Project Director UK

DeepOcean; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

DeepOcean is seeking a Projects Director to oversee the UK project portfolio, ensuring safe, profitable delivery in line with EMEA strategy and Group requirements. You will own portfolio performance, governance, and resourcing, with executive sponsorship of strategic initiatives and coordination across EMEA.

The role requires substantial offshore-energy project leadership experience, strong commercial acumen and the ability to lead cross-functional teams across the UK and EMEA.

Qualifications

• Degree or Master’s in engineering, project management, business or related discipline; PM qualification desirable.
• Extensive experience leading complex offshore-energy projects and portfolios with strong commercial, financial and people leadership capability.

Responsibilities

• Own UK portfolio outcomes against contractual, financial, schedule, quality and HSEQS commitments.
• Apply governance and project controls from tender handover to close-out (Project Model, Win–Execute, BMS).
• Act as executive sponsor for material issues, recovery plans or underperforming projects.
• Set common project management standards, competence requirements and maintain an integrated performance view.
• Lead Monthly Project Reviews with senior leaders and ensure clear decisions and actions.
• Translate UK/EMEA strategy into portfolio priorities and measurable objectives.
• Inform leadership decisions with capacity, exposure and forecast performance analyses.
• Optimise vessels, equipment and resources across functions and regions.
• Share lessons and best practices across UK and EMEA project community.

Skills

Portfolio management

Leadership

Governance

Risk management

Contract management

Financial management

People leadership

Education

Engineering degree

APM / PMP / PRINCE2 certification

Tools

Project Model

Win–Execute process

Business Management System

Job description

The Projects Director is accountable for the safe, consistent and profitable delivery of the UK project portfolio. The role sets portfolio direction, governance and assurance in line with EMEA strategy, client commitments and Group requirements.

The Projects Director leads the UK Project Management function, owning portfolio performance, capability and resourcing. This includes P&L, revenue, margin, cash, schedule, risk, change, quality and contractual compliance, plus executive sponsorship of strategic, high-risk or underperforming projects and coordination across EMEA and wider DeepOcean.

ROLE DESCRIPTION

HSEQS

• Set HSEQS expectations and hold Project Managers accountable for compliant plans, visible leadership and effective controls.
• Review performance and material risks through project, worksite and vessel engagement; intervene on adverse trends and ensure incidents, non-conformities and lessons drive improvement.

Project Management

• Own UK portfolio outcomes against contractual, financial, schedule, quality and HSEQS commitments, aligned with EMEA objectives.
• Apply consistent governance and project controls from tender handover to close-out, including the Project Model, Win–Execute process, Business Management System and authority matrix.
• Act as executive sponsor and escalation point for material issues, recovery plans and decisions on strategic, high-risk or underperforming projects.
• Set common Project Management standards, role clarity and competence requirements, and maintain an integrated view of performance, milestones, resources, risks, opportunities, claims, cash and client sentiment.
• Lead Monthly Project Reviews with the Operations Director – EMEA and functional leaders, ensuring decisions, actions and escalations are clear and closed.

Portfolio Interfaces and Resource Assurance

• Translate UK and EMEA strategy into portfolio priorities, operating plans, measurable objectives and clear expectations.
• Inform EMEA leadership decisions with an evidence-based view of capacity, exposure, forecast performance and required action.
• Optimise vessels, equipment, project teams and specialist resources with Operations, Project Services and functional leaders, resolving cross-project constraints and competing priorities.
• Share lessons, benchmarks and proven ways of working across the UK and EMEA project community, maintaining effective links with offshore and delivery teams.

Commercial

• Partner with Commercial and functional teams on opportunity qualification, tender strategy, estimating, contract review and handover so proposals are executable, resourced and risk informed.
• Build senior client relationships and provide executive sponsorship for key contracts, supporting sustainable growth through trusted engagement and reliable delivery.
• Govern major subcontracting, supply-chain and tender decisions in line with delegated authority, ensuring appropriate capability, conditions, expertise and commercial control.

Portfolio Planning, Reporting and Improvement

• With Project Services, maintain consistent portfolio planning, controls and resource forecasting, with agreed baselines, milestones, dependencies and assumptions.
• Provide accurate, timely portfolio forecasts and concise weekly and monthly reporting on revenue, margin, cash, resources, vessel utilisation, risks, opportunities, variance and decisions required.
• Maintain an effective portfolio governance cadence with clear decision rights, actions, escalation routes and records.
• Embed lessons, performance data and improvement actions from execution into tendering and future delivery.

Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop Project Managers and delivery leaders through clear objectives, regular feedback, Development Dialogues and meaningful development plans.
• Address performance promptly and maintain credible succession, workforce, recruitment, allocation, retention and competence plans for the UK Project Management community.
• Create an accountable, inclusive and improvement-focused environment with clear roles, decision rights and performance expectations.
• Collaborate across EMEA and Group functions to share capacity and expertise, reduce silos and resolve cross-functional or regional interfaces.

EXPECTED BEHAVIOUR

HSEQ

• Champion visible safety leadership and integrate HSEQS into portfolio strategy, planning, execution and close-out.
• Stop and address unsafe, non-compliant or uncontrolled work that could harm people, assets, the environment or delivery integrity.

Leadership

• Lead in line with ACT for Leadership: create ownership, clarify goals and accountabilities, communicate directly, empower decisions and role-model the Company's principles.

Training

• Maintain role competence and mandatory training, and ensure direct reports have effective development and succession plans.

Company culture and values

• Live ACT (Attitude, Courage, Teamwork), promote inclusion and constructive challenge, and collaborate across functions and regions.
• Act with integrity and sound judgement, protect confidential information, comply with requirements and elevate material risks promptly.

QUALIFICATIONS

Degree or Master's qualification in engineering, project management, business or a relevant discipline, or equivalent industry experience. A recognised project-management qualification (for example APM, PMP or PRINCE2) is desirable, together with substantial experience leading complex offshore-energy projects and portfolios and strong commercial, financial and people-leadership capability.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF OURSELVES

DeepOcean is a world-leading, technology-driven provider of ocean services, enabling the energy transition and sustainable use of ocean resources. DeepOcean was established in 1999. With headquarters in Oslo, Norway and main operational centres in Norway, the UK, the USA and Mexico, we support our clients worldwide.

We offer companies within oil and gas, offshore renewables, deep sea minerals, and other non-energy niches a full range of services – from surveys, engineering, project management, and installation to maintenance and recycling.

DeepOcean has joined the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. We support the 10 United Nations Global Compact Principles on human rights, labour standards, environment, and anti-corruption. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and workplace. We value inclusion, equality and diversity and encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status or gender identity.