Project Director

Job Summary: Responsible for assisting management in the general business operations of the company by directing and overseeing the operations and activities of assigned projects and project teams. The Project Director will be responsible for overseeing other Project Management staff assigned to his/her projects and also for the mentoring, development, and training of Project Management staff, and others as requested. In addition, projects assigned to the Project Director will typically be larger, more complex projects or multiple smaller projects. The overall goal of the Project Director is to ensure projects under their purview are completed safely, on schedule, within budget, and that profit goals are attained or exceeded, while promoting and enhancing client relationships and the company’s image.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

The Project Director will be primarily involved with performing the following duties and responsibilities:

• Use discretion and independent judgment and professional skills to perform daily duties and to resolve project operations issues.
• Promote and assist in implementation and enforcement of company policies and procedures. Make recommendations to improve and develop existing policies/procedures and best practices (particularly those related to project management).
• Assist with resolution of project specific problems and challenges; act as a senior-level project management resource for others.
• Train and mentor project management staff; take initiative to develop and encourage professional growth in others, provide constructive feedback, and work with management to identify staff development needs.
• Ensure the project team meets or exceeds client expectations at all times and that the Project Manager has collaborative and effective owner relationships.
• Prepare for and participate in monthly project reviews.
• Support and promote company culture and promote company reputation in the marketplace.
• Ensure the quality completion of projects on time and within the allocated budget.
• Perform a qualitative review of all contract documents for potential conflicts or interpretation issues to mitigate risk, reviews design documents for compliance to specifications and contract, subcontract documents for scope completeness, and all project plans, scopes, submittals and shop drawings for specification compliance and design/constructability issues.
• Work with Superintendent to facilitate the project construction process and coordinating staff activities to assure achievement of goals regarding project budget, schedule, safety standards, and quality control/assurance standards.
• Possess a strong working knowledge of all project plans, specifications, owner contract, subcontracts, purchase orders, daily correspondence, shop drawings, submittals, and all other project related documents.
• Lead or participate in the response to Requests for Proposals (RFPs), working through site investigation and preliminary design.
• Assess the requirements of a project, break a project into tasks, and determine scope of work, budget and staffing needs.
• Prepare project specifications and estimates.
• Oversee and/or prepare Invitations to Bid (ITBs) and solicit competitive trade proposals.
• Ensure all applicable subcontractors are approved through Alston Construction’s prequalification system (SPERS).
• Assemble the design team – architect, structural engineer, civil engineer, and others as needed.
• Draft and award subcontracts, purchase orders and change orders (or oversee process, as applicable).
• Create, maintain and monitor a detailed master project schedule, incorporating actual task start and finish dates and provide timely and accurate reports to determine if work is in accordance with the requirements of the contract, is on schedule and within budget (or oversee process, as applicable).
• Proactively take steps to avoid potential issues that may arise throughout the construction of the project. When issues do arise, respond to and resolve in a timely manner and keep necessary documentation and log of issues that might result in claims or disputes, and escalate unresolved issues promptly.
• Compile and maintain information required to complete project status reports, to include staff-hours expended, percentage of job completions, job costs, progress of subcontractors, earnings, billings, etc.
• Coordinate substantial completion, including proper owner training for essential equipment installed, O&M Manuals, punch list preparation and other paperwork.
• Coordinate final acceptance, including punch list completion, commissioning, and warranties.
• Provide value engineering.
• Conduct site visits/field investigations as required.
• Develop and maintain trust and confidence of clients; maintain close contact with client to advise of the status of the project and to resolve all project questions, such as design requirements, completion requirements, and billings.
• Promptly identify changes in project scope and notify client accordingly; prepare change orders and submit to client (or oversee process, as applicable).
• Oversee and/or facilitate monthly owner billings; review subcontractors’ pay requests for completeness and process in a timely manner.
• Communicate with VP/GM and SVP/GM regarding job progress, status, difficulties, and issues. This includes reviewing all design changes, pending or anticipated alterations to the contract, extra work requests, and any other factors that may significantly affect the project.
• Lead and/or participate in client presentations and project meetings (e.g., coordination meetings, subcontractor safety preconstruction meetings, meet with client representatives to discuss construction status and activities, weekly subcontractor meetings, etc.).
• Assist with marketing and business development efforts directed at both existing and new clients in collaboration with the local business development function.
• Identify and qualify profitable project opportunities, analyze the marketplace for pertinent strategic opportunities, build strong partnerships within the marketplace and create strategies that result in winning profitable new business.
• Schedule and attend offsite meetings with potential and current clients for the purpose of building relationships and securing profitable new work.
• Lead project pursuits and customer satisfaction efforts throughout the business development/sales process, from opportunity identification to client cultivation to proposal preparation to contract execution and project completion.
• Maintain a detailed pipeline of clients and projects in Prophet, including status of opportunities and analysis/reasons for wins/losses.
  
