Only Singaporeans/PRs are eligible to apply

Role Summary

The Project Director is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing large, complex projects (or a portfolio of projects) from initiation through completion, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, to quality, safety, and environmental standards. The Project Director will act as the primary point of accountability for project performance, stakeholder engagement, strategic decision-making, and risk management.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Leadership

• Define and drive project strategy, goals, and direction in alignment with corporate objectives.

• Lead and mentor project leadership teams (Project Managers, Construction Managers, Discipline Leads), fostering high performance, accountability, and professional development.

• Provide vision and leadership through all phases (planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning).

• Represent Penta-Ocean with clients, government agencies, consultants, and other high-level stakeholders; act as primary escalation point.

Project Planning & Execution

• Oversee development of project execution plans, including scope, schedule, cost, and resource plans.

• Approve major technical, commercial, and contractual decisions.

• Ensure all project deliverables (engineering, procurement, construction) are aligned and integrated.

• Monitor project progress (schedule, cost, quality) and institute corrective actions when deviations occur.

• Understand and manage interfaces (internal and external) across disciplines, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers.

Financial & Commercial Management

• Drive the financial performance of projects: cost control, budget management, forecasting, change management.

• Lead contract negotiations, claims, variations, and disputes.

• Oversee procurement strategy, major vendor / subcontractor selection, and contract management.

• Ensure profitability and margin targets are met (or exceeded), while maintaining project risk within acceptable tolerance.

Risk, Quality, Health, Safety & Environment (HSE)

• Identify, assess, and mitigate project-level risks (technical, commercial, schedule, safety, environmental).

• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal, and environmental requirements.

• Champion a culture of zero harm, safety leadership, and stringent quality standards.

• Ensure robust quality assurance / quality control systems are in place.

Stakeholder & Client Interface

• Serve as the primary interface with the client (owner, government, agencies) for executive-level communication.

• Manage expectations, reporting, and escalation of critical issues.

• Negotiate key decisions, changes, approvals, and maintain strong client relationships.

• Coordinate with external stakeholders: authorities, consultants, local communities, utilities.

Reporting & Governance

• Provide regular executive-level reports on project status, risks, and forecasts to senior management.

• Participate in governance forums: steering committees, board reviews, audits.

• Ensure compliance with corporate policies, controls, and audit requirements.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline.

• Minimum 15–20 years of progressively responsible experience in construction / civil engineering projects, with at least 5–8 years in senior leadership / directorial roles.

• Proven track record leading large, complex infrastructure, marine/coastal, reclamation, or heavy civil projects (value in the hundreds of millions to billions).

• Strong financial & commercial acumen, with experience in contract negotiation, claims, cost control, and risk management.

• Excellent leadership, people management, and stakeholder management skills.

• Deep understanding of project management methodologies, tools, and systems.

• In-depth knowledge of health, safety, environmental standards and quality assurance.

• Excellent communication skills — able to engage across all levels (site to board).

• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and crisis management capabilities.

• Willingness to travel and reside at project sites as needed.

Preferred / Desirable

• Experience in marine works, coastal structures, dredging, land reclamation.

• Experience working in Asia / Southeast Asia, with knowledge of local regulatory, environmental, permitting contexts.

• International project experience, particularly in multi-cultural environments.

• Professional certifications (PMP, Chartered Engineer, etc.).

• Experience with sustainability, green building, carbon / emissions mitigation practices.

Key Competencies & Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with strong business orientation

• Resilient under pressure; ability to lead through ambiguity

• High integrity, ethics, and professionalism

• Influential, persuasive, with strong negotiation skills

• Empowering leadership style; team builder

• Results-driven, proactive, hands-on as needed

KPIs / Success Metrics

• Project delivery on schedule, within budget

• Achievement of quality, safety, and environmental targets (zero major incidents)

• Client satisfaction and retention

• Profit margin achievement

• Effective risk mitigation and recovery

• Team development, turnover, and performance

Reporting & Interface

• Reports to: Regional Managing Director / Executive Board

• Interfaces with: Project Leadership Teams, Head Office Functions (Finance, Legal, Procurement, HR, Technical), Clients, Consultants, Authorities, Stakeholders