Project Director (Power)

Job Description

Job Description

Executive Summary & Role Purpose

W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company is seeking a seasoned, executive-level Project Director – Power Generation to lead major capital projects for our Yates Industrial Division .

The Project Director provides overall leadership, operational oversight, P&L accountability, and customer relationship management for large-scale power construction projects valued at $100 million or greater. This executive serves as the direct point of contact for project owners, leading corporate safety and quality programs, contract negotiations, budget performance, and schedule compliance.

Because Yates Industrial operates under an 80% Direct Hire / 20% Subcontractor execution model , the Project Director must possess extensive experience directing multi-craft direct-hire craft labor (boilermakers, millwrights, pipefitters, ironworkers, electricians) alongside managing specialized subcontracts on Simple Cycle, Combined Cycle (CCGT), Air-Cooled Condenser (ACC), Cogeneration (CHP), and Balance of Plant (BOP) installations.

Key Responsibilities & Principal Duties A. Executive Project Leadership & P&L Management

• Provide total project oversight from preconstruction through final commissioning and commercial operation for projects valued at $100MM+.
• Manage project financial health, updating EOJ (End of Job) forecasts, weekly profit calculations, monthly owner status reports, cash flow projections, fee analyses, and burn rates.
• Convert project estimates into EOJ setup structures and establish baseline budgets.

B. Direct Hire Execution & Craft Productivity

• Lead field operations management teams to optimize direct-hire craft labor productivity across civil, structural steel, heavy rigging, boiler tubework, process/power piping, and E&I installations.
• Drive accurate unit tracking for direct-hire self-perform work and ensure constructability reviews and Virtual Design & Construction (VDC/BIM) strategies are embedded in field execution plans.
• Oversee material logistics, equipment utilization, and labor staffing strategies to maintain performance factor targets.

C. Subcontract Procurement

• Participate in bid package preparation, subcontract scope development, vendor selection, and negotiation of standard subcontracts and purchase orders for executive execution.
• Manage specialized subcontracts (NDT, refractory, heavy haul/rigging, insulation, specialized testing), ensuring unit tracking accuracy, payment application validation, and contract compliance.

D. Safety Program Administration & QA/QC Standards

• Develop, administer, and enforce project-specific safety programs, aiming for incremental safety improvements and maintaining zero-incident job sites.
• Conduct regular site walk-throughs to verify safety adherence, site cleanliness, and corporate quality standards.
• Oversee project-specific QA/QC practices to ensure construction meets project technical specifications, ASME codes, and Yates quality standards.

E. Schedule Logic, Change Management & Controls

• Lead the development and maintenance of the master Critical Path Method (CPM) schedule in Primavera P6 prior to and throughout construction duration.
• Monitor direct-hire and subcontractor progress against prescribed project milestones; develop aggressive recovery plans when schedule variances occur.
• Oversee the change management system, ensuring owner change orders and subcontractor scope adjustments are fully validated with zero missing information or discrepancies.

F. Client Relations, Owner Representation & Contract Execution

• Act as the primary point of contact for owner representatives, hosting regular owner progress meetings, previewing proposals, and leading executive presentations.
• Manage contract execution, payment application processes, tracking of receivables, and overall commercial risk (including OCIP/CCIP insurance programs).
• Lead project close-out procedures, subcontractor releases, final owner sign-off, and commercial closeout.

Required Qualifications & Competencies Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Management, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a closely related field preferred (equivalent experience accepted).
• Minimum 12+ years of industry experience, with at least 8+ years in construction management leadership .
• Required Experience: Proven track record managing direct-hire power projects valued at $100 Million or greater .
• Preferred Certification: PMP Certification preferred.
• Direct-hire experience with Air-Cooled Condensers (ACC) , Simple Cycle, and Combined Cycle power plants required.

Technical Systems & Contractual Expertise

• Software Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of Primavera P6, MS Project, MC2 / Timberline, Project Sight , and MS Office (Excel, Word).
• Commercial Acumen: In-depth understanding of project cost reporting (cash flow, burn rates, fee analysis, EOJ setup), contract types, construction law, and insurance programs (OCIP, CCIP).
• Engineering Literacy: Ability to interpret complex technical specifications, P&IDs, single-line diagrams, blueprints, and engineering manuals.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Executive leadership presence, effective negotiation skills, and strategic decision-making capability.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary project teams, coach junior project managers, and maintain strong client relationships.
• Strict compliance with Yates Core Values, Code of Conduct, and Safety Responsibilities.

Work Location & Physical Demands

• Primary Location: Regional power project job sites across the United States, with base support from the Yates Industrial Division in Birmingham, Alabama.
• Physical Demands: Site walk-throughs, standing, walking active job sites, operating equipment/tools, climbing elevated structures, and lifting items up to 25 lbs in varied outdoor weather conditions.

Summary of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Safety Performance: Zero lost-time incidents and continuous improvement in project safety metrics.
• Financial Margin & EOJ: Delivery of target project profit, positive cash flow, and accurate weekly/monthly EOJ financial forecasts.
• Direct-Hire Productivity: Performance Factor (PF) equal to or better than 1.0 across direct-hire self-perform trades.
• Schedule Milestone Adherence: On-time achievement of critical project milestones (turbine placement, first fire, mechanical completion, COD).
• Client Satisfaction: Outstanding owner evaluations, prompt change order settlements, and successful contract closeout.

About Yates Construction

Ranked among the top commercial and industrial construction companies in the country by Engineering News-Record , Yates Construction is family-owned. It provides a wide range of construction and building services. Incorporated in 1964 by William G. Yates Jr., we have steadily grown to become one of the nation's top commercial and industrial construction companies. We are financially sound, with a significant bonding capacity and vast personnel and equipment resources.

Our portfolio includes commercial and industrial projects from various sectors, including arts and culture, civil, commercial, education, entertainment and gaming, federal, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, municipal, retail, and technology. We work hard to understand our clients' business needs and continually look for opportunities to add value to them and their projects.

Our client relationships are the foundation of our success, and our primary goal is to help each of our clients achieve their vision. We do this by carefully managing the details and complexities of each project and communicating constantly with all team members.

Yates Construction provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal and state law requirements.

Yates complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location where the company has facilities.