Project Director – Tunnels & Underground Infrastructure

talisman; California (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Talisman is seeking a senior Project Director to lead tunnelling and underground infrastructure projects across California, based in Los Angeles or the Bay Area. The role is client-facing with true ownership of major commissions from planning to commissioning.

You will guide multidisciplinary teams in geotechnical, structural, mechanical and construction engineering while managing scope, budget and risk and fostering relationships with transit agencies and utilities.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in tunnelling and underground construction.
• PE licence with California registration or ability to obtain it.
• Directing large, complex projects worth $100M+.
• Strong client leadership and communication.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Project Director on major tunnelling commissions; design, PMCM, owner's engineer and design-build support roles.
• Hold overall accountability for scope, programme, budget, risk, quality and client satisfaction across a portfolio of projects.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams spanning geotechnical, structural, mechanical, systems and construction engineering.
• Own senior client relationships with transit agencies, water and wastewater utilities, and Tier 1 contractors.
• Drive business development: capture planning, proposals, pricing strategy and interviews for pursuits.
• Provide technical leadership on ground risk, excavation and support methods and instrumentation.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Business development

Technical leadership

Client management

Communication skills

Education

Civil/Geotechnical/Mining/Structural Eng

Job description

Project Director – Tunnels & Underground Infrastructure - California (Los Angeles or Bay Area)

A globally recognised engineering consultancy is appointing a Project Director to lead its tunnelling and underground infrastructure work across California. The practice designs and delivers some of the most technically demanding underground assets in the world and is investing heavily in its West Coast platform on the back of a growing capital pipeline across transit, water and utility clients. Examples of work include transit and rail tunnels, deep water conveyance and storage, wastewater and CSO tunnels, shafts, caverns and portals.

This is a senior, client-facing appointment with genuine ownership: you will lead major commissions, act as the trusted technical voice for owners and delivery partners, and shape how the business grows in the region.

The role

• Serve as Project Director on major tunnelling commissions; design, PMCM, owner's engineer and design-build support roles
• Hold overall accountability for scope, programme, budget, risk, quality and client satisfaction across a portfolio of projects
• Lead multidisciplinary teams spanning geotechnical, structural, mechanical, systems and construction engineering, drawing on national and international specialists
• Own senior client relationships with transit agencies, water and wastewater utilities, and Tier 1 contractors
• Drive business development: positioning, capture planning, proposals, pricing strategy and interviews for pursuits
• Provide technical leadership on ground risk, excavation and support methodology (TBM, SEM/NATM, drill-and-blast, cut-and-cover), settlement and instrumentation, and contractual risk allocation
• Mentor and develop project managers and engineers, and contribute to succession within the underground practice

What's required

• Bachelor's or Master's in Civil, Geotechnical, Mining or Structural Engineering
• Around 10+ years in tunnelling and underground construction, with a track record directing large, complex projects ($100M+ construction value)
• PE licence, with California registration or the ability to obtain it
• Deep knowledge of soft ground and rock tunnelling methods, ground improvement, and underground risk management
• Experience across the project lifecycle, from planning and preliminary engineering through construction support and commissioning
• Familiarity with US delivery models (design-bid-build, CMAR, progressive design-build, P3) and agency procurement in California
• Commercial credibility: proposal leadership, fee negotiation and portfolio-level P&L awareness
• Excellent communication skills, comfortable in front of boards, agency leadership and public stakeholders