Senior Project Manager - De Havilland Field

Westerkirk•Calgary, AB

81d•CA$130,000 - CA$200,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Project Manager is expected to drive the delivery of Phase 1 of De Havilland Field, a complex, large-scale aviation and industrial development in Wheatland County, Alberta. We are seeking a highly experienced Project Manager to lead the planning, design, construction, commissioning, and operational turnover of large-scale building project. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with the project objectives and quality standards. Responsibilities include managing multidisciplinary design consultants, contractors, stakeholders, budgets, schedules, risk, and project controls throughout the entire project lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record delivering complex commercial, industrial, aviation, institutional, or manufacturing facilities from design development through occupancy and final handover. Candidates must possess a strong understanding of design management, contract administration, construction execution, building systems, commissioning, and turnover processes. Experience leading project governance, coordinating stakeholders, and driving successful project outcomes from inception through operational readiness is essential. This role goes beyond coordination; it requires taking ownership of progress, enforcing accountability across all consultants and stakeholders, and maintaining constant momentum across design, permitting, and procurement. The successful candidate will operate as the engine of the project pushing decisions, removing obstacles, and ensuring that timelines, budgets, and deliverables are met with discipline and urgency. This role requires someone who is assertive, commercially aware, and comfortable operating in ambiguity while maintaining control.

Requirements

10+ years in project management within large-scale industrial, infrastructure, or complex real estate development
Proven track record of driving projects forward, not just managing them
Experience with aviation, manufacturing, or logistics projects is a strong asset
Strong understanding of design, permitting, procurement, and construction processes
Highly assertive and execution-driven
Strong commercial awareness (cost, risk, value engineering)
Exceptional problem-solving under pressure
Ability to challenge consultants and senior stakeholders constructively
Strong sense of ownership and accountability
Comfortable operating in fast-moving, high-stakes environments

Responsibilities

Lead and manage day-to-day project execution, driving progress to meet or exceed schedule targets.
Anticipate risks early and take decisive action to mitigate impacts.
Champion timely decision-making to maintain momentum and avoid delays.
Uphold high standards of quality across all aspects of the project.
Provide active oversight of project teams and consultants (architects, engineers, aviation specialists, civil, etc.), constructively challenging outputs where needed.
Ensure proper coordination and alignment across all disciplines.
Enforce accountability to scope, schedule, and quality standards, escalating issues as needed.
Develop and actively manage a dynamic project schedule.
Identify, monitor, and protect the critical path.
Continuously validate timelines, proactively adjust, and remove roadblocks to maintain progress.
Monitor budget performance in real time to ensure transparency and prevent unexpected variances.
Critically assess cost assumptions and consultant estimates.
Identify financial risks early and implement mitigation strategies in collaboration with cost consultants.
Proactively lead permitting and approvals to maintain momentum.
Closely track submissions, dependencies, and timelines, ensuring timely resolution of comments.
Lead procurement processes for consultants and the General Contractor.
Ensure tender and design packages are complete, coordinated, and construction-ready.
Identify and mitigate gaps early to minimize change orders and support effective contractor selection.
Prepare the project for a seamless transition into construction.
Ensure that design is complete, well-coordinated, and aligned with budget prior to tender.
Identify and address gaps early to minimize potential change orders and support effective contractor selection.
Prepare the project for seamless transition into construction.
Deliver clear, concise, and transparent reporting to senior leadership.
Surface issues early and maintain strong control over decisions and information flow.