  

This position will also require performance of the following duties:

• Coordinate documents for submittal to reviewing agencies.
• Complete and retain all required project documentation (hard copies and electronically, via CMiC) as per policies and procedures and maintain current project data in CMiC for accurate reporting (e.g. monthly forecast report) (or oversee process, as applicable).
• Ensure proper document control and record keeping.
• Oversee and/or submit close-out documents, including as-built drawings.
• Participate in applicable corporate meetings and forums.
• Participate in trade shows and professional meetings.
• Make recommendations for ways to improve business operations (including processes, procedures and best operating practices), looking for ways to increase client satisfaction, improve efficiency and improve profitability.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Safety

• Comply with all safety policies, report suspected safety concerns, make recommendations for enhancements to the safety program, and visibly support and uphold the company’s strong safety culture.
• Assist Superintendent with ensuring all construction activities are conducted in a safe, clean and orderly working environment and ensure job site compliance with the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), including communication to subcontractors, addressing job site issues and documentation of any IIPP events in adherence with the Company’s IIPP manual.
• Remain current in all company required safety training and certifications.
• Acknowledge and celebrate safe behaviors and actions of others.
  
  

Personal

• Understand and work within the accepted ethical standards of the company.
• Proactively support and encourage diversity on projects and team. Visibly support and promote fair and equal treatment and opportunity for all.
• Remain current in all company required training and certifications.
• Stay abreast of changes in the industry, best practices, and other industry information by appropriate reading, meetings, conferences, networking, etc.
• Continuously find ways to take on challenges, increase skills and capacity, and improve knowledge and performance.
  
  

Education, Experience, And Licensing/Certifications

• Degree in Construction Management, Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience successfully managing construction projects for a general contractor from conception to completion.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Experience to include:
• Implementation
• Warehouse operations & data analysis
• Free roaming shuttle robots, robotic de-layering/de-palletizing, decanting & palletization
• Vertical sortation, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS)
• Complex case conveyance
• Software integration with customer warehouse management software
• Valid State-issued driver’s license and satisfactory driving record and vehicle insurance which meets Alston Construction liability coverage requirements.
• OSHA 30-hour Certification.
• First Aid/CPR Certification.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities Required

• Ability to exercise initiative and to work well with discretion and sound independent judgment with minimal supervision, as well as in a team environment.
• Excellent project management skills (including critical path method); ability to deliver a quality project on schedule, within budget, and to the client’s satisfaction.
• Ability to maximize profitability and successfully balance the needs and expectations of the client while maintaining the Firm’s standards and reputation.
• Thorough understanding of the design-build process, general contracting, and CM delivery.
• Understanding of control systems tailored to manufacturing processes (PLC, SCADA, DCS, BMS, EMS).
• Thorough understanding of contracts, including business risk, financial and risk management.
• Thorough understanding of all local, state, federal (including OSHA), and company safety and environmental regulations, codes, and requirements related to the construction industry; ability to impart knowledge to others.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and make timely decisions.
• Ability to read and understand drawings, specifications, maps, surveys, mechanical and electrical sheets, project schedules, cost reports, and other construction documents; understanding of contract provisions which address scope of work and design criteria.
• Ability to estimate costs associated with technical tasks.
• Ability to provide effective leadership and to supervise others.
• Ability to train, mentor, and develop capabilities in others.
• Good knowledge of all sub trades and their relationship and impact on each other.
• Excellent skills in organization, time management, planning, and prioritization.
• Proactive and readily adaptable to changing conditions or demands and ability to work well under pressure and with tight deadlines.
• Ability to effectively handle stress and stressful situations.
• Excellent skills in financial management/accounting; strong mathematical and analytical skills.
• Effective communication skills (written and verbal) and presentation skills.
• Professional demeanor and effective interpersonal skills; ability to successfully interface with and to maintain good working relationships with clients, co-workers, managers, subcontractors, vendors, and others; ability to foster effective relationships between these parties.
• Creative problem-solver; willing to try several approaches when initial solution fails.
• Good negotiation skills.
• Proficiency in computers, Microsoft Project, Word, Excel and Outlook, and CMiC.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, and reach.
• Occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, climb or crawl.
• Lift 10 lbs.
• Extensive computer use and reading from documents and computer. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Willingness and ability to work extended hours and flexible schedules, including evenings and weekends.
• Willingness and ability to travel.
  
  

Work Environment

• The majority of the Project Director’s duties and responsibilities take place in the office; however, office and non-manual work in the field is also required.
• Will be exposed to outside weather elements while in the field.
• May be exposed to loud noises, fumes, and/or airborne particles while in the field.
• Dress, including proper PPE while on job sites, is conducive to a building construction environment.
  
  

Alston Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all federal, state, and local laws that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, as well as any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. We expect all employees to maintain a respectful working environment. For additional information, please refer to the Alston Construction Employee Handbook or contact Human Resources.