Director of Project Management

About the role

This position is accountable for managing and continuously improving an effective engineering project management function to meet the company’s delivery demands. Provides company-wide oversight of project performance, project manager capacity, and high-risk project needs. Leads improvement efforts focused on project management tools, methodologies, standards, and training. The role operates under a hybrid work model based out of our Smyrna, TN office, requiring a regular, routine onsite presence for face-to-face collaboration, team meetings, and hands-on projects, combined with the flexibility of partial remote work. Additionally, this position requires up to 25% travel to client sites regionally and throughout the continental US.

Responsibilities

• Monitor project and project manager performance, including project health, project management KPIs, monthly revenue recognition, and financial risk indicators; communicate trends, risks, and needed actions to executive leadership.
• Identify and triage troubled or high-risk projects; coordinate recovery support, escalation, and corrective action follow-through as needed.
• Own and continuously improve project management processes, tools, standards, templates, and training materials.
• Champion and enforce consistent adoption of the company’s project management methodology and work practices.
• Assign project managers and project leads to opportunities and projects; coordinate with Business Development and Engineering Leadership to support upcoming work.
• Monitor and adjust project manager loading, capacity, and resource needs.
• Review quality audit results and monitor compliance with project management-related operating documents, standards, and procedures.
• Facilitate the process of capturing lessons learned, performing root cause analysis, mitigation planning, and implementing corrective or preventive actions for all project management activities.
• Lead hiring and onboarding for project managers.
• Mentor project managers and project leads and support their career development.

Requirements

• B.S. degree in Engineering or a related discipline and 10+ years of management experience in systems integration or a similar industry, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Formal project management certification such as PMP or PMI-ACP.
• Proven track record of successful project leadership including the mentoring of project managers.

Skills

• Sufficient technical knowledge to enable clear understanding and efficient communication between technical engineers and customer stakeholders.
• Thorough understanding of project management principles and planning; recognized as an authority in this domain.
• Organized with strong attention to detail and follow-up skills.
• Excellent analytical, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Ability to lead through others and influence outside of direct reporting lines.

Physical Demands

• General office demands, including sitting at a desk or console for extended periods.
• Must be able to be fitted for Personal Protective Equipment for certain customers.
• Standing and walking on a concrete surface for extended periods.
• Kneeling periodically on concrete or padded surfaces.
• Lifting and carrying 25 lbs. or more.
• Walking/working in mezzanine (screen guard) area (20–25 ft. high, wire mesh floor).
• Climbing a ladder or metal stairs to access mezzanine (screen guard) area.
• Work in wash-down locations with wet/slippery floors.

Schedule

Must be able to work extended hours when needed and able to work at night or non-traditional shifts as needed.

Work Environment

The work environment for this job is primarily office with occasional industrial setting or overnight travel.