Project Director, Industrial Manufacturing Construction

Best People + Right Culture drive JE Dunn’s success. By hiring inspired people, giving them challenging work, enabling them with innovative tools, and sharing company rewards, we’ve grown sustainably for over 100 years. Our diverse teams enrich lives through inspired people and places, and we need inspired individuals to join us in building authentic partnerships.

About the role

The Project Director provides overall direction and leadership for the assigned work program across all phases of the project lifecycle. This position ensures operational excellence, financial management, team leadership, and stakeholder relationship management while driving contracting and comprehensive risk management to meet or exceed contractual and financial targets. All activities align with JE Dunn’s strategy, vision, and values.

Autonomy & Decision Making: Makes most decisions, provides guidance to subordinate managers, and consults senior management as needed.

Responsibilities

• Provides direction and leadership for the assigned project or work program across all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Develops and executes full business and strategic planning for the work program in support of company strategy and key success indicators (KSIs).
• Safety Leadership: Leads all aspects of the company’s safety culture, demonstrating commitment to an injury-free environment. Investigates safety incidents, retrains staff as needed, and implements corrective actions.
• Corporate Leadership: Assists senior management with strategy development; supports company-wide initiatives, best practices, and policies within the work program.
• Strategy Development and Implementation: Provides strategic direction to team members aligned with broader work program strategic plans across all areas of the project lifecycle.
• Client Relationship Management: Serves as the primary client relationship executive at a leadership level, building and maintaining long-term relationships with target clients to cultivate repeat business and new opportunities. Provides project-specific guidance to team members.
• Risk Management & Issue Resolution: Serves as the escalation point for all project, financial, business development, contractual, and client relationship risks. Negotiates issue resolution, including change orders, contingency expenditures, and fee enhancements. Conducts project risk assessments and escalates risks to mitigate them.
• Subcontractor Relationship & Strategy: Builds relationships with the subcontractor community to develop long-term partners who meet safety, quality, and schedule (SMS) criteria. Drives the selection of qualified subcontractors and executes subcontractor strategy for work program success.
• Preconstruction: Leads preconstruction discussions with clients, collaborates with internal and external partners to develop contractual obligations, including estimates, schedules, constructability, staffing plans, and business plans.
• Project & Schedule Review: Oversees and is accountable for all components of project and schedule review throughout the lifecycle to ensure contractual obligations are met and team members are held accountable.
• Resource Management: Ensures sufficient staffing levels relative to contractual commitments, schedules, and constraints. Plans and adapts resource management as needed.
• Community & Industry Engagement: Assumes an influential leadership role in community and industry relationship building through networking, board representation, and serving as the face of the organization. Promotes diversity and inclusion within JE Dunn and ensures proactive implementation of non-discrimination policies.

Requirements

• 15+ years of construction management experience (preferred).
• 5+ years of people management experience (required).
• Demonstrated success in simultaneously leading multiple large or complex projects and/or teams (required).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, engineering, or a related field. Equivalent relevant experience will be considered in lieu of the degree.

Skills

• Ability to perform work accurately and completely in a timely manner.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced ability to conduct effective presentations.
• Intermediate proficiency in MS Office.
• Thorough knowledge of project processes and how each supports successful project completion.
• Advanced proficiency in project management and accounting software such as CMiC.
• Advanced proficiency in required construction technology.
• Advanced ability to apply Lean process and philosophy.
• Advanced ability to manage budgets, maximize profitability, and generate future work.
• Ability to complete estimating and productivity analysis.
• Demonstrated track record of successfully completing projects from start to finish (advanced).
• Thorough knowledge of MBE (Minority Business Enterprise), WBE (Women Owned Business Enterprise), and SBA (Small Business Administration) regulations.
• Thorough knowledge and application of corporate risk management policies.
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate within a team, internally and externally.

Working Environment

• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds.
• May require periods of overnight travel.
• Must be willing to work non-traditional hours to meet project needs.
• Normal office environment, but may be exposed to extreme conditions (hot or cold).
• Frequent activity: Standing, walking, sitting, viewing computer screen.
• Occasional activity: Bending, climbing, reaching above shoulder, pushing, pulling.

Benefits

The benefits package aligned to this position is Professional Non-Union. Click here for benefits details.