HVDC Project Director

Job Description Summary

The Project Director – HVDC is responsible for the overall leadership and successful execution of major HVDC transmission projects within GE Vernova Grid Solutions. The role has full accountability for project performance across EHS, Quality, Schedule, Cost, Cash, Risk, Contract Management, and Customer Satisfaction.
As a senior leader within the project organization, the Project Director drives execution excellence across the full project lifecycle, from contract handover through engineering, procurement, manufacturing, construction, commissioning, and final acceptance. This role ensures strong alignment with GE Vernova’s operational rigor, compliance standards, and customer commitments while leading complex, cross-functional, and international project teams.
The Project Director plays a critical role in delivering strategic grid infrastructure projects that support the energy transition, power system reliability, and grid modernization.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Ownership and Execution Leadership

• Lead the end-to-end execution of large and complex HVDC projects in accordance with contractual obligations and GE Vernova business objectives.
• Own overall project results including safety, quality, on-time delivery, cost performance, cash collection, margin protection, and customer satisfaction.
• Define and implement the project execution strategy, governance model, and operating rhythm.
• Ensure disciplined execution across all project phases including engineering, sourcing, manufacturing, transport, site activities, erection, commissioning, and handover.
• Drive execution excellence through structured reviews, clear accountability, and proactive issue resolution.

2. Customer and Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the senior point of contact for the customer on all project execution matters.
• Build strong and trusted customer relationships, ensuring transparent communication and effective escalation management.
• Lead executive customer reviews, project governance meetings, and strategic discussions.
• Manage interfaces with utilities, TSOs, consortium partners, subcontractors, suppliers, local authorities, and other external stakeholders.
• Represent GE Vernova professionally in high-impact customer and partner engagements.

3. Commercial, Financial, and Contractual Management

• Own project financial performance including revenue, profitability, cost control, billing milestones, cash flow, and forecast accuracy.
• Ensure effective management of project changes, claims, variation orders, contingencies, and contractual risks.
• Partner closely with finance, legal, commercial, and contract management teams to protect GE Vernova’s interests and optimize project outcomes.
• Drive strong project review discipline, including estimate-at-completion, risk exposure, cash forecasting, and recovery planning where required.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, governance requirements, and internal approval processes.

4. Risk and Opportunity Management

• Lead project risk and opportunity management with a proactive and data-driven approach.
• Ensure identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of key technical, operational, commercial, and schedule risks.
• Direct the implementation of mitigation and recovery plans for critical project issues.
• Escalate significant risks and execution challenges in a timely and structured manner.
• Promote a culture of anticipation, transparency, and ownership across the project team.

5. Cross-Functional Integration

• Lead a multidisciplinary project team across engineering, project management, sourcing, logistics, manufacturing, construction, commissioning, finance, contract management, quality, and EHS.
• Ensure strong integration and alignment between global and regional teams involved in project delivery.
• Drive effective interface management across internal functions, subcontractors, and customer organizations.
• Ensure smooth coordination between project execution and key support functions to maintain delivery performance.
• Foster collaboration across matrixed and geographically dispersed teams.

6. EHS, Quality, and Compliance

• Champion GE Vernova’s safety-first culture and ensure EHS is embedded in all project activities.
• Drive compliance with GE Vernova standards, customer requirements, applicable regulations, and industry codes.
• Ensure robust quality planning, assurance, and execution across all project phases.
• Promote a culture of integrity, compliance, and operational discipline.
• Ensure lessons learned, quality feedback, and continuous improvement actions are captured and applied.

7. Governance, Reviews, and Operational Rigor

• Establish strong project governance and ensure regular operating reviews, performance tracking, and transparent reporting.
• Lead internal project reviews with business leadership and provide clear visibility on performance, risks, actions, and decisions needed.
• Use project controls and KPIs to drive execution rigor and informed decision-making.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting of schedule, cost, risk, progress, and cash metrics.
• Support implementation of standard work, best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives across Grid Solutions project execution.

8. Team Leadership and Capability Building

• Lead, develop, and inspire high-performing project teams in a global matrix environment.
• Set clear expectations for accountability, execution discipline, customer focus, and teamwork.
• Coach senior project leaders and functional managers to strengthen project execution capability.
• Build an inclusive, performance-oriented culture aligned with GE Vernova values and leadership expectations.
• Support talent development, succession planning, and knowledge transfer across the organization.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Power Systems Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or related technical discipline.
• Typically 15+ years of experience in project execution, with substantial leadership responsibility in major transmission or energy infrastructure projects.
• Proven record of delivering large and complex projects involving multiple interfaces, international teams, and demanding customer requirements.
• Prior success in senior project leadership roles such as Project Director, Program Director, Senior Project Manager, or Head of Project Execution.
• Significant project leadership experience in HVDC, FACTS, substations, transmission, grid systems, or large EPC infrastructure projects.
• Project Management certification such as PMP, IPMA, or equivalent will be an added advantage.
• Experience working in multinational project environments and matrix organizations.
• Experience with consortium projects, utility customers, TSOs, and complex EPC contract models.
• Familiarity with GE Vernova or comparable governance, project controls, and compliance frameworks is an advantage.

Technical and Leadership Skills

• Deep understanding of HVDC project delivery, transmission technologies, and complex grid infrastructure execution.
• Strong financial, commercial, and contractual management capability.
• Executive-level customer engagement and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong project governance, planning, and performance management capability.
• Ability to lead in complex, ambiguous, and fast-changing project environments.
• Strong communication, negotiation, influencing, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to drive accountability and execution across matrixed teams.
• High level of operational rigor and results orientation.

Success Measures

• Strong EHS performance across all project phases
• Delivery of HVDC projects in line with committed schedule, budget, quality, and cash targets
• Effective management of risk, opportunities, claims, and contract obligations
• Positive customer feedback and strong relationship outcomes
• Robust governance, forecasting accuracy, and execution transparency
• High-performing, engaged, and accountable project teams
• Successful project commissioning, acceptance, and closeout

Additional Information