Lead Project Manager EPC

Pepper Construction; Barrington (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Clear Destination Inc. seeks a Lead Project Manager to oversee the engineering, procurement and construction of organics recycling facilities, from permitting through commissioning, coordinating across engineering, regulatory, and operations teams to deliver facilities that convert organic waste into compost, biogas, or recovered materials.

The role focuses on full-cycle delivery of composting, anaerobic digestion, or material recovery projects, with emphasis on budgets, schedules, and

Qualifications

• 7+ years of industrial project management, with 3–5 years leading EPC delivery for process plants/biogas/waste-to-energy facilities
• State solid waste permitting and siting knowledge, including inactive landfills or constrained sites
• Familiarity with odor control, leachate management, and stormwater for organics processing
• PM skills across budget, schedule and multi-stakeholder coordination
• Bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, or related field (or equivalent)
• Experience with closed/inactive landfills and post-closure care requirements
• Knowledge of anaerobic digestion biogas upgrading and interconnection with pipelines/vehicles
• Familiarity with local zoning and community engagement for waste-adjacent land uses

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle delivery of organics facilities from design to startup and turnover
• Coordinate environmental permitting with state and local agencies
• Direct process, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering teams for construction-ready drawings and specs
• Track project budgets, cash flow forecasts, and critical path schedules
• Manage capital equipment procurement, vendor bidding, and subcontracts for plant machinery

Skills

Industrial PM

EPC delivery

Environmental permitting

Cross-functional coordination

Budget & scheduling

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's in environmental/civil engineering or related

Job description

We're seeking a Lead Project Manager to manage the engineering, procurement and construction of organics recycling infrastructure — including composting facilities, anaerobic digesters, and material recovery systems for organic waste streams. This role manages projects from permitting through construction and commissioning, coordinating across engineering, regulatory, and operations teams to deliver facilities that convert organic waste into compost, biogas, or recovered materials.

What You'll Do

• Project Execution: Lead full-cycle delivery of organic waste, composting, or anaerobic digestion facilities from design phase through startup and operational turnover
• Coordinate environmental permitting with state and local agencies (solid waste permits, air quality, stormwater, odor management plans)
• Design & Engineering Coordination: Direct process, civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering teams to finalize construction-ready drawing packages and technical specs.
• Financial & Schedule Control: Track project budgets, cash flow forecasting, and critical path schedules using internal cost controls.
• Procurement & Contracting: Manage capital equipment purchasing, vendor bidding, and subcontracts negotiation for specialized plant machinery

What You Bring

• 7+ years of industrial project management experience, with at least 3–5 years specifically leading EPC delivery for process plants, biogas, or waste-to-energy facilities.
• Working knowledge of state solid waste permitting and siting requirements, including siting on inactive landfills or other constrained sites
• Familiarity with odor control, leachate management, and stormwater considerations specific to organics processing
• Project management skills across budget, schedule, and multi-stakeholder coordination
• Bachelor's degree in environmental engineering, civil engineering, environmental science, or related field (or equivalent experience)

• Experience working on facilities on closed/inactive landfills, including cap integrity and post-closure care requirements
• Knowledge of anaerobic digestion biogas upgrading and pipeline or vehicle-fuel interconnection
• Familiarity with local zoning and community engagement processes for waste-adjacent land uses