Leading Marine Project Manager, for COWI in North America

About the role

We are seeking a Leading Marine Project Manager to join our team in Oakland. We are widely recognized for our expertise in marine and port structures, with experience spanning the full lifecycle of marine, coastal, and geotechnical projects - from targeted technical consulting to comprehensive planning, design, and implementation. In this role, you will provide senior leadership across project delivery, client relationships, and business development.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver complex waterfront and marine infrastructure projects for public and private clients, ensuring projects are completed on time and within budget from planning through delivery.
• Provide project management leadership across multidisciplinary teams (civil, structural, coastal, geotechnical) to achieve high-quality, coordinated outcomes.
• Serve as the primary client interface, managing contracts, fee negotiations, schedules, and risk while maintaining strong client relationships.
• Manage project commercial performance with a focus on profitability, technical excellence, innovation, and securing follow-on work and change orders.
• Support business development activities, including go/no-go decisions, teaming strategies, and proposals, with a focus on growing the California market.
• Mentor and develop staff while contributing to local office growth, including team building, hiring decisions, and expanding COWI's presence in the region.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree in Civil, Structural, or Coastal Engineering (Master's preferred) with a minimum of 10 years of experience in marine, waterfront, or heavy civil infrastructure.
• A Professional Engineer (PE) license (or ability to obtain in California), with demonstrated technical credibility and delivery expertise.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and commercial performance.
• Demonstrated success in senior client relationship management, including contract negotiations, risk management, and delivering high client satisfaction.
• Demonstrated success in financial and commercial performance, including managing margins and securing follow-on work.
• Background in business development and team leadership, including pursuing proposals, expanding markets on the West Coast, and mentoring and building effective teams.

Benefits

• Flexible working arrangement
• Top-up parental and childbirth recovery leave
• Fantastic close-knit team with a wealth of knowledge to share
• Full time hires get minimum 3 weeks vacation to start
• Floating holiday to celebrate employee diversity
• Paid sick leave
• Annual fitness subsidy - yes, you can use this for a ski pass, yoga, or gym membership
• 401K contribution matching with generous company match
• Personal and professional development fund
• Parking or public transit allowance
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance 80% employer-paid premiums
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance
• Referral incentive program
• Frequent social events

Pay

Base compensation: $121,600 to $193,800 for Oakland only. Actual compensation is subject to variations due to education, experience, skill set, and location.

Schedule

Regular, Full-Time, Hybrid