Project Director

Your role

In this Project Director role, you will manage project execution, client relations, and business growth for AtkinsRéalis' transportation business with the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) and other municipal clients. You will provide leadership, direction and guidance to managers and staff within area of responsibility.

• Possess a background in winning and serving clients on major projects, a sound technical background, excellent communication and organizational skills and thorough knowledge and understanding of Texas details and standards.
• Participate in strategic planning for the office to maximize profitability, marketing capabilities, operational efficiencies, and quality.
• Leverage existing and develop new TXDOT relationships to identify and pursue business opportunities.
• Help support other offices within the region to fulfil current project needs while planning the future of our Texas business.
• Assist managers in developing project work plans; participates in reviews of schedules, budgets, project milestone dates and work products.
• Work closely with our technical team leadership to staff projects based on client/project needs.
• Oversee financial performance of projects; assist project staff in identifying potential problems to ensure remedial actions are promptly taken to avoid financial losses and client dissatisfaction.
• Monitor and enforce compliance with established quality control standards, ensuring that appropriate quality assurance activities are being performed throughout the project.
• Review QC plans and periodic QA compliance audits.
• Assist assigned project staff in facilitating work sharing with other operating units.
• Secure resource support from other operating units.
• Establish work sharing commitments and negotiate outsourcing budgets with technical managers.
• Conduct contract negotiations with clients and sub-consultants.
• Develop and recommend operational budgets for approval by senior management.
• Review and make decisions on proposed project budgets.
• Monitor monthly performance against budget to ensure project profitability.
• Manage the project as a profit center; controls G&A costs; reviews and manages revenue stream.
• Approve purchase requests for capital items as specified in the Authorization Matrix.
• Manage accounts receivables and client billings; review and make decisions concerning final write-offs and past due accounts receivables as specified in the Authorization Matrix.
• Develop, implement, and monitor annual and strategic marketing plans for targeted projects; participate in the development of Strategic Plan.
• Actively pursue, investigate, and evaluate new or expanded opportunities for associated projects and services within the firm by maintaining contacts with current and prospective client decision makers; identify and work toward the resolution of client relations problems.
• Review proposals and selects interview teams; review and recommend project marketing budgets subject to approval by senior management.
• Maintain visibility and professional courtesy by actively participating in civic and professional organizations and encourage project staff to do the same.
• Maintain regional/national prominence and recognition through published technical work and/or presentation of papers at national or regional technical conferences.
• Assist management team in identifying staffing needs based on future workload and manpower projections for project staffing.
• Review managers' recommendations to recruit, hire, transfer, or terminate project staff; approve/disapprove or endorse recommendations and present to senior management for approval as required by established authorization guidelines.
• Review and make decisions on recommendations for salary offers for new hire candidates, as well as salary and position adjustment actions for project staff, subject to senior management review and approval.
• Approve personnel actions as established by authorization guidelines.
• Conduct semi-annual performance reviews and annual career planning sessions with management staff within assigned project.
• Provide staff with ongoing performance feedback and counsel to promote improved performance and career development.
• Identify and nurture potential future project management leaders within existing staff to promote expansion of services.
• Help staff identify and pursue technical and professional development activities consistent with their career development goals and project objectives/needs.
• Advise project staff concerning company policies and procedures; monitors and enforces compliance.