Project Director - Waste to Energy Plant Development & Execution

We are seeking an experienced and commercially grounded Project Director to oversee the execution of a Waste-to-Energy (“WTE”) plant project under a joint venture structure involving international partners.

The role requires a hands-on senior professional who can drive coordination, execution discipline, stakeholder management and recovery planning across the technical, commercial, contractual and operational aspects of the project.

This is a 12-month contract role focused on stabilising, accelerating and de-risking project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Project Recovery & Execution Oversight

• Conduct a rapid assessment of the current project status, bottlenecks, delay drivers and critical execution risks.

• Develop and drive a practical project recovery and acceleration plan.

• Establish clear milestones, reporting structures and accountability mechanisms across stakeholders.

• Monitor engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and regulatory workstreams.

Joint Venture & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the key coordination lead between joint venture partners, consultants, contractors, suppliers and regulators.

• Manage cross-cultural working dynamics and alignment between local and overseas project counterparties, including China-based project stakeholders.

• Coordinate with project stakeholders across different working styles, business practices and communication approaches.

• Escalate critical issues early and drive resolution at management and board level where required.

• Support governance processes, including steering committee and board reporting.

Contractor & Vendor Oversight

• Review contractor performance, timelines, claims, variations and delivery commitments.

• Work closely with EPC contractors, OEMs and technology providers to ensure execution discipline.

• Identify gaps in coordination, sequencing, procurement and commissioning readiness.

Commercial & Risk Management

• Identify cost overruns, contractual exposure, liquidated damages risks and execution liabilities.

• Work alongside legal, finance and technical teams to protect project and shareholder interests.

• Ensure proper documentation, reporting and project controls are maintained.

Regulatory & Operational Readiness

• Coordinate with relevant government agencies, utilities and licensing authorities.

• Ensure project planning supports eventual operational handover and plant readiness.

• Assist in establishing operational governance, staffing and commissioning frameworks where necessary.

Requirements

Experience

• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Waste-to-Energy;

• Power generation;

• Large industrial infrastructure;

• Environmental engineering;

• EPC project execution.

• Proven experience managing large-scale complex projects with multiple stakeholders.

• Strong track record in recovering delayed or troubled projects preferred.

• Experience working with EPC contractors, OEMs, technology providers, state-owned enterprises, joint venture structures or international project stakeholders, including China-based project parties, will be highly advantageous.

• Experience in Southeast Asia projects preferred.

Technical & Commercial Capability

• Strong understanding of:

• EPC contracts;

• Project controls;

• Construction sequencing;

• Commissioning processes;

• Commercial risk management.

• Ability to read and challenge project schedules, technical reports and execution assumptions.

Leadership & Communication

• Strong executive presence with ability to manage difficult stakeholders.

• Comfortable operating at board, shareholder and project execution levels.

• Pragmatic, decisive and execution-oriented.

• Able to balance diplomacy with firmness.

• Able to work effectively with stakeholders from different business, technical and cultural backgrounds.

• Ability to communicate with Mandarin-speaking project stakeholders will be necessary, as the role may involve coordination with overseas contractors, suppliers and joint venture partners on technical, commercial and project execution matters.

Other Information

• Contract basis: 12 months

• Work arrangement: Flexible working arrangement, subject to project needs

• Travel: Willingness to travel regionally as required

Preferred Candidate Profile

This role is suitable for candidates with backgrounds such as:

• Former EPC / project directors;

• Former utility or infrastructure executives;

• Senior consultants with hands-on execution backgrounds;

• Senior professionals with experience turning around delayed industrial projects;

• Individuals with strong project recovery, commercial risk and stakeholder management experience.

Success Metrics

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Stabilise project governance and reporting;

• Reduce execution bottlenecks and delays;

• Improve stakeholder alignment;

• Deliver a credible recovery roadmap;

• Improve probability of successful commissioning and operational handover.

Reporting Line

The Project Director will report directly to the shareholders / board representatives of the joint venture and work closely with senior management across the project stakeholders.