Director of Project Management

Description

The Director of Project Management is accountable for managing and continuously improving an effective engineering project management function to meet the company’s delivery demands. Provides company-wide oversight of project performance, project manager capacity, and high-risk project needs. Leads improvement efforts focused on project management tools, methodologies, standards, and training. 

This position operates under a hybrid work model based out of our Smyrna, TN office. The role requires a regular, routine onsite presence for face-to-face collaboration, team meetings, and hands-on projects, combined with the flexibility of partial remote work. Additionally this position requires up to 25% travel to client sites regionally and throughout the continental US.  

Requirements

• Monitor project and project manager performance, including project health, project management KPIs, monthly revenue recognition, and financial risk indicators; communicate trends, risks, and needed actions to executive leadership.
• Identify and triage troubled or high-risk projects; coordinate recovery support, escalation, and corrective action follow-through as needed.
• Own and continuously improve project management processes, tools, standards, templates, and training materials.
• Champion and enforce consistent adoption of the company’s project management methodology and work practices.
• Assign project managers and project leads to opportunities and projects; coordinate with Business Development and Engineering Leadership to support upcoming work.
• Monitor and adjust project manager loading, capacity, and resource needs.
• Review quality audit results and monitor compliance with project management-related operating documents, standards, and procedures.
• Facilitate the process of capturing lessons learned, performing root cause analysis, mitigation planning, and implementing corrective or preventive actions for all project management activities.
• Lead hiring and onboarding for project managers.
• Mentor project managers and project leads and support their career development.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience   

• Candidates should have a B.S. degree in Engineering or a related discipline and 10 years of management experience in systems integration or a similar industry, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Formal project management certification such as PMP or PMI-ACP.
• Proven track record of successful project leadership including the mentoring of project managers.

Skills

• Sufficient technical knowledge to enable clear understanding and efficient communication between technical engineers and customer stakeholders.
• Thorough understanding of project management principles and planning; recognized as an authority in this domain.
• Organized with strong attention to detail and follow up skills.
• Excellent analytical, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent negotiation skills.
• Ability to lead through others and influence outside of direct reporting lines.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• General Office demands.
• Sitting at a desk or console for extended periods.
• Must be able to be fitted for Personal Protective Equipment for certain customers.
• Standing and walking on a concrete surface for extended periods.
• Kneeling periodically on concrete or padded surfaces.
• Lifting and carrying 25 lbs. or more.
• Walking/working in mezzanine (screen guard) area (20 – 25 ft. high, wire mesh floor).
• Climbing a ladder or metal stairs to access mezzanine (screen guard) area.
• Work in wash-down locations with wet/slippery floors.

Work Schedule

Must be able to work extended hours when needed and able to work at night or non-traditional shifts as needed.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The work environment for this job is primarily office with occasional industrial setting or overnight travel.