Project Director - Coastal Engineering

SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business has been providing infrastructure planning, engineering, construction, environmental consulting, urban planning, architecture, and program management services to public and private clients across the United States for more than 50 years.

SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business was ranked as the world’s 11th largest global design firm by ENR in 2016 with nearly 18,000 employees worldwide. We have the depth and breadth of expertise to respond to the most technically challenging and time-critical infrastructure projects and the urgent transition to a low-carbon economy.

Atkins seeks an energetic and highly motivated self-starter to join our Public & Private Business team as a Project Director (Coastal Engineering) to lead a growing practice across the coastal market sector. This person can sit in either the Tampa, FL; Miami, FL; Jacksonville, FL; or Austin, TX office.

Under direction, provides professional and project management expertise in the direction of highly unconventional projects requiring multiple technical units and/or subcontractors, heavy regulatory agency involvement or extremely complex technical requirements. Functions as mentor to project managers and technical professionals to assist in their training and development. Also performs the basic project functions of production coordination, planning, organizing, directing, controlling, financial management and marketing.


JOB DUTIES:

Identify new business opportunities for the firm, coordinate and participate in project presentations to clients and other external groups, and promote the firm's capabilities, marketing its services among existing and prospective clients. Ideal candidate will have a proven track record to identify, position, and capture coastal market opportunities across the US but focused on the gulf coast.

Coordinates and participates in contract negotiations with clients and subcontractors, and drafts very complex professional service agreements, arranging for their review and execution by senior management. Conducts QCAP reviews of less complicated professional services agreements.

This person will mentor junior staff and review engineering calculations, perform field observations, prepare design reports and exhibits, supervise in the planning, development, and production of engineering drawings.

Directs project team compliance with contract terms, monitors subcontractors' progress, performance and compliance with contractual commitments; participates in contract dispute resolution and litigation concerning project performance, administration and other liability issues; reviews and approves subconsultant and vendor invoices, and resolves payment disputes.

Develops, communicates and manages project quality assurance, administrative procedures, communication guidelines, project deliverable formats and specifications, and progress reporting requirements.

Monitors schedules, billings and reports; ensures appropriate charging of manhours, costs and expenses to projects; assists in obtaining payment from clients; resolves client disputes and adjusts billing records as required; communicates project progress/status to senior management and alerts them of project production, quality control or financial performance problems.

Leads the costal practice in project opportunity evaluation, consultant selection, and in the preparation of firm's qualification/experience statements.

Coordinates communications between internal and external associates and client, and between firm and regulatory agencies. Maintains frequent contact with clients and regulatory agency personnel to determine their respective needs and requirements, and serves as expert witness at project hearings and judicial proceedings if necessary.
Supervises other project managers, technical professionals and other design staff including managing weekly project workload and manpower forecasting.

Conducts project management training workshops and serves as mentor to associate project managers and project managers.

Monitors and reports financial status of projects to technical managers.

SCOPE:

COMPLEXITY:
Management assignments typically involve large, multi-discipline assignments, including unconventional or complex projects made up of 1 or 2 highly sophisticated and specialized technical components generating annual net revenue between $2.5 million to $5 million annually.

DECISION-MAKING:
Works independently under general direction.

Approves project budgets.

Makes approval decisions on exempt personnel overtime, local convention attendance, and professional license payments.

Reviews and approves/disapproves staff recommendations for staffing and salary actions, out-of-town seminar/convention attendance, go/no-go project opportunities, purchase requests for capital items, and final write-offs on past-due accounts, as specified in the Authorization Matrix.

Accountable for project team productivity, project profitability, and results against budget and marketing plan.

WORK DIRECTION GIVEN TO OTHERS:
Typically gives direct supervision senior project managers, project managers or technical professionals, indirectly supervising their staff groups.

INTERNAL CONTACTS:
Interfaces with senior technical professionals, technical managers, and administrative staff and managers as necessary.

EXTERNAL CONTACTS:
Represents firm to clients. Represents the client to regulatory agencies, public officials, subconsultants, and the general public. Maintains contacts with key clients, decision-makers, and prospective new clients.


EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree in Civil, Coastal, Environmental, or Ocean Engineering is preferred.

This level may be achieved by technical professionals or managers with twelve years of experience since B.S. or eleven years since M.S., with at least three of these years in the Senior Project Manager position with highly complex project management responsibility.


QUALIFICATIONS & SPECIAL SKILLS:

Proven track record in growing a coastal practice focused on traditional coastal issues, resiliency, and climate issues affecting municipalities across the US.

Great interpersonal skills, public speaking and persuasive ability; strong project financial management and team management skills; knowledge of production support systems and personal computer proficiency.

Good technical writing, computer and communications skills required.

Business development experience is required.

Ability to communicate clearly both orally and in writing. Ability to work under the pressure of multiple projects. Travel to project sites and company/client offices throughout the country may be required.


PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATIONS:

PE License is required. Certification as a “Project Management Professional” (PMP) or “Certified Construction Manager” (CCM) required within one year of assuming this position.


Atkins offers its employees a robust rewards package which includes: a competitive salary; a broad benefits package including medical/RX, dental, vision, life, disability, legal, hospitalization and other valuable voluntary options; generous time-off programs; flexible work schedules; 401(k) with employer match; professional and career development opportunities through our corporate university, as well as a highly-regarded tuition reimbursement program; and an unmatched culture focused on client-service, quality, and tireless pursuit of excellence in all we do. Atkins is an equal opportunity, drug-free employer committed to diversity in the workplace. EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability.

Please view the Atkins Equal Opportunity Statement here: http://careers.atkinsglobal.com/File.ashx?path=Root/Documents/north-america-welcome-new-employee/Equal_Opp_Stmt.pdf  

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