, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and safety standards are met while coordinating with owners, engineering firms, and contractors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or related).
• Professional Engineer (APEGA) in good standing.
• 15+ years of project management experience in oil & gas, chemical processing, water treatment, or related industries.

Responsibilities

• Lead FEED, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning.
• Define scope, budget, schedule, risks, and execution strategies.
• Forecast budgets and manage expenditures and variances.
• Establish milestones and KPIs; coordinate interfaces with stakeholders.
• Mentor multidisciplinary teams including project managers and engineers.
• Ensure designs comply with codes, standards, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Project leadership

Engineering coordination

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Feasibility & planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Professional Engineer (APEGA)

Tools

FEED management

Procurement software

Construction management

Job description

Senior Project Manager - Process Extraction Position Summary Our client is seeking a full-time Senior Project Manager to lead the design and execution of the core lithium extraction and refining process within the planned Clearwater Central Processing Facility in central Alberta, with work primarily coordinated from the client's corporate headquarters in Calgary.

This role oversees the direct lithium extraction, membrane treatment, ion exchange, evaporation, and carbonation units needed to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine.

As the Senior Project Manager, you will act as the primary representative for the Process Extraction scope and will be responsible for managing this scope through the entire project lifecycle.

About Our Client Our client is pioneering a new industry and redefining what is possible as it deploys local know-how 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 tough challenges.

Joining the organization means more than just building a career; it is joining an ambitious team that collaborates naturally and is committed to building a new industry within Canada. This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to be part of a company on the rise in one of the most crucial industries of our time. The organization supports growth and curiosity, celebrates balance, and provides the space to achieve big things.

Based in Calgary, recognized as one of North America’s most livable cities, employees will find themselves working 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 the FEED, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and readiness-for-operations of the lithium extraction and refining process areas.
• Define and manage the project scope, budget, schedule, risks, and execution strategies.
• Forecast budgets, monitor expenditures, analyze variances, and manage financial resources efficiently.
• Define project milestones, track deliverables, and adjust schedules to minimize delays.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure project success and cost performance.
• Act as the primary liaison between the owner, engineering firms, equipment suppliers, and field contractors.
• Coordinate interfaces with internal stakeholders to ensure an integrated overall design and execution approach.
• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary project teams, including project managers and engineers.
• Oversee engineering, procurement, and construction activities delivered by external contractors and consultants, ensuring all work aligns with contract requirements and technical specifications.
• Ensure designs and installations comply with applicable codes, standards, regulatory requirements, and applicable specifications.
• Support permitting and regulatory submissions related to surface infrastructure and gathering pipelines.
• Steward a thoughtful and purpose-driven design review process to capture key design input including constructability, operability, reliability, as well as process safety.
• Support commissioning and start-up of the gathering and inlet systems, including development of commissioning plans and technical support during field execution.
• Provide comprehensive progress reports to company management, stakeholders, and the board of directors.
• Evaluate and approve change requests, ensuring changes align with strategic priorities and do not compromise the budget or scope.
• As part of a young and growing company, establish the 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 the organization’s growth.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or related discipline).
• Registered as a Professional Engineer with APEGA in good standing.
• 15+ years of project management experience involving facilities in the oil & gas, chemical processing, water treatment, or related industries.
• Proven track record of delivering complex facility projects in excess of $100MM from concept through construction and commissioning, on time and on budget.
• Experience managing EPC contractors through FEED, detailed engineering, as well as construction and commissioning support phases.
• Experience managing complex capital procurement programs with equipment and materials sourced from global suppliers.
• Experience with complex material selection for applications in corrosive or high-chloride environments.
• Direct experience with the management of facility projects that handle and treat large volumes of water or brine.
• Experience working with adsorption, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, or evaporation technologies.
• Working knowledge of Alberta's regulatory environment for the energy and mineral resource sectors.
• Demonstrated application of the design codes and standards associated with water handling and treatment.

With over 90 years' combined experience, NES Fircroft (NES) is proud to be the world's leading engineering staffing provider spanning the Oil & Gas, Power & Renewables, Chemicals, Construction & Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining and Manufacturing sectors worldwide. With more than 80 offices in 45 countries, we are able to provide our clients with the engineering and technical expertise they need, wherever and whenever it is needed. We offer contractors far more than a traditional recruitment service, supporting with everything from securing visas and work permits, to providing market-leading benefits packages and accommodation, ensuring they are safely and compliantly able to support our clients.