Associate Project Director - Ports and Marine Structures

Associate Project Director – Ports and Marine Structures 

North Vancouver 

Permanent, Full-time 

Hybrid 

Do you want the opportunity to co-create with our experts on some of the most prestigious infrastructure projects in North America? Can you navigate the evolving landscape of the market by adapting strategies swiftly, capitalizing on emerging opportunities, and mitigating risks? And are you motivated to accelerate growth, promote innovation, and deliver impactful solutions? Then, this could be your next career move. 

Create the solutions that will enable a better tomorrow 

In this role, you will be challenged to work every day on some of the most advanced ports and marine projects. You will be exposed to projects in North America working with colleagues across the globe who are highly skilled and deliver innovative solutions. You will provide senior leadership across project delivery, client relationships, and business development, while contributing to the growth of our presence in the Canadian market. 

We are looking for an Associate Project Director specialized in structural design of complex ports and marine structures to join our highly skilled team of specialists that provides detailed engineering and project management on infrastructure projects. Your primary tasks will be to develop and implement strategic initiatives to improve the Company's engineering and local business development practices and provide high level, senior technical expertise for projects. The Associate Project Director is a major Seller-Doer for the Company, positioning COWI as a technical expert and leader in the industry. The position is part of the Canada Leadership Team, participating in periodic strategic meetings and contributing to development and delivery of the COWI Group’s strategic objectives in Canada. 

Your key responsibilities will be to: 

• Oversee and deliver complex projects in the ports and marine infrastructure sector, acting as a subject matter expert
• Identify new business opportunities with the business development team, including managing the preparation of technical and commercial proposals from opportunity to award. 
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with engineers, owners, and specialty contractors to support growth. Build long-term relationships that generate repeated and negotiated work. 
• Carry out project management duties and guide technical deliverables for multidisciplinary teams including, but not limited to project scheduling, resource management, project budget controls, and client sub-consultant management and interfacing. 
• Perform Engineer of Record duties as required. 
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary groups within COWI to develop and deliver integrated projects. 
• Represent COWI in external settings, such as technical committees, conferences, seminars, professional bodies, and business groups, as they pertain to ports and marine infrastructure projects. 
• Mentor and develop staff while contributing to local office growth, including team building, hiring decisions, and expanding COWI’s presence in this sector. 

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future 

Like us, you believe that leadership growth comes from setting a clear and meaningful direction for your team and supporting them in taking ownership of their work. You always delegate responsibility and ensure an open and safe dialogue, and you coach your people to achieve their aspirations through constructive, fact-based feedback. You collaborate with those around you, whether they are colleagues, clients, or partners. Attracting and nurturing a diverse group of high-potential team members is at the top of your agenda, as is creating an inclusive, caring, and trusting culture in your team. 

On top of that, you will have: 

• A Bachelor’s degree in Civil, Structural, or Coastal Engineering, a related discipline from an accredited university. 
• A professional Engineering License (P.Eng.) in British Columbia or ability to obtain, PE is an asset. 
• A minimum of 15 years of experience related to engineering, project management and business development with an emphasis on design, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation of marine, waterfront, and/or heavy civil infrastructure. 
• Demonstrated experience in business development, sales and project management in heavy civil structures. 
• Familiarity with construction methods and industry standards. 
• Awareness of Canadian market trends, competitors, and opportunities within the heavy civil sector. 
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multidisciplinary projects with full accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and commercial performance. Including managing margins and securing follow-on work. 
• Demonstrated success in senior client relationship management, including contract negotiations, risk management, and delivering high client satisfaction. 
• Background in business development and team leadership, including pursuing proposals, expanding markets on the West Coast, and mentoring and building effective teams. 
• Demonstrated networking abilities to establish and maintain relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders. 
• Skills in preparing technical and commercial proposals, bids, and presentations. 
• Ability to collaborate effectively with technical, commercial, and management teams. 

A place to work and so much more 

At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. We support our customers’ transition towards increased sustainability. We strive to lead by example by embedding environmental management, social responsibility and good governance into our business practices and the options we provide to our customers. 

We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home. 

With offices primarily located in the Nordic region, the UK, North America and India, we are currently more than 7,500 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play. 

What we also offer: 

To us, a fair reward is more than a competitive salary. We invest in our people’s professional and personal well‑being. 

Our benefits include: 

• Flexible working arrangement 
• Full time hires get 5 weeks of vacation  
• Floating holiday to celebrate employee diversity 
• Paid sick leave 
• Top-up parental and childbirth recovery leave 
• Annual Fitness spending account. Yes, you can use this for a ski pass, yoga or gym membership 
• Personal and Professional development fund 
• Group RRSP program with company matching 
• Parking or public transit allowance 
• Extended Health coverage with 100% of premiums paid by us 
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 
• STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance 
• Referral incentive program 
• Frequent social events 

Base compensation: $152,000 to $234,000 for the North Vancouver office only. Actual compensation is subject to variations due to education, experience, skill set and/or location. 

Got more questions? 

If you have any unanswered questions about the role or what we have to offer, please reach out to Talent Acquisition Specialist, Rheannon Lewis at [email protected]. Get to know us even better at our website, www.cowi.com, where you can learn more about our projects, our strategy, what we want to achieve and what life is like at COWI. 

Before you apply 

All you need to include in your application is your CV – no photo or application letter. At an interview, you can tell us everything we need to know about why you’re interested in joining COWI. As for the photo, we prefer to form our first impression in person rather than from a picture. 

Equal opportunity employer 

COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, COWI complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. 

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