Project Director

This role requires someone who has successfully delivered large-scale distribution or fulfillment center projects and can manage multiple stakeholders while keeping the project on schedule, within budget, and aligned with long-term operational objectives.

What You'll Do

• Lead the full lifecycle of a new distribution center project from planning through operational go-live.
• Manage facility planning, building design, and warehouse layout to optimize operational flow and future scalability.
• Partner with architects, general contractors, engineering firms, automation integrators, and technology vendors throughout the project.
• Oversee project schedules, budgets, risk management, and overall execution.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including Operations, IT, Finance, Procurement, and Executive Leadership.
• Direct warehouse automation implementation, including material handling equipment, conveyor systems, storage solutions, and warehouse technologies.
• Support warehouse management system (WMS) design, configuration, testing, and integration with automation systems.
• Oversee business process design, material flow, capacity planning, and operational readiness.
• Develop and execute commissioning, startup, and operational stabilization plans, along with local Operations Management team.
• Ensure project milestones are achieved while proactively identifying and mitigating project risks.
• Manage external vendors and consultants while maintaining quality, safety, and budget expectations.
• Support the transition from construction to fully operational warehouse.

Qualifications

• 15 years of progressive experience leading the planning and delivery of large-scale distribution center, warehouse, logistics, or fulfillment center projects.
• Demonstrated experience managing new facility construction, warehouse expansions, or major distribution center implementations.
• Experience with projects involving facilities of approximately 200,000 to 500,000 square feet or larger preferred.
• Experience managing capital projects with budgets of approximately $50M preferred.
• Strong background in facility design, warehouse layout, and operational planning.
• Experience working directly with general contractors, architects, engineering firms, automation integrators, and equipment vendors.
• Knowledge of warehouse automation technologies including conveyor systems, ASRS, robotics, sortation, and material handling systems.
• Experience with Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) implementation or integration.
• Strong understanding of warehouse operations, inventory flow, fulfillment processes, and supply chain operations.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, vendor management, and stakeholder leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with greenfield distribution center development.
• Background leading highly automated warehouse projects.
• Experience supporting operational startup and stabilization after facility launch.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or equivalent, an asset.