Project Leader

Veolia•Midway, TN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Leader leads the planning, execution, and completion of a project, aligning work with organizational objectives and delivering on time and within budget. The role addresses project challenges, communicates goals and progress to team members and stakeholders, fosters collaboration and inclusion, and develops practical solutions to support high-quality outcomes. The Project Leader oversees safety, compliance, reliability, people leadership, customer relationships, and financial performance for the assigned project. Responsibilities include maintaining compliance with OSHA, state, Veolia, contract, environmental, operating, and emergency-response requirements; managing project resources and personnel; administering client contracts; preparing reports and budgets; and maintaining full P&L ownership. The role generally supervises more than 10 FTEs and manages facilities generally greater than 10 mgd, with revenue generally under $10 million. The work is based at a project site, with approximately 60% of time in the operations environment and 40% in the office. The role involves client meetings, outdoor work in inclement weather, driving a company vehicle, and occasional travel for training or meetings. Rotational 24-hour emergency on-call service may be required as needed by the site.

Requirements

Six years of leadership experience, including four years leading project teams, with emphasis on team collaboration and project delivery.
Strong leadership, organizational, and project-management skills, with attention to detail, initiative, judgment, and resourcefulness.
Demonstrated ability to inspire, guide, motivate, and develop teams, including the ability to influence without direct authority.
Understanding of HR principles and experience supporting employee engagement, development, recognition, and retention.
Experience with project-site P&L ownership, budgeting, cost control, and financial performance.
Proven ability to deliver excellent customer satisfaction and build and maintain customer partnerships.
Excellent written, verbal, listening, presentation, interpersonal, and stakeholder communication skills, including handling sensitive communications.
Ability to manage changing priorities and develop creative solutions to complex problems.
Commitment to compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies; ability to understand and manage safety, environmental, and health requirements.
Knowledge of facilities and capital-equipment management, problem-solving, team building, technical writing, and total quality management.
Strong PC skills, including word-processing, spreadsheet, and database software, and the ability to use technology to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
Must be able to obtain certifications as required.
Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather and drive a company vehicle.

Nice To Haves

A degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, Project Management, or a related field is strongly preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead project planning, execution, and completion in alignment with organizational objectives, schedules, and budget constraints.
Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable project-team environment; mentor, coach, and develop team members.
Lead and nurture a safety culture, ensure appropriate site-specific PPE use, conduct safety training, and monitor and report safety performance.
Maintain compliance with applicable OSHA, state, company, environmental, safety, operating, emergency-response, and contract requirements.
Coordinate problem resolution, manage conflicting priorities, and deliver dependable, high-quality project outcomes.
Manage project personnel, equipment, materials, facilities, funds, and other resources; evaluate employee performance and align abilities with job requirements.
Build and maintain customer relationships, understand customer needs, solicit feedback, and address service issues promptly.
Administer client contracts, define deliverables and schedules, monitor requirements and deadlines, and identify and communicate scope changes.
Prepare and present client progress and special reports; participate in client meetings, council meetings, award programs, and regulatory or public-relations activities as needed.
Identify opportunities for scope expansions, contract extensions, renewals, and new business; gather customer and sales input and implement corrective actions to improve satisfaction.
Manage contract MBE/WBE/VBE procurement requirements and comply with legal requirements and company policies.
Identify and justify capital expenditures in partnership with the client; participate in project start-up teams.
Own project P&L and budgets; monitor financial performance, cost-center compliance, personnel utilization, pricing, invoicing, collections, receivables, and budget variances.
Prepare monthly reports and annual budgets, forecast staffing and equipment needs, and ensure the project meets or exceeds financial plans.
Manage project facilities and operational oversight, including facilities generally greater than 10 mgd and multiple worksites or a large water/wastewater plant.
Use spreadsheet, database, and other technology systems to manage budgets, capture historical data, automate processes, and improve efficiency.
Serve rotational 24-hour emergency on-call as required by the site.
Drive a company vehicle and work outdoors in inclement weather; attend client meetings and occasional training or other meetings involving travel.