Project Director, Federal Programs (West)

Great Falls, MT

Base up to approximately $230,000 per year, plus a project-based incentive and bonus plan and a full benefits package

Posted by: Workspire

About the Opportunity

Workspire is partnering with a nationally renowned, private, PE-backed industrial and infrastructure construction contractor to find the visionary leader who will stand up and scale its federal construction program across the West. Our partner self-performs across civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical scopes, serving major industry verticals with a commitment to operational excellence. We are proud to represent an organization that pairs ambitious, calculated growth with the grit, stewardship, and investment-in-people values that built it.

This is a keystone leadership role. Our partner has secured significant federally funded work, including active projects requiring strict adherence to the federal process, and is now investing in a dedicated Project Director to own and grow this portfolio. Operating with strategic autonomy, you will lead the execution of these projects, install robust controls, and shape the regional blueprint from the ground up. By championing core values of integrity, urgency, and excellence, you will guide the program from its current subcontractor posture toward an eventual prime contractor capability.

You Will Do

• Establish the federal execution and compliance framework for the West Region within the first 90 days, ensuring complete adherence to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and EH&S standards.
• Roll up, stabilize, and assume profit-and-loss ownership of the current regional federal portfolio, with exposure up to approximately $100 million, within six months.
• Build and qualify the federal opportunity pipeline by vetting pursuits and cultivating active agency and district relationships within the first twelve months.
• Coach, mentor, and develop a high-performing initial team of five to seven project managers and engineers, driving operational excellence and cross-functional collaboration.
• Drive awarded projects from procurement through pre-start-up, enforcing stringent project controls, OSHA standards, and effective subcontractor management.
• Navigate the complexity of a geographically dispersed portfolio across the West. This challenge presents a rare, greenfield opportunity to design a regional operational blueprint from the ground up with high executive visibility.

What We Are Looking For (Required)

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in project management and/or project controls within the federal or military construction industry, with a genuine command of the federal construction process and the FAR.
• Minimum of 7 years of supervisory experience specifically overseeing structural, civil, and mechanical fields.
• Demonstrated expertise with estimating, project strategy, proposal development, portfolio-level P&L, and subcontractor management.
• A bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a similar relevant field, plus the ability to be cleared for Air Force Base or site access.
• Preferred: An active or current DoD security clearance, PMP certification, OSHA 30, and existing federal agency and district relationships that can generate early opportunities.
• A calm, deliberate, and accountable leader who maintains emotional control under high-stakes, schedule-driven pressure and possesses the field credibility to earn a team's absolute trust.
• If you are excited about this role but do not meet every single qualification, we still encourage you to apply.

How to stand out (Preferred):

• An active or current DoD security clearance, PMP certification, OSHA 30, and existing federal agency and district relationships that help generate early opportunities.
• A calm, deliberate, and accountable leader with a measured business development instinct and the field credibility to earn a team's trust.
• If you are excited about this role but do not meet every qualification, we still encourage you to apply.

Why This Role Stands Out

• A genuine build opportunity: stand up and scale a federal program inside an established, well-capitalized platform, with a clear path from a five-to-seven-person team to a much larger portfolio.
• Competitive compensation with a project-based incentive plan, plus medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) with company match, paid time off and holiday pay, and life and disability coverage.
• Strategic influence and executive visibility up to the Regional Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, with the flexibility to anchor where you live based on your appetite for travel.

At Workspire, we partner exclusively with organizations that value experienced leadership, operational discipline, and long term investment in talent. Every opportunity we represent is vetted for impact, advancement potential, and cultural alignment because where and how you work matters.

Workspire and our client partners are proud to be equal opportunity employers. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.