Major Projects Leader - USA at GHD in Irvine, CA

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Who are we looking for? 

We are seeking a United States Major Projects Leader to join our team. This role is pivotal in establishing, evolving, and advancing our major project delivery capability across the Eco Region. The successful candidate will be responsible for defining and assuring the application of leading practices, tools, methodologies, and processes to ensure sustained delivery success for major projects. They will also lead the application of commercial and contractual principles, manage project delivery risks, and ensure legal and contractual protections for GHD interests. Additionally, the role involves providing leadership and support to our Project Management teams through all project phases, from initiation to closeout.

The ideal candidate will have a degree in Engineering, Science, or Project Management, with at least 15 years of project management experience, including leading multi-discipline teams on large-scale projects. They should possess strong leadership and staff management skills, excellent communication abilities, and a proven track record in developing and implementing project management practices within an infrastructure consulting firm**.**

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Working with an energetic and high performing team, this position offers a variety of work and will see you involved in:

• Defining and assuring the application of leading practice, tools, methodologies and processes defined under the Major Projects Framework that leads to the ongoing and sustained delivery success for major projects across the Eco-Region
• Defining, leading and assuring the successful application of relevant commercial and contractual principles on major projects
• Defining the types and scale of project delivery risks that are prevalent across the region and providing processes, systems and competency that enable project teams to effectively address risks
• Ensuring the approach to legal and contractual risks on major projects effectively protects GHD interests
• Maintaining and implementing a Major Project Leaders roster for the region
• Ensuring the sustained application of the processes, systems and people that make up the capability and competency needed for GHD to respond to client, market and industry needs, while delivering operational and strategic success for the Enterprise.

1. In addition to the Eco Region capability responsibilities, the role also includes providing leadership, input and support to our Project Management teams through all phases of our larger, more complex projects.
2. This will initially be a full time, dedicated role, however in the long-term this role may evolve into one more actively supporting delivery of projects.

Within the Americas PMO:

• Work effectively with the Americas PMO to meet the requirements of the Enterprise’s major project delivery needs
• Establish, embed and sustain the people, systems and process elements that represent an effective and efficient major project delivery capability for Canada
• Responsible for the development, rollout and implementation of any activity/changes to the major project delivery framework within Americas/Canada
• Ensure there is alignment and clarity with the following supporting groups and initiatives:
  • Americas PMO team
  • Engineering Design Organization (EDO)
  • Project and Construction Management Service Line
  • Technical Delivery
  • Global Delivery
  • Any other corporate initiatives impacting project delivery
• Effective knowledge management for critical major project delivery artifacts, lessons etc. that supports the Americas EcoRegion Major Project delivery
• Work with the Project Delivery Governance Support to integrate and embed all major project processes into the enterprise-wide Project Delivery System to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the GHD project delivery activities
• As needed involvement in key Enterprise-wide PMO focus areas/initiatives
• ensure the Americas PMO Leadership is aware and acting on specific regional requirements across Americas/Canada

Within the EcoRegion:

• Establish a sustainable roster for Major Project Leaders (PM, PD, DM/TL) that provides visibility and insights for regional leaders to make effective decisions on the right Project Directors and Project Managers for specific roles
• Understand the types and scale of project delivery risks that are prevalent across the region and provide processes, systems and competency that enables local regional leadership and specific project teams to address these risks effectively
• Establish and sustain the processes and artifacts that support project mobilization, project controls and commercial management and project execution for major projects of all types undertaken by GHD
• Providing leadership by defining and socializing project management resources and oversight to our project management teams through all phases of the project lifecycle (including positioning, set-up, delivery and project closeout)
• Establish, implement and monitor the required major project assurance process on all designated projects. Including leading the coordination and implementation of periodic reviews for major projects
• Provide input into the recruitment of key major projects staff
• Work with the Americas PMO team, United States Major Projects Leaderregional leadership teams to socialize, promote, instruct and advance the understanding of project delivery and the necessary skills, behavior, and expectations on Major Projects delivery teams.
• Serve as a Project Director on select Major Projects
• Provide Major Project Leadership and/or insights to the following regional processes:
  • PD and PM roster management
  • PD and PM performance assessments by the Business Group Leaders (BGLs)
  • PD and PM community engagement
  • Tender Review Group (TRG)
  • Independent Project Reviews for major or complex projects
• Induct, train and guide major project leaders within local regions to support the successful set up and delivery of major projects

To the project teams:

• Lead and coordinate the development of project delivery resources, artifacts and tools that support best in class major project delivery; and make available to project management teams for easy use and incorporation
• Take a leadership and coaching role to ensure the application of major project’s delivery tools across the region on all designated projects
• Provide insights and guidance in the nomination and mobilization of project managers for specific projects that meet project context
• Ensure the GHD best practices for Major Project delivery are available and accessible to project teams when needed to meet the project context
• Support project leadership teams through all stages of the delivery lifecycle to set up and enable project delivery success, including:
• Assurance through the winning work stages
• Mobilization and setting up for success
• Performance monitoring and monitoring
• Review, guidance and assurance during execution
• Capturing lessons and closing projects effectively

Ongoing ad hoc support, oversight and guidance for teams delivering major projects

What you bring to the team:

• A Degree in Engineering
• Professional Qualification – P.E., and PMP
• 15+ years of direct experience
• Degree in Engineering, Science or Project Management
• Recognized project management professional, carrying suitable authority and reputation to influence and guide leaders across the region
• Minimum of 15 years of project management experience, leading multi-discipline teams in the delivery of complex and large-scale projects across multiple countries / Regions
• At least 10 years of experience in projects for public, private and/or industrial clients with consulting engineering/design experience dealing with contracting partners or client
• Experience in leading infrastructure and engineering projects including planning, tender phase through design, execution and construction on large scale complex projects with professional fees greater than $10M and total capex of in excess of $100M
• Proven experience in developing and implementing project management practices and tools/systems within an infrastructure consulting firm
• Success in developing and initiating major project opportunities within a consulting firm and negotiating commercial terms with successful outcomes
• Demonstrated leadership and staff management skills to manage and mediate conflicts between team members and with clients
• Strong experience and knowledge of project delivery contracts and commercial frameworks
• Proven ability to make and communicate tough decisions in a timely manner
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrates self-awareness about how their decisions and attitude can impact team members and the success of a project
• Proven ability to develop, mentor and lead project management professionals and technical staff

As a diverse and inclusive organization, we encourage individual achievement and recognize the strength of a diverse workforce. GHD is an equal opportunity employer. Upon request, GHD will provide reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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