Senior Project Director

Air Liquide Global E&C Solutions is a technology partner of choice for the design, engineering and construction of leading-edge processing facilities and related infrastructures worldwide. We enable our customers to optimize the use of the planet's natural resources in order to provide clean and sustainable energy thanks to our people and their capability to innovate constantly. Through cutting edge innovation applied to our proprietary technology we contribute to the transformation of the energy industry and help to preserve & protect the atmosphere of our planet. Looking back on decades of operational expertise within the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment, we develop creative, safe, reliable and competitive solutions for our customers, proposing a sustainable worldwide offer of best-in-class plants in a dynamically changing marketplace.

Air Liquide’s ambition is to be a leader in its industry, deliver long term performance and contribute to sustainability - with a strong commitment to climate change and energy transition at the heart of its strategy.

Candidates must have valid employment authorization in the U.S. and must not require visa sponsorship now or in the future. This position is not open for non-immigrant visa sponsorship.

Project Director will be responsible for the delivery and execution of large capital projects by leading a multidisciplinary team, overseeing detailed engineering, monitoring equipment fabrication activities, establishing and implementing subcontract plan, monitoring contractor schedule and progress, and reporting on the status of projects to the various levels of company management. The individual will promote a strong safety culture through all phases of project execution and enforce strict compliance with quality requirements.

The Project Director will execute the projects in accordance with the contractual commitments, ensuring that the project team is familiar with the contractual features that affect the execution, paying special attention to the analysis of risks and opportunities, monitoring the project’s schedule and cost, meeting quality and safety requirements that have been set to fulfill both the Air Liquide E&C’s and business entity's expectations.

Successful candidates will: 

• Represent the business unit interests in the development and the execution of large and complex projects ($300 million to $750 million);

● Assist project and business development teams to identify, budget, and plan project solutions that maximize the competitiveness of Air Liquide’s commercial offer to the end customer; 

● Plan project execution according to Project Management Institute practices and to Air Liquide's procedures; 

● Lead a multi-national project execution team with representatives from multiple business entities; 

● Participate in required engineering review meetings at Air Liquide’s locations outside of the US (China, UAE, Germany, France, India, Poland);

● Create and maintain comprehensive project risk register and actively manage identified risks and opportunities; 

● Participate in negotiation and execution of engineering, procurement, and construction subcontracts; 

● Implement tracking and progress reporting using metrics and dashboards to communicate status of projects to all levels of management; 

● Participate in the setup of a baseline project schedule and monitoring of the progress with respect to this schedule; 

● Work with regulatory bodies to obtain required permits and licenses; 

● Lead the project team in creation of discipline subcontract packages (piling, civil, mechanical, and E&I), participate in pre-bid and clarification meetings, and lead the contractor selection process; 

● Negotiate construction subcontracts with the help of subcontracting department and Air Liquide E&C’s legal team; 

● Oversee the performance of Air Liquide E&C’s construction construction field management team, leading onsite construction activities and monitoring compliance with the contract; 

● Analyze, manage, and mitigate risks during project development and execution phases; 

● Drive a culture of “One Air Liquide” by promoting teamwork between operations, engineering, construction, and project delivery teams; 

● Ensure use of proper construction techniques and enforce adherence to proper quality standards; 

● Prepare internal and external monthly project reports complying with Air Liquide E&C processes and procedures. 

● Analyze, negotiate, and execute construction subcontract change orders; 

● Monitor and champion safety performance through all aspects of the project,  but especially at the construction site. 

Main Accountabilities

● Launch and organize the projects, establishing the budget and schedule control program, taking corrective measures to bring the project back on track as required; 

● Ensure quality of service and compliance with the contractual requirements; 

● Establish the means of self-inspection that deems necessary to achieve Air Liquide’s quality standards;

● Manage the contract, controlling the execution of jobs within the original scope and identifying the changes to the contractual requirements; 

● Establish and maintain a good working relationship with the Owner Representative. Evaluate Owner Representative’s requests and present changes to the contract;

● Manage and forecast project resource requirements;

● Ensure that the requirements of the Projects Execution Plan and its associated procedures, specific to the project, are known and followed;

● Ensure that  the value engineering and capital efficiency initiatives are thoroughly investigated and implemented, encourage  and promote the concept of “Continuous Improvement” (CIMP),  and distribute lessons learned from the project within the project team; 

● Ensure all procurement and subcontract bidding complies with Air Liquide policies, procedures and governance requirements.

While the project director may or may not have any administrative direct reports, his/her responsibility is to functionally manage the multi-disciplinary project execution team that can be up to 30 individuals in the office, and up to 1000 individuals on the construction site (including the subcontract labor).

Are you a MATCH?

● B.S. in Science or Engineering from an accredited college or university is required  Advanced degree is preferred; 

● Minimum 20 years of work experience in an engineering discipline, project engineering within an EPC organization, project management, construction or equivalent, with additional exposure to business development, procurement, and operations; 

● Project Director will be competent in conflict resolution and crisis management. Previous military experience is a plus;

• Previous experience as a mentor and supervisor to other project managers is a plus;

● Possess ability to effectively communicate with multiple levels of organization both verbally and in writing; 

● Be willing to share personal technical knowledge with and foster development of other team members; 

● Candidate has to demonstrate ability to plan ahead and understanding of all facets of the construction process; 

● Be viewed as an established leader and have the ability to lead individuals without administrative chain of command; 

● Have the ability to travel internationally and domestically with up to 30% of time spent on the road (local and International) and construction site; 

● Fluency in multiple languages is a plus.

WORK CONDITIONS:

The position is based in an office in Houston, Texas, USA.  The development and early engineering phase of the project will be based in the office, requiring occasional travel abroad to E&C’s other engineering centers.  Once mobilized in the field, travel up to 50% of the time is expected.

Benefits offered: 

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, 401(k) match, Flexible Spending Accounts, EAP, Education Assistance, Parental Leave, Paid time off, and Holidays. 

• For more information you can go to Air Liquide Benefit Offerings

Our Differences make our Performance

At Air Liquide, we are committed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.

We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their background. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.