Project Director - Pipeline Engineering & Construction

NextEra Energy • Juno Beach, FL

5d • Remote

About The Position

The Project Director leads owner-side development and execution of major greenfield and brownfield natural gas transmission projects and represents NextEra Energy on joint-venture projects where it may have a limited or non-executing role. The Director works through assigned Project Managers, Construction Managers, and Project Engineers and is accountable for scope, engineering, permitting, contracting, procurement, construction, commissioning, cost, and schedule performance.

The role oversees complex pipeline and facility work; recruits and develops project professionals; ensures key execution decisions are fully vetted; develops internal standards, processes, and procedures; and provides senior leadership with clear project-status reports, recommendations on project risk, and potential recovery plans. Projects may include pipeline looping and expansions, compressor stations, measurement and regulating facilities, interconnects, and pipeline hubs, from development through closeout.

This remote position requires regular travel of approximately 15%–25%, varying by project phase, and field presence during major construction milestones, outages, tie-ins, testing, commissioning, and other critical events as warranted. The Director supervises approximately 3–6 Project Managers, Construction Managers, and Project Engineers.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering from a U.S. university, in civil, mechanical, petroleum, chemical, or a closely related engineering discipline; the general qualifications section also permits equivalent experience.
• At least 15 years of relevant experience designing, permitting, engineering, constructing, or managing onshore natural gas transmission pipelines and associated compression, measurement, regulating, and interconnect facilities.
• At least 10 years managing major natural gas transmission projects, including greenfield and brownfield work, through engineering, permitting, contracting, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and closeout.
• At least 5 years supervising Project Managers, engineers, or other professional staff, with demonstrated success developing technical and project-management talent.
• Demonstrated expertise in contract negotiation, change orders, schedule management, cost forecasting, progress reporting, contractor performance, and evaluation of technical and commercial risk.
• Fluency in Title 49 CFR Part 192, FERC Plan and Procedures, pipeline design and construction, routing and alignment, construction bid packages, large-diameter pipeline, compression and measurement and regulating facilities, and project controls.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 15%–25%, depending on project phase, with increased field presence during critical construction, tie-ins, testing, commissioning, or recovery activities.
• Fluent in Word and Excel.
• Competent in overseeing the development and use of Gantt charts and March charts.
• Familiarity with PowerPoint, Visio, and Gemini, ChatGPT, or Microsoft Copilot.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Familiarity with Title 49 CFR Part 193 and Part 195.
• Working knowledge of water pipelines, pump stations, and treatment facilities.
• Experience overseeing complex projects involving large-diameter transmission pipeline, HDDs, major compression, multi-pipeline interconnects or hubs, bidirectional measurement and regulating facilities, or management of existing operating facilities.
• Experience with FERC-regulated projects, joint ventures, global equipment sourcing, and executive-level project risk reviews.
• Knowledge of hydraulic modeling software and critical flow and sizing parameters.

Responsibilities

• Lead assigned Project Managers and Project Engineers executing major greenfield and brownfield transmission projects, including looping and expansions, compressor stations, measurement and regulating facilities, interconnects, and pipeline hubs, from development through closeout.
• Establish and challenge project scope, design basis, alternatives, estimates, cash flows, schedules, execution strategies, contracting plans, and risk registers; identify and drive early resolution of technical, permitting, and constructability issues.
• Ensure project scope documents are thorough, concise, and clear, and that project managers communicate effectively with internal and external team members and stakeholders.
• Review and approve invoices, cash flows, project milestones, termination curves, project Gantt and March charts as needed.
• Direct deployment of critical plans, schedules, and designs needed by Land, Environmental, Regulatory, Procurement, and Project Controls teams for project-related work outside Engineering & Construction.
• Direct owner-side engineering oversight of internal and external resources, including routing, alignment, and design reviews; evaluate and implement open-cut, wet-construction, and HDD strategies for pipeline projects.
• Oversee compression and facility design and participate in logistics planning, constructability reviews, and HazOp reviews.
• Develop sourcing strategies for services, materials, and equipment, including bid-package preparation, bid evaluations, supplier selection, contract negotiations, change-order resolution, and claims avoidance.
• Govern construction, testing, commissioning, and turnover, with accountability for safety, quality, cost, schedule, field change control, tie-ins, as-built documentation, closeout, and lessons learned.
• Challenge project schedules, manpower curves, progress measurement, production and cost forecasts, and recovery plans; ensure material variances are quantified, assigned, and communicated early.
• Ensure compliance with applicable pipeline regulations, standards, permits, and accepted construction practices while coordinating with internal functions and external stakeholders.
• Develop and deploy internal processes, standards, and procedures to improve workflow, accuracy, and timeliness.
• Conduct technical due diligence and lead complex interfaces with joint-venture partners, customers, engineering firms, vendors, contractors, and agencies while protecting NextEra Energy's technical, schedule, cost, operational, and related interests.
• Supervise, coach, and develop approximately 3–6 Project Managers, Construction Managers, and Project Engineers; set accountability, strengthen decision-making, review major project decisions, and build organizational depth.
• Work collaboratively with resources across disciplines to establish project priorities and work plans and manage department resources for early-stage development support.
• Ensure projects are implemented efficiently, effectively, and safely in accordance with department procedures and policies.
• Walk down planned work, validate completed work against design requirements, approve contractor payment requests, verify constructability, ensure appropriate resource allocations, assess field status, and resolve issues.
• Lead project meetings and review budgets, risk trackers, and contingency allocations; interface with designated project management committees or act as Executive Director of project activities.
• Supervise or coordinate activities related to safety programs, engineering, construction, budgets, analysis, and contract administration.
• Oversee commissioning activities and perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• NextEra Energy offers a wide range of benefits to employees and their eligible family members; specific benefits are not listed.
• Relocation provided if applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior