Director, Project Services - Philadelphia, United States - Livent USA Corp

Description

Job Description

In January 2024, Livent merged with Allkem Limited to create Arcadium Lithium plc. While we work to integrate our technology systems, including our recruitment platforms, Arcadium Lithium plc will use Livent's ADP system to capture all candidate information.

About Arcadium Lithium: We are change-makers, joining forces to drive progress. A world enabled by the critical mineral, Lithium - the elemental source powering modern life and our global transition to clean energy.

For decades, we've grown alongside and collaborated with our people, our customers and communities. Pioneering, collaborating, and evolving Together.

From the birth of the first lithium-ion battery to the breakthrough lithium advancements that have followed. We've helped lead the change, powering the future of lithium innovation.

Our growth continues to be strategic, expansive and sustainable. With a wealth of premier lithium resources spread across the world in key locations. We can reliably, safely and responsibly provide the resources to meet the diverse needs of our customers.

No matter where they are. No matter the challenge. It's all about delivering on the high expectation for quality, performance and sustainability.

And our duty goes even further. It includes everyone on the planet using a lithium-powered device or vehicle.

Every battery charged. Every device powered. Every lithium application utilized. Underscoring our commitment to quality, collaboration and our shared vision of powering a more sustainable future for everyone.

Arcadium Lithium is more than just a company. It's a promise, and a commitment by our people. To act ethically and responsibly ensuring that our legacy is one of positive impact and lasting change.

Position Summary: As part of an international project execution team, the Director, Project Services is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing and optimizing the Project Services Function within the Project Management Office (PMO) for Capital Projects.

The PMO serves as the backbone of our project delivery strategy, providing support and coordination for our ongoing and future projects in Argentina, Australia, Canada, USA, and other international locations. The PMO is responsible for establishing best in class project standards, promoting knowledge sharing and facilitating coordination across our regional execution teams.

The Director, Project Services will be responsible for managing the project services function within the Project Management Office (PMO) for Capital Projects. The PMO oversees global capital projects with a value of more than $20 Million. This function will play a key role in aligning project services practices with the Company's strategic objectives, with close attention to superior HSE, quality, cost, and schedule outcomes The Director, Project Services will provide strategic direction, guidance, and support to ensure the successful planning, execution, and delivery of Capital Projects.

The PMO will support the following types of projects:

• All greenfield capital projects
• All brownfield capital expansions and
• All large manufacturing retrofits including, but not limited to, process improvements and equipment installations

The Director, Project Services will be accountable for the project services function within the PMO, providing support to capital projects including but not limited to:

• Strategic Leadership
  1. Contribute to the development and execution of the PMO strategy, in alignment with the Company's goals and objectives
  2. Ensure that project services practices and methodologies are in line with industry best practice and evolving trends
  3. Create a community of practice across the project services function
• Team leadership
  1. Provide functional guidance and support to a team of Project Services SMEs that are embedded within each capital project.
  2. Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture across the project services function and PMO
  3. Provide mentoring, advice, and support to all members of the project services function, including in the following areas:
• Execution planning - general
• Cost estimates, controls, and forecasts
• Schedule estimates, controls, and forecasts
• Performance reporting, including clear and concise communication to upper management
• Change management
• Interface management

1. Provide regular updates and insights to senior management, highlighting successes and disappointments
2. Identify areas for continuous improvement and implement process changes
3. Encourage the project services team to share innovative ideas and approaches for enhancing project services across capital projects
4. Actively seek out opportunities for professional development and education to stay at the forefront of industry advancements and trends

