The Opportunity: Project Director- Major Capital Projects

Location: South-Central California

Company Overview

Our client is a private equity-backed renewable fuels company focused on expanding production capacity through strategic capital investments and operational excellence. Following a significant organizational transformation, the company is investing heavily in critical infrastructure and facility expansion projects designed to improve reliability, increase production, and support long-term growth. With an entrepreneurial leadership team and a commitment to operational excellence, the organization offers the opportunity to play a key leadership role in shaping its future.

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced Project Director to lead the development and execution of a major capital expansion project. Acting as the owner's representative, this individual will have full accountability for delivering a large-scale capital investment from early concept development through engineering, contractor selection, construction, commissioning, startup, and operational handoff.

This is a highly visible leadership opportunity for an execution-oriented capital projects professional who thrives in building organizations, solving complex challenges, and driving projects from concept through completion. Working closely with executive leadership, the Project Director will establish the company's capital project management capabilities while ensuring the successful delivery of one of its most important strategic initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all phases of a major capital project from conceptual planning through engineering, construction, commissioning, startup, and operational turnover.
• Serve as the owner's representative with full accountability for project cost, schedule, safety, quality, regulatory compliance, and execution.
• Develop project execution strategies, contracting plans, procurement processes, permitting activities, commissioning plans, and risk management frameworks.
• Build and lead the owner's project organization, establishing the team structure, governance, and processes necessary for successful execution.
• Partner closely with operations, engineering, maintenance, finance, environmental, health & safety, and executive leadership to ensure successful project integration.
• Oversee project controls, including budgeting, forecasting, scheduling, reporting, and risk mitigation.
• Lead construction, commissioning, startup, and performance validation while maintaining a strong focus on safety and operational excellence.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement throughout the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive capital project leadership experience within complex industrial or process manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated success serving as the owner's representative on large-scale capital projects from early development through startup.
• Experience leading capital projects valued between approximately $50M-$150M or larger.
• Strong experience managing EPC contractors, engineering firms, consultants, vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Background executing projects within operating manufacturing or industrial facilities.
• Working knowledge of front-end project development, project controls, commissioning, startup, and operational turnover.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Willingness to relocate and maintain a significant on-site presence throughout project execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within refining, petrochemical, specialty chemicals, renewable energy, industrial manufacturing, or other complex process industries.
• Experience working within union labor environments.
• Advanced degree and/or professional certifications such as PE, PMP, or AACE.
• Experience building or scaling project organizations and establishing project governance processes.

Work Environment & Travel

This position is based on-site at a major manufacturing facility and requires regular interaction with plant operations, engineering teams, construction personnel, contractors, and executive leadership. Periodic travel to engineering offices, fabrication facilities, and vendor locations will be required throughout the project lifecycle.

Compensation: $300K+ base + 40% target bonus + LTI + relocation assistance