Project Director – Major Projects

Job Description

AECOM Buildings + Places is seeking a Project Director, Major Projects to join our federal government focused team and help develop our local presence in the national capital region. This position is based out of our Ottawa office.

Responsibilities

• Building and nurturing relationships with existing and potential clients. Developing and managing strategic alliances to expand market reach and access.
• Manage a portfolio of clients with multiple projects with varying levels of complexity.
• Lead proposal capture teams on major multidisciplinary and alternative delivery pursuits in coordination with client account managers, market sector leads, marketing department, and operations leads.
• Develop strong client relationships and lead projects from initiation to close-out, while achieving mandated goals and objectives.
• Provides leadership across all facets of project delivery and assumes full accountability for the design, ensuring all project requirements are met within approved scope, schedule, and budget parameters.
• Act as principle in charge, with hands on management, and have overall control and accountability for the overall delivery of services.
• Lead and present all design approval presentations as well as all preparatory presentations
• Professionally certify all consultants’ deliverables
• Lead program and project planning, scheduling and budgeting, consultant tendering and selection, operational readiness planning, and contract administration efforts
• Regularly report to the client on project status including schedule updates, meeting minutes, and financial status reporting.
• Manage project budgets and finances and complete monthly invoices and financial reporting as required.
• Manage project teams, conducting peer reviews of deliverables and continuously developing team knowledge and capabilities.
• Lead and chair client, project, and site meetings, driving issue resolution and effective coordination among diverse stakeholder groups.
• Provide project oversight and leadership with respect to administering construction contracts, including but not limited to, change management , payment certificates, contract negotiations, and close out procedures.
• Champion client satisfaction by ensuring expectations are met or exceeded on all projects and by advocating for the client’s best interests in all contractual and technical decisions.
• Identify, select, and organize project teams, establishing clear levels of authority and lines of communication.
• Maintain full financial accountability for projects, consistently delivering planned profit margins
• Hold decision-making authority and lead the identification, mitigation, and elimination of project risks and uncertainties, directing staff to operate in a manner that minimizes claims exposure.
• Supervises and directs multiple project teams to exceed client and financial expectations.

• Provide oversight and leadership to the change management process, payment certificates and other contract or project related administrative documents

• Ensure that client expectations and satisfaction are met or exceeded on all projects and the client’s best interests are represented with respect to contractual and technical issues

• Select and organize project teams and establish levels of authority and lines of communication

• Manages portfolio of clients with multiple projects with varying levels of complexity.

• Consistently delivers profit margins planned.

• Has decision-making authority and directs others in recognizing risk and uncertainty with plans to mitigate and eliminate risks. Directs staff to operate and minimize exposure to claims.

• Supervises and directs multiple project teams to exceed client and financial expectations.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Licensed architect or engineer
• University Degree in relevant field of study
• Ten (10) years relevant experience, with a minimum five (5) years as a Project Director, delivering new buildings and capital improvement projects.
• Maintain strong, long-standing relationships with federal government built through consistent collaboration, a deep understanding of their priorities, and a proven track record of delivering successful projects.
• Alternative delivery experience in Design-Build, Construction Management of new construction and renovation projects of minimum 25M during the last 15 years.
• Experience with projects with layers of complexity that include sustainable design to net zero, control of bio-chem processes (S&T, labs, industry), biocontainment, progressive security layers, multiple streams of programming and circulation, and multiple stakeholders from private and public.
• Transferable Secret security clearance or 10 years residence history in Canada

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience in projects of $250M Projects executed during the last 15 years
• MBA, PMP designation and LEED AP accreditation is an asset
• Fifteen (15) + years of experience in project management role, delivering new building and capital improvement projects.
• Experience in other alternative delivery models such as Modified Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build and Integrated Project Delivery.
• Demonstratable experience delivering winning proposals
• Depth of knowledge in program and project planning, scheduling and budgeting, interior and base building construction techniques, operational readiness, and contract administration
• Excellent written, verbal communication, and presentation skills (French and English)
• Strong digital and computer skills , including a working knowledge of scheduling (MS Project), word processing (Word) and spreadsheet (Excel) software applications, and AI Prompting
• Highly collaborative and team Player

Additional Information

• Sponsorship for Canadian employment authorization is not available for this position.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community - where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Artificial intelligence will be used to support the screening, assessment, and selection of applicants for this role. Final hiring decisions are made by the hiring team.