• Resource Management
  1. Oversee resource allocation and capacity planning
  2. Oversight of Project Services function employee/talent development systems including recruitment/transfers/promotions/ training & development/succession planning
  3. Monitor project portfolios to balance workload and resource availability
  4. Conduct performance assessments in collaboration with line managers for members of the Project Services function
• Systems and Processes
  1. Custodian of Project Services Management Systems including tools and software
  2. Standardize approach to project services where applicable.
  3. Custodian of Lessons Learned database and systems and continuous improvement
  4. Project Control standards owner/custodian
• Assurance
  1. Participate in internal and JV Peer and Assurance Reviews
• Project Services expertise
  1. Project Services SME – Stay ahead of industry trends and best practices in Project Services by actively seeking out and incorporating the latest ideas and innovations.
  2. Continuously evaluate and improve Project Services processes and procedures to ensure they are effective, efficient and in line or exceed industry standards
  3. Mentor, advise and support projects

This position reports to the Director, PMO and would be based in Houston, TX. Preference will be given to candidates located in (or willing to relocate to) Houston.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Input to the development and execution of the PMO Strategy including:

• Development of Project Services standards, policies and procedures ensuring that they are in full compliance with
  1. Laws, regulations, and codes
  2. Allkem's policies, practices, procedures, and objectives for Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE)
  3. Allkem's policies, practices, procedures, and objectives for Quality.
• Implementation of project services templates for project execution plans
• Manage format and processes for project performance reporting & Steering Committee meetings.
• Provide peer and assurance reviews for Capital Projects executed by Allkem
• Provide external assurance reviews for Capital Projects executed by Joint Venture or Allkem Partners
• Define and be the custodian of project services systems including tools and software
• In accordance with Allkem HR processes and systems provide oversight of project services function employee/ talent development systems including recruitment/ transfers/promotions/ training & development/ succession planning
• Develop and be the custodian of Capital Projects Lessons Learned database and processes
• As the Project Services SME provide mentoring, advice, and support to capital projects

Travel: 25-40 % travel required, including to Asia-Pacific and South
America, with stays typically ranging between 2-3 weeks per trip.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, project controls, quantity surveying or related discipline, or equivalent job experience in lieu of formal degree, required.
• 15+ years of Project Services experience in execution of major capital projects with budgets more than $500M required.
• Experience in establishing or working within a PMO in a capital intense heavy industry such as refining, chemical processing or similar within an Owners and/ or EPC/M Environment
• Understanding of key Project Control principles such as earned value analysis, cash flow analysis and variance & contingency analysis
• Ability to conduct forensic schedule and cost analysis
• Project Management related certification, such as PMP/Agile/Lean a plus.
• Experience coordinating Project Services with an EPCM partner through the entire project lifecycle required.
• Experience working cross-functionally with international teams and international projects required (experience with capital projects in Asia and South America, a plus).
• Experience with modular project delivery a plus.
• Experience with Project Control IT Tools including Power BI and Primavera (P6)
• Experience with SAP project module and other basic SAP transactions a plus.
• Ability to communicate and present complex proposals and reports to executives
• High level of autonomy and meticulous attention to detail

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Proven safety leadership, including setting expectations and being visible in the field.
• Expert knowledge of PM methodologies, processes, tools, systems, and best practice
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Proven ability to lead and influence Project Directors and other key managers from a PMO perspective
• Experience in all aspects of Project Services including cost, schedule, and reporting
• Knowledge of engineering and construction cost estimating and structure.
• Knowledge of tools and methodologies for cost and schedule control (engineering, procurement and construction progress, productivity measurement, completion forecasts).
• Knowledge of construction contracting strategies and package preparation requirements.
• Availability and willingness to work outside normal U.S. business hours.
• Proficiency in English language required; additional languages such as Spanish a plus.
• Strong negotiation skills for effective management and resolution of conflicts with internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers of equipment and services, fabricators as well as construction contractors.
• Strong organizational and communication skills for effective leadership of multi-disciplinary teams and alignment of project objectives between various stakeholder groups.
• Enthusiasm, collaborative spirit, creative problem-solving skills, and drive for continuous improvement.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is infrequently in a manufacturing environment containing toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Safety Requirements: All employees are expected to carry out their work functions in a healthy and safe manner, to encourage and support safe work practices at all times, and to report and/or rectify any unsafe conditions that may come to their attention immediately.

Personal Protective Equipment – Must wear PPE as required based on job duties.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.