Project Director (Justice)

Vanir is a proud minority- and woman-owned company, recognized as a national leader in program, project and construction management (PMCM) and real estate development. Since 1964, we have consistently exceeded client expectations. Ranked as a top PMCM firm by Engineering News-Record (ENR) for more than three decades, our award-winning team provides a full range of services to public and private sector clients in the aviation; healthcare; education (K-12 and higher); justice and essential services; science and technology; state and local government; transportation; water and wastewater; energy; and commercial, residential and nonprofit markets.

Position Overview

Vanir is seeking an experienced Project Director - Justice & Essential Services to join our Pacific Northwest team. This position is an opportunity for a proven leader with strong communication skills and significant experience delivering complex justice, detention, and essential services facilities.

Vanir has managed more than 270 justice projects valued at over $5 billion, including new and renovated courthouses, police facilities, jails, prisons, juvenile detention centers, and emergency operations facilities.

The Project Director will provide leadership and oversight for assigned projects and programs, with responsibility for client satisfaction, project performance, team leadership, and successful delivery. This individual will also support Vanir's continued growth in the Justice & Essential Services market by strengthening client relationships and contributing to business development and pursuit efforts.

The position reports to the Area Manager and collaborates with senior managers, project teams, estimators, schedulers, and other construction professionals across Vanir.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The Project Director leads project operations and provides planning, coordination, and direction throughout all phases of assigned projects to ensure compliance with scope, schedule, budget, safety, quality, contractual, client, and Vanir requirements.

Responsibilities include:

Advise clients in establishing program goals, priorities, and implementation strategies aligned with their strategic objectives.
• Lead planning, coordination, and execution in accordance with client policies, procedures, and applicable justice facility requirements.
• Develop implementation plans, project delivery strategies, and master schedules that reflect client priorities and operational constraints.
• Provide leadership in estimating, contract negotiation, scheduling, cost management, forecasting, design coordination, planning, and change management.
• Manage program controls, cost, schedule, staffing, billing, performance, and timely completion of client deliverables.
• Maintain accurate project documentation and provide clear and timely internal and external management reporting.
• Collaborate with client senior leadership and effectively present project and program information to internal, public, and stakeholder groups.
• Identify project risks, develop mitigation strategies, recommend appropriate actions, and assist in resolving complex design and construction issues.
• Lead and mentor project teams, establish performance expectations, and ensure quality services consistent with Vanir procedures and client requirements.
• Manage consultants, contractors, architects, engineers, and other project participants to support successful project delivery.
• Ensure compliance with contractual requirements related to safety, performance, project staffing, quality, and project controls.
• Develop, maintain, and implement Project Management Plans, procedures manuals, quality management systems, and other required project documentation.
• Monitor project fees, budgets, resource utilization, and financial performance.
• Support business development activities, including client engagement, lead identification, capture planning, proposal development, and interview preparation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Represent Vanir and/or the client at public meetings, stakeholder meetings, and other professional forums.
• Serve as, or assign, the Facility Administrator under Vanir's Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), coordinating with Vanir's Director of Health, Risk and Safety as required.

Key Knowledge & Skills

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Advanced knowledge of justice, detention, jail, and/or essential services facility planning, design, and construction.
• Experience with master planning, A/E solicitation, project development, design-phase management, construction estimating, cost control, project controls, CPM scheduling, procurement, contracts, documentation, and safety.
• Thorough understanding of contract documents, drawings, specifications, project accounting, and construction administration.
• Knowledge of traditional and alternative project delivery methods, including Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build.
• Strong negotiation, problem-solving, risk-management, and dispute-resolution skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, mentor, and develop project professionals.
• Experience supporting business development, capture planning, proposal development, and client interviews.
• Ability to communicate effectively with executive leadership, clients, public agencies, contractors, consultants, and community stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Architecture, or a related field OR equivalent relevant professional experience in lieu of a degree.
  • 10+ years of recent project and/or program management experience, with demonstrated experience delivering large, complex justice, jail, detention, or similar essential services projects.
  • Strong technical and practical background in justice, jail, detention, and/or essential services facility design and construction.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience managing multidisciplinary project teams.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment.
  • Working knowledge of construction estimating, cost management, project controls, scheduling, documentation, contracts, engineering and construction principles, materials, methods, and industry practices.
  • Experience with alternative project delivery methods, including Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build.
  • Experience managing or providing project/program management services on large, complex projects. Experience with justice or jail projects valued at $100 million or greater is highly desirable.

  Preferred Qualifications & Certifications

  • Certified Construction Manager (CCM) or Construction Manager in Training (CMIT).
  • DBIA Designated Design-Build Professional or Associate DBIA certification.
  • Registered Architect (RA) or Professional Engineer (PE).
  • Experience developing and maintaining client relationships and supporting business development within the Justice & Essential Services market.

• What We're Looking For

• We are looking for a leader who combines strong technical project delivery experience with the ability to build relationships, lead teams, communicate effectively, and represent Vanir with clients and industry partners. The ideal candidate understands the unique operational and stakeholder requirements associated with justice and essential services facilities and can help strengthen and grow Vanir's presence in this market.

Benefits

Vanir offers a comprehensive, competitive benefits package that includes 401(k) Savings with employer matching contributions, medical, dental, vision, health savings account (HSA) with employer contributions, life, AD&D and disability benefits, flexible spending account (FSA), voluntary benefits, Teladoc, pet insurance, paid time off, national employee assistance program (EAP) and employee referral program.

If you're interested in working for Vanir please visit our website to learn more and to apply online at www.vanir.com.