Project Director – Alternative Delivery

ORION • Federal Way, WA

2d • $210,000 - $250,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Orion is seeking an experienced Project Director to provide strategic leadership and oversight for large-scale, complex marine construction, heavy civil, transportation, and infrastructure projects throughout the Pacific Region. Based at the company's Federal Way, Washington office, the position leads major projects delivered using Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, Construction Manager at Risk, Engineering, Procurement and Construction, and other collaborative delivery models.

The Project Director is accountable for project performance across the full lifecycle, from business development, pursuit strategy, and proposal development through preconstruction, design management, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout. The role provides strategic direction, financial oversight, commercial management, risk mitigation, and senior client engagement while coordinating owners, designers, joint-venture partners, subcontractors, and internal operations teams.

The position requires work in both office and active construction environments, periodic travel to project sites and client meetings, and potentially extended hours or temporary assignments at remote or regional locations. Site visits require compliance with applicable safety requirements, including personal protective equipment. The role is based in Federal Way, Washington, and requires a substantial presence at project sites when necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering or a related discipline.
• At least 15 years of progressive experience managing major heavy civil, marine construction, transportation, industrial, or infrastructure construction projects.
• Senior leadership experience as a Project Director, Senior Project Manager, or in a comparable role.
• Proven experience leading at least one large, complex project using Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CMAR, EPC, or a comparable alternative delivery method.
• Extensive knowledge of infrastructure project planning, design coordination, preconstruction, procurement, construction management, and project execution.
• Strong understanding of project financial management, cost forecasting, scheduling, contract administration, change management, and risk mitigation.
• Success managing multidisciplinary teams involving engineering, construction, commercial, procurement, and project controls professionals.
• Experience developing and maintaining senior-level client relationships and managing complex stakeholder environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work from Orion's Federal Way, Washington office and travel to assigned project locations as required.
• Ability to maintain a substantial presence at project sites when necessary.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

• Professional Engineer (PE) license, Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) certification, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or an advanced degree.
• Experience leading major infrastructure projects valued at $250 million or more.
• Direct experience with marine construction, bridges, ports, waterways, transportation infrastructure, or large-scale heavy civil projects.
• Experience working with WSDOT, other state DOTs, USACE, NAVFAC, port authorities, municipalities, or other public agencies.
• Experience participating in joint ventures, integrated design-construction teams, or strategic project partnerships.
• Familiarity with best-value procurement, alternative technical concepts, confidential meetings, early work packages, and collaborative project development.
• Experience with large-scale infrastructure projects throughout the Pacific Northwest or other major U.S. infrastructure markets.
• Strong understanding of complex project contracts, commercial risk allocation, and alternative delivery procurement processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership, strategic direction, and accountability for large-scale alternative delivery construction projects.
• Direct project execution to meet safety, quality, financial, schedule, operational, and client satisfaction objectives.
• Establish project governance, performance expectations, and accountability across integrated project teams.
• Oversee project planning, resource allocation, procurement strategies, construction sequencing, and operational execution.
• Identify project challenges and implement solutions to maintain performance.
• Lead Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, CMAR, EPC, and other collaborative delivery projects.
• Integrate design, construction, commercial, procurement, and operations teams, and facilitate collaboration among owners, consultants, design partners, construction teams, and subcontractors.
• Oversee design development and alignment with constructability, permitting, budget, schedule, and contract requirements.
• Participate in design workshops, stakeholder coordination, risk assessments, value engineering, early contractor involvement, alternative technical concepts, and innovative delivery strategies.
• Support business development and strategic pursuits, including capture planning, teaming strategies, qualifications packages, proposals, and client presentations.
• Oversee preconstruction planning, estimating, scheduling, constructability reviews, and risk evaluations; collaborate on competitive and executable delivery strategies.
• Participate in contract negotiations, commercial evaluations, and project risk assessments, and develop relationships with clients, agencies, engineering firms, joint-venture partners, and industry stakeholders.
• Oversee budgets, forecasts, cost-to-complete projections, contingency, cash flow, financial controls, contractual compliance, and reporting.
• Oversee procurement, subcontractor performance, contract administration, and change management; mitigate financial, contractual, operational, and schedule risks.
• Lead commercial negotiations and support claims avoidance, dispute resolution, and contract closeout.
• Coordinate engineering and construction through design and execution; ensure design deliverables support permitting, procurement, constructability, cost certainty, and schedules.
• Lead technical coordination with designers, consultants, regulatory agencies, and construction personnel; manage design changes, technical risks, and project interfaces.
• Serve as the senior project representative and primary senior-level contact for owners and key stakeholders; lead meetings, presentations, negotiations, and performance reviews.
• Build, lead, mentor, and develop multidisciplinary teams, including project managers, construction managers, design managers, engineers, and superintendents.
• Establish expectations for execution, accountability, communication, and performance; support workforce planning, leadership development, and succession planning.
• Champion safety and ensure compliance with environmental requirements, quality standards, regulations, and contractual obligations; oversee safety and quality programs with HS&E personnel.
• Lead project reviews, performance evaluations, financial forecasts, and risk reporting; monitor milestones, critical path schedules, and overall delivery performance.
• Develop recovery strategies when performance deviates from objectives; oversee commissioning, inspections, turnover, closeout, and demobilization.
• Capture lessons learned and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package with a base salary of $210,000–$250,000 and vehicle allowance.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement savings, paid time off, and other company-sponsored benefits, subject to plan eligibility.

What This Job Offers

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