Project Leader - Laurel - Veolia North America

Description

Company Description

About Veolia North America

A subsidiary of Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of water, waste and energy management services, including water, and wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education, and municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has approximately 10,000 employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent. Please visit our website

Job Description

BENEFITS

Veolia's comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental and vision insurance. In addition, employees are also entitled to participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for retirement. Pay and benefits for employees represented by a union are outlined in their collective bargaining agreement.

Position Purpose:

In the role of Regional Leader, the successful candidate will lead the execution of strategic initiatives within your region, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and prioritizing key regional issues. Thrive in dynamic, region-specific environments, effectively overcoming obstacles with a resilient and adaptable approach to changing conditions. Clearly articulate regional strategies and goals, while actively listening to the needs and concerns of your team and stakeholders to ensure effective communication and collaboration. Foster a positive and cohesive team environment by demonstrating high emotional intelligence and building strong, supportive relationships across the region. Tackle region-specific challenges with a hands-on approach, developing and implementing innovative solutions that address complex issues. Promote diversity and inclusion within your region, respecting cultural differences and ensuring an inclusive work environment for all team members. Drive the growth and success of the regional business, contributing to the overall expansion and sustainability of the organization.

• Safety : Establish and nurture a safety culture driven by individual behavior and accountability across a multi-state region. Ensure all sites have specific training, resources, and facility-required PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) needed to perform the work. Maintain compliance with OSHA, State, and Veolia Safety and Environmental Programs across the entire region.
• Compliance : Lead efforts to ensure compliant execution of contracts for assigned projects, including adherence to established environmental, health, safety, operating, maintenance, and emergency response procedures.
• Reliability : Oversee project delivery performance, ensuring that delivery consistently meets or exceeds professional operations standards. Guide project leaders to demonstrate skills and responsibilities related to dependable project execution, maintaining high quality standards, and delivering consistent results. Apply ingenuity and initiative to coordinate problem resolution, manage conflicting priorities, and meet deadlines within a team environment.
• People Focused : Lead and nurture assigned projects with a positive culture, focusing on being the employer of choice. Ensure project leaders effectively manage resources (e.g., personnel, equipment, materials, facilities, funds, and reputation). Demonstrate effective communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills while interfacing with project leaders, customers, and employees. Evaluate leader performance, match abilities with job requirements, and capitalize on talents to meet business objectives. Mentor reports to grow their capabilities and leadership skills. Ensure effective communication and execution of business initiatives and progress toward goals by project leaders.
• Customer Obsessed : Collaborate with Project Leaders to create and follow up on leads for new business opportunities. Ensure project leaders build sound relationships with customers and work closely with them to prevent or solve issues. Be available for escalation of issues and address as needed. Performance measured by Net Promoter Score (NPS) and participation.
• Cost Effective : Lead OPEX (Operational Excellence) initiatives to focus on efficiencies and cost savings across the division. Maintain full P&L and budgeting ownership for assigned project sites. Oversee budget preparation and cost control, with the ability to forecast budget, staffing, and equipment needs. Spearhead efforts to streamline processes and increase efficiency

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• Job Duties:
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams across multiple sites.
• Skilled in creating a positive, inclusive, and accountable work culture.
• Ability to assess team strengths and areas for development, providing coaching and growth opportunities.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence employees, clients, and stakeholders at all levels.
• Skilled at fostering collaboration and building partnerships with local governments, clients, regulatory bodies, and internal teams.
• Strong focus on setting measurable goals and achieving operational targets, such as safety, compliance, financial performance, and employee engagement.
• Experience with performance metrics and continuous improvement initiatives.
• High emotional intelligence (EQ), with strong self-awareness, empathy, and the ability to manage interpersonal dynamics.
• Ability to navigate sensitive issues with diplomacy and tact, especially in diverse and challenging work environments.
• Leadership experience in enforcing and improving health, safety, and environmental (HSE) protocol.
• People Management:
• Lead and supervise a staff of >30 FTEs, potentially overseeing multiple locations.
• Manage supervisors impacting budgeting, cost control, planning, scheduling, and procedural changes.
• Foster a positive culture focused on being the employer of choice.
• Evaluate leader performance, match abilities with job requirements, and capitalize on talents to meet business objectives.
• Provide training to project leaders on technical and business-related topics.
• Possibly, oversee a larger site of at least 50 employees or multiple sites.
• Communication and Leadership:
• Demonstrate effective communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Build relationships, facilitate team success, provide direction, and delegate responsibly.
• Ensure business initiatives and progress toward goals are effectively communicated to project leaders.
• Safety and Compliance:
• Lead and nurture a safety culture driven by individual behavior and accountability across assigned projects.
• Ensure all sites have specific training, resources, and required PPE.
• Oversee plant compliance with OSHA, State, and Veolia Safety and Environmental Programs.
• Lead efforts to ensure compliant execution of contracts, including environmental, health, safety, operating, maintenance, and emergency response procedures.
• Operational Excellence:
• Accountable for project delivery performance, meeting or exceeding professional operations standards.
• Ensure project leaders demonstrate skills in dependable execution, maintaining high quality standards, and delivering consistent results.
• Coordinate problem resolution, resolve conflicting priorities, and meet deadlines within a team environment.
• Oversee facilities collectively managing >20 mgd (multiple sites or single large water/wastewater facilities).
• Customer Relations:
• Work with the Vice President to create and follow up on new business opportunities.
• Ensure project leaders build sound relationships with customers and address issues promptly.
• Be available for escalation of issues and address as needed.
• Performance measured by NPS score and participation.
• Financial Management:
• Lead a division focused on efficiencies through the OPEX program.
• Full P&L and budgeting ownership for assigned areas (>$10M in Revenue).
• Lead budget preparation, cost control, and forecasting.
• Monitor area financial performance, including cost center budget compliance