Project Director

Project Director

LOCATION

Paris

INDUSTRY

DATE POSTED

19 December, 2025

CONTRACT

Permanent

Project Director

The Project Director is accountable for defining project objectives and designing the strategies and methodologies required to achieve them. This is done through a thorough understanding of client expectations, contractual obligations, and internal corporate policies. The role involves planning, organising, leading, and controlling all project activities in compliance with applicable standards, procedures, systems, and regulatory requirements.

The Project Director oversees project teams through intermediate managers, ensuring effective coordination and consistently high performance. They are responsible for delivering highly complex or large-scale projects, or for managing multiple projects or programmes that involve significant strategic importance or elevated risk.

With a strong ability to conceptualise and structure innovative solutions to complex technical or functional challenges, the Project Director also demonstrates a deep understanding of business operations and a proven capability to lead organisational change within the project environment. Solutions are developed through holistic analysis and multidisciplinary collaboration. Day-to-day project execution is managed through Project Managers or dedicated leads.

Key Responsibilities

Each primary area of responsibility is aligned with expected outcomes, which contribute to the assessment of role proficiency.

• Lead and manage multidisciplinary project teams, both internal and external, including subcontractors and/or other project managers.
• Define the optimal project organisation structure; coach, motivate, and monitor team performance; ensure quality deliverables and on-time execution, while proactively addressing performance gaps.
• Foster a collaborative working environment built on a shared vision, clear objectives, and strong individual accountability.
• Apply recognised methodologies for managing complex projects (e.g. FEL, FEED) and associated tools with a high level of proficiency.
• Assume full accountability for very large-scale projects, overseeing all technical, administrative, and financial aspects from planning through to close-out, including budget control.
• Contribute to the definition of procurement strategies and the implementation of appropriate contractual approaches (e.g. hybrid or shared-risk contracts).
• Manage scope changes effectively and ensure controlled integration into the project baseline.
• Monitor project progress closely and produce accurate, timely, and reliable reporting.
• Coordinate the development and execution of an integrated set of project management plans across multiple workstreams.
• Establish and maintain robust project management processes, including risk management, quality control, and change management.
• Analyse project control reports to identify critical issues and define appropriate recovery or mitigation plans.
• Interpret and oversee project schedules holistically to anticipate deviations and optimise resource allocation.
• Supervise coordination activities, technical reviews, and operational follow-up throughout the full project lifecycle.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with all stakeholders, including clients, authorities, suppliers, partners, and subcontractors.

Required Professional Knowledge and Experience

Technical Competencies

• Over 20 years of professional experience, including at least 15 years in supervisory, project management, and/or technical leadership roles on complex industrial projects.
• Proven experience delivering EPCM and EPC projects, including site-based assignments in multicultural and international environments.
• Strong understanding of decarbonisation technologies and CO? emissions reduction; recognised expertise in this area is highly desirable.
• Master's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline such as engineering, sustainability, extractive industries, or a related field.
• Professional registration or recognised affiliation within the relevant jurisdiction.
• Project or programme management certification from an internationally recognised body (e.g. IPMA, APM, PMI, AIPM).

Additional Skills and Attributes

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, motivate, and unite multidisciplinary teams around shared goals.
• Excellent communication skills, enabling effective interaction with stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Strategic mindset combined with a strong results orientation and rigorous operational discipline.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and make sound decisions in uncertain or evolving environments.
• Strong interpersonal skills, diplomacy, and the ability to build trusted, long-term stakeholder relationships.
• Analytical and synthesis capabilities with a solution-oriented and continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong commitment to safety, ethics, and sustainable performance.