Project Director

About the Role

Jacobs is driving innovative solutions for critical challenges, focused on shaping thriving cities, resilient environments, and leading-edge industries. We seek a Project Director to lead the KSU Relocation Project — a significant EPC infrastructure venture featuring complex process, mechanical, electrical, and utility systems.

This leader will guide a multidisciplinary team and act as the primary liaison among the Client, EPC Contractor, stakeholders, authorities, and expert consultants. The role is responsible for delivering the project safely, on budget, on time, and meeting all contractual and quality obligations.

Project Scope

The project encompasses process engineering and MEP systems with key elements such as cooling towers, sewage treatment facilities, thermal utility generation, electrical power generation, extensive underground service tunnels, logistics zones, workshops, warehouses, and administrative buildings. The Project Director will ensure flawless integration of utilities, process equipment, civil and structural works, and building infrastructure into a cohesive campus relocation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and governance for the entire KSU Relocation Project.
• Define project strategy, execution plans, and delivery goals aligned with client expectations.
• Lead sizeable teams across project management, engineering, construction, commissioning, and commercial disciplines.
• Foster a culture emphasizing safety, integrity, collaboration, and technical excellence.
• Drive performance on schedule, cost, quality, and safety benchmarks.
• Serve as the senior point of contact for the Client and executive stakeholders; cultivate strong relationships with leadership and EPC Contractor management.
• Lead high-level meetings, progress updates, and strategic decision-making sessions.
• Manage stakeholder expectations to align with project aims and contractual commitments.
• Supervise EPC contractor performance across all phases, ensuring compliance with specifications and contracts; resolve critical technical, commercial, or operational issues affecting delivery.
• Oversee process-driven and MEP systems during design, build, testing, and commissioning phases.
• Ensure integration of utility systems including cooling towers, sewage treatment plant, medium-temperature hot water building, electrical generation facilities, utility network distributions, service tunnels, warehouses, maintenance workshops, and administration buildings.
• Support design enhancements and operational preparedness of all utility and process facilities.
• Maintain financial oversight including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, claim resolutions, change orders, and commercial negotiations; ensure robust risk management.
• Manage schedule planning with integrated master timelines, recovery plans, and monitor critical path activities to guarantee milestones and contractual deadlines are met.
• Implement comprehensive governance frameworks, lead risk identification, mitigation, and address issues; chair executive reviews and steering committees.
• Champion a "Safety by Leadership" ethos; ensure health, safety, environmental and quality compliance; promote zero-harm culture and ongoing quality improvement.
• Oversee integrated commissioning, startup, testing, and operational readiness; manage final handover including documentation, training, warranties, and transition to operations for asset reliability.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Process, Civil Engineering, or related disciplines.
• Master’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business Administration, or similar preferred.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PMI, APM or equivalent are advantageous.
• At least 25 years of experience in delivering major projects.
• Minimum 10 years in senior leadership positions managing large-scale EPC projects exceeding USD 500 million.
• Demonstrable background in utility infrastructure projects, district energy, industrial facilities, process plants, or major campus developments involving complex MEP and process-intensive systems.
• Proven success leading multidisciplinary teams through all project stages: design, construction, commissioning, and handover.

Additional Information

Jacobs values diversity, inclusion, and employee wellbeing. The company promotes a caring culture with flexible work arrangements, health initiatives, and community engagement programs. This is a full-time onsite role requiring regular attendance at Jacobs workplaces.

Support is available for candidates needing accommodations during the recruitment process.