Program Director EPC

KBR; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering firm is seeking an experienced Program Director to lead complex capital projects. This role requires accountability for technical and commercial success, effective stakeholder engagement, and leadership of multidisciplinary teams. Candidates must have a strong background in project management and a relevant degree. The position is based in Leatherhead, UK, offering full-time employment.

Qualifications

• Senior professional with strong personal drive and credibility.
• Proven track record of leading complex capital projects.
• Strong commercial acumen and contract management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of complex capital projects with technical and commercial success.
• Ensure compliance with QHSE standards and best practices.
• Build and mentor high-performing teams for project execution.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Commercial Acumen

Technical Proficiency

Education

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline

Professional Engineering qualification

Project management certification

Job description

Title: Program Director - EPC

KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies delivered across a wide government defense and industrial base. Drawing from its rich 100‑year history and culture of innovation and mission focus, KBR creates sustainable value by combining engineering, technical and scientific expertise with its full life‑cycle capabilities to help our clients meet their most pressing challenges today and into the future.

KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in over 29 countries. We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world, providing technology value‑added services and long‑term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR We Deliver.

KBR is seeking a highly capable Program Director to lead the delivery of complex capital projects across our international portfolio. This role carries sole accountability for the technical and commercial success of proposals and projects from pursuit through execution.

Key Responsibilities

QHSE Leadership

• Promote team responsibility for QHSE compliance and monitor results.
• Ensure hazard prevention measures are taken and QHSE best practices are embedded in all processes.

Strategic & Commercial Leadership

• Define and communicate a clear vision and strategic objectives for each proposal and project; cultivating commitment and pride within teams.
• Lead the pursuit of new work developing compelling technical and commercial proposals in collaboration with business development teams.
• Align project goals with long‑term business strategy and client drivers.
• Maintain full accountability for project financial performance including budget control, forecasting and profitability.
• Support pre‑award negotiations and ensure optimal risk structures.
• During project execution, operate effective contract and change management processes to protect commercial interests.
• Demonstrate a can‑do attitude and remain calm under pressure, setting challenging yet achievable goals.
• Demonstrate clear understanding of client business models and their influence on project drivers.
• Accept responsibility for failures and use them as learning opportunities.

Project Execution & Technical Oversight

• Develop and implement robust project execution plans aligned with KBR standards and client expectations.
• Assure safe high‑quality delivery consistent with schedule, cost and contractual requirements.
• Lead resolution of technical challenges across disciplines, ensuring timely corrective actions and lessons learned.
• Hold regular proposal / project status reviews and deal promptly with performance issues, escalating to operations management as required.
• Oversee progress tracking, earned value reporting and technical performance metrics.

Governance Risk & Compliance

• Ensure project execution complies with KBR policies, procedures, systems and regulatory requirements.
• Proactively manage project risks to avoid delays, cost overruns or reputational impact.
• Develop contingency plans and exploit opportunities where prudent.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting of project status and forecasts in line with internal and industry standards.

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management

• Serve as the prime point of contact between KBR, the client and any other relevant stakeholders, building strong trust‑based relationships.
• Be accessible, responsive and respectful to clients at all times.
• Seek stakeholder feedback and foster mutual interest in repeat business.
• Represent KBR in external forums, steering committees and strategic engagements.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Build high‑performing teams that perceive themselves as cohesive units.
• Delegate appropriately and provide timely constructive feedback.
• Identify resource requirements and coordinate with functional leads to ensure effective project support.
• Lead mentorship and develop project professionals, fostering a high‑performance culture.
• Champion innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement across delivery teams.

Business Development

• Identify partnership and add‑on opportunities supporting both strategic and opportunistic revenue / job income for KBR.
• Work with sales teams to follow up on leads and grow long‑term client relationships.

Key Attributes, Skills & Experience

• Senior professional with strong personal drive, credibility and leadership presence.
• Demonstrated track record of leading complex capital projects with full technical and commercial accountability.
• Deep experience in one or more of KBR ISIs core markets: offshore / onshore oil & gas, refining, petrochemicals, LNG, ammonia, hydrogen, infrastructure, civil, nuclear.
• Proven ability to manage multidisciplinary / multi‑location teams (100+ FTE) and deliver in diverse global locations.
• Strong commercial acumen including contract administration, change orders and risk management.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, conflict resolution and influencing at executive level.
• Technically proficient with ability to challenge and guide engineering and delivery teams.
• Excellent awareness of environmental and sustainability issues, particularly decarbonisation opportunities.
• Committed to ethical leadership and adherence to KBR’s Code of Business Conduct.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
• Professional Engineering qualification and/or recognised project management certification (e.g. PMP, AMP).
• Chartered status or equivalent is desirable.

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Employment Type: Full‑Time

Vacancy: 1