Director of Special Projects

Job Description

DIRECTOR OF PROJECTS

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North America | Capital Projects & MAC

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Lead Projects. Build Capability. Drive Growth. Shape the Future of Places.

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At ISS , we believe people make places — and places make people .

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We are seeking an accomplished and commercially driven Director of Projects to provide strategic leadership for Capital Projects and Moves, Adds & Changes (MAC) across a key North American account.

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This is more than a project delivery role. It is an opportunity to shape and grow a high-performing projects organization—building capability, strengthening credibility, driving cost leadership, and establishing an exceptional standard of project delivery across North America.

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Working across operations, commercial teams, supply chain partners, key accounts and global stakeholders, the Director of Projects will lead the strategy, governance and execution required to deliver complex capital programs safely, commercially and consistently.

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THE OPPORTUNITY

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As Director of Projects , you will take ownership of the strategic and tactical development of the Capital Projects and MAC portfolio while helping position ISS for continued growth within the North American projects market.

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Your leadership will center around the 3Cs of the Global Blueprint:

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CAPABILITY

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Build and develop a world-class project management organization with the expertise, resources and processes required to deliver exceptional results.

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CREDIBILITY

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Strengthen confidence with clients and stakeholders through consistent delivery, strong governance, transparency and operational excellence.

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COST LEADERSHIP

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Drive commercial discipline, resource optimization and supply chain strategies that maximize value and support sustainable growth.

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WHAT YOU’LL LEAD

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Capital Projects & MAC

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Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the delivery of Capital Projects and MAC programs across the account, establishing a scalable and consistent delivery model.

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Growth & Commercial Performance

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Identify opportunities to organically grow the projects business while contributing to North American revenue and margin objectives.

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Own and influence critical commercial disciplines, including:

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• P&L accountability
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• Project financial performance
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• Commercial governance
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• Cost management
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• Estimating and tendering
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• Resource optimization
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• Supply chain and subcontractor strategy
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Project Excellence

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Establish and maintain rigorous project delivery standards aligned with ISS Global Operations – Capital Projects.

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Drive consistency across the complete project lifecycle—from opportunity identification and estimating through execution, commissioning and closeout.

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Governance, Compliance & Risk

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Champion an uncompromising culture of safety, governance and compliance.

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You will help ensure:

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Zero H&S incidents. Strong operational controls. Commercial compliance. Effective audit programs. Proactive risk management.

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People Leadership

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Build, lead, coach and develop high-performing Project Management teams.

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Create an environment of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement while ensuring teams have the capabilities and resources necessary to deliver exceptional outcomes.

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Client & Stakeholder Partnership

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Serve as a senior project leadership interface across North America, developing trusted relationships with:

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• Client leadership and stakeholders
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• ISS Account Leadership
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• Country Teams
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• Key Accounts
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• Global Operations
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• Supply chain and subcontractor partners
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• External customers and strategic partners
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WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

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Success in this role means delivering measurable impact across both business growth and project performance , including:

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• Organic growth of the Capital Projects business
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• Achievement of revenue and margin targets
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• Consistent, high-quality project delivery
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• Strong project governance and commercial controls
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• Zero Health & Safety incidents
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• Full compliance with required governance standards
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• Established operational, commercial and H&S audit regimes
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• A highly capable and engaged Project Management organization
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• Strong client relationships and increased confidence in ISS project delivery
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THE LEADER WE’RE LOOKING FOR

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You are a strategic project leader who can see both the big picture and the details required to execute it .

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You bring strong commercial instincts, executive presence and the ability to lead complex projects, people and stakeholder relationships in demanding corporate environments.

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Ideally, you will bring:

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• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
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• Professional expertise and/or qualifications within Construction, Engineering or the Built Environment
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• Approximately 10+ years of progressive project leadership experience , including experience at Senior Manager level within building projects, facilities management or a related environment
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• Experience within banking, corporate environments and/or commercial office portfolios preferred
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• Demonstrated experience leading projects valued at $20M+
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• Strong knowledge of Health & Safety compliance and project risk management
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• Experience estimating project costs and developing high-quality tenders and commercial proposals
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• Strong financial and commercial acumen
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• Experience developing and managing subcontractor and supply chain strategies
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• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and develop Project Management teams
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• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
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• Strong technology proficiency, including Microsoft Office and Microsoft Project
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• A results-oriented leadership style with an uncompromising focus on safety, quality and delivery
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YOUR LEADERSHIP EDGE

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To thrive in this position, you will demonstrate strength in:

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People Leadership — Inspire teams and effectively influence diverse stakeholders.

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Commercial Acumen — Understand the financial, labor, material and operational variables that drive successful projects.

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Resource Management — Deploy people, partners and resources intelligently to maximize performance.

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Customer Orientation — Understand client priorities and translate them into exceptional project outcomes.

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Operational Excellence — Establish and maintain high standards for quality, safety and performance.

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Resilience — Lead confidently and objectively through complex, fast-moving and high-pressure environments.

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Decision-Making — Make timely, informed decisions throughout the project lifecycle and take ownership of results.

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WORK ENVIRONMENT

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This position offers a hybrid work environment , combining remote work with onsite collaboration and project engagement.

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The role may require:

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• Up to 25% travel
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• Occasional visits to operational and project sites
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• Virtual and in-person leadership meetings
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• Extended computer and desk-based work
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• Ability to lift a minimum of 15 pounds when required during site activities
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WHY ISS?

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At ISS, our purpose is connecting people and places to make the world work better .

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We create workplaces that support people, strengthen organizations and deliver exceptional experiences. Our success is powered by talented people who bring leadership, innovation, collaboration and care to everything they do.

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For this role, you won't simply manage projects.

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You’ll build capability.

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Strengthen credibility.

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Drive commercial performance.

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Develop people.

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And help shape the future of Capital Projects across North America.

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Ready to lead what’s next?

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Join ISS and help create places that work, think and perform better.

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HSEQ Compliance: All employees must adhere to Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ) policies and procedures to ensure a safe and compliant work environment. This includes following safety protocols, maintaining environmental responsibility, and upholding quality standards in all tasks. Employees are expected to actively participate in HSEQ training and report any potential hazards or compliance concerns.

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To Executive Search Firms and Staffing Agencies: ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer property, and ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer will not be obligated to pay a referral fee. This includes resumes submitted directly to Hiring Managers without contacting the ISS Facility Services / Guckenheimer Human Resources Talent Acquisition Department.

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As a global organization, ISS Group is committed to making the international community more resilient and just for all people. We encourage diversity and inclusion in their broadest terms, including ethnicity, race, age, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, culture, and educational background. We look to lead our industry by example and to positively influence the market wherever we operate.