Senior Project Manager, Process Extraction NES Fircroft

Project Management Institute - Southern Alberta Chapter (PMI-SAC); Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NES Fircroft in Canada is recruiting a Senior Project Manager to lead the design and execution of a lithium extraction and refining facility in central Alberta, with oversight from Calgary HQ. You will manage a cross-functional team across FEED, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the processing units to deliver battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine.

The role emphasizes safety culture, strong cost control, schedule management, and effective coordination with owners,

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and P.Eng. in good standing.
• 15+ years of project management experience in oil & gas or related industries.
• Proven track record delivering complex facilities >$100MM from concept to commissioning.
• Experience managing EPC contractors through FEED and detailed engineering.
• Experience with facility projects handling large volumes of water or brine.

Responsibilities

• Lead FEED, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and readiness for operations.
• Define scope, budget, schedule, risks and execution strategies.
• Forecast budgets, monitor expenditures and manage financial resources.
• Establish KPIs to measure project performance and cost.
• Coordinate owner, engineering firms, suppliers and contractors as primary liaison.
• Mentor multidisciplinary project teams and ensure alignment with contract requirements.
• Ensure designs comply with codes, standards and regulatory requirements.
• Support permitting and regulatory submissions for surface infrastructure and pipelines.
• Develop commissioning plans and provide field execution support.
• Provide progress reports to management and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Safety culture

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Professional Engineer (APEGA)

15+ years project management experience

FEED/EPC/engineering coordination

Oil & Gas / Chemical processing experience

Job description

Senior Project Manager – Process Extraction

Position Summary

Our client is seeking a full-time Sr. Project Manager to lead the design and execution of its core lithium extraction and refining process within the planned Clearwater Central Processing Facility in central Alberta, with work primarily coordinated from the 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 Sr. Project Manager, you will act as the client’s primary representative for the Process Extraction scope and will be responsible for managing this scope through the entire project lifecycle.

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 organization, 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 of 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 the 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.