Position Title:  Project Director, Heavy Civil

Come Build Your Career at Aecon!

As a Canadian leader in infrastructure development, Aecon is safely and sustainably building what matters for future generations to thrive! We lead some of the most impactful infrastructure projects of our generation, at the forefront of transformational change in transportation and energy, and partnering every day to build, connect, power, and strengthen our communities.

At Aecon, you can count on:

• Safety Always. Our number one core value. If we can’t do it safely, we don’t do it at all.
• Integrity. We lead by example, with humility and courage.
• Accountability. We’re passionate about delivering on our commitments.
• Inclusion. We provide equitable opportunities for everyone.

We lead the infrastructure industry with purpose, and our people are at the heart of everything we do. So, we invest in our people, just like they invest in us! 

At Aecon we:

• Ensure you and your family receive the services needed to support your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
• Believe in helping you build your career through our Aecon University and Leadership Programs.
• Are committed to supporting and investing in inclusive work environments, through initiatives like Equity, Diversity & Inclusion training, our Aecon Women in Trades and Aecon Diversity in Trades programs, and our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to ensure we are building inclusion into every aspect of our culture at Aecon.
• Are a leader in sustainable construction. With a strong commitment to operating responsibly by minimizing our impact on the environment and surrounding communities.

Our business success relies on strong execution and continuous improvement – driven by the diversity, expertise and teamwork of our people. We’re always searching the globe for innovative, collaborative minds to join our best-in-class Aecon community!

What is the Opportunity?

Aecon Industrial is seeking an experienced and results-driven Project Director to lead the successful execution of large, complex industrial projects across Canada and the U.S. This leadership role is accountable for the full project lifecycle from pursuit support and preconstruction through execution, commissioning, and closeout, ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with contractual, technical, and regulatory requirements.

The Project Director will provide strategic and operational leadership to project teams and serve as the senior point of contact for clients, partners, subcontractors, suppliers, and internal stakeholders. This role is ideal for a construction leader with deep experience delivering major heavy civil, industrial, and/or water/wastewater projects in a general contractor environment.

Please note: The successful candidate for this role must be able and willing to mobilize to project sites across Canada and the U.S.

What You Will Do Here:

• Provide overall leadership for the execution and delivery of large, complex infrastructure projects from preconstruction through closeout.
• Support business development, estimating, and proposal teams by providing execution input to help develop competitive, achievable, risk-informed submissions.
• Lead the transition from estimating and preconstruction into project execution, ensuring alignment on scope, schedule, budget, risk, and resource planning.
• Establish project execution strategies, staffing plans, governance structures, and reporting frameworks to support successful delivery.
• Build, lead, mentor, and retain high-performing project teams while fostering a collaborative and accountable project culture.
• Develop project goals and execution plans that meet or exceed client expectations and align with Aecon’s operational and financial objectives.
• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure compliance with all health, safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.
• Direct project controls activities, including scheduling, cost control, forecasting, cash flow, progress measurement, and performance reporting.
• Manage critical path activities and ensure appropriate mitigation and recovery plans are implemented where required.
• Lead commercial and contract management activities, including subcontract strategy, contract negotiation, change management, claims avoidance, and risk mitigation.
• Oversee procurement of subcontractors, major equipment, long-lead materials, and key project resources.
• Drive execution alignment across field operations, engineering interfaces, procurement, quality, testing, startup, and commissioning activities.
• Ensure quality management processes are implemented effectively and that project deliverables meet contractual and operational requirements.
• Identify, assess, and manage project risks and opportunities throughout the lifecycle of the project.
• Chair regular project leadership meetings focused on safety, schedule, commercial performance, risk, and overall project outcomes.
• Serve as the senior interface with owners, consultants, regulators, subcontractors, suppliers, and other key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships that support successful project delivery and future business opportunities.
• Promote continuous improvement, constructability, execution excellence, and operational efficiency across all phases of delivery.

What You Bring to The Team:

• 15+ years of experience in construction project execution within industrial construction projects.
• 10+ years in progressively senior leadership roles, including experience leading large project teams and overseeing full project lifecycle delivery.
• Proven experience working with a general contractor delivering $100M –$1B full-cycle heavy industrial, heavy civil, or water/wastewater projects.
• Strong leadership background in complex project delivery models, including design-build, construction management, alliance-style, progressive, or other alternative delivery approaches.
• Post-secondary education in Engineering, Construction Management, Trades, or a related discipline.
• Technical background in Civil, Mechanical, or Electrical scope is considered a strong asset.
• Demonstrated success leading project execution with a strong focus on safety, commercial performance, schedule certainty, and client satisfaction.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, project controls, change management, procurement strategy, forecasting, and risk management.
• Experience managing stakeholder relationships across owners, consultants, regulators, subcontractors, suppliers, and joint venture or partner organizations.
• Strong knowledge of non-residential construction methods, construction sequencing, systems integration, and field execution practices.
• Experience overseeing quality, testing, turnover, startup, and commissioning activities on complex projects.
• Ability to build and lead high-performing teams in dynamic, site-based project environments.
• Experience with BIM and/or Lean Construction principles is considered an asset.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively and support site-based execution.

Reason for vacancy: Proactive/evergreen

Aecon fosters diversity, inclusion and belonging within and across our organization. We welcome all to apply including, women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

We are committed to adhering to the objectives and requirements outlined in the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), and to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner. Through the implementation of the requirements of the ACA and its applicable regulations, appropriate accommodations will be provided upon request throughout the interview and hiring process.

As part of our commitment to fair and transparent hiring practices, Aecon may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in screening and reviewing candidates. These tools are applied responsibly and in accordance with applicable privacy laws and Aecon’s AI Usage Policy. All final decisions are made by qualified Aecon team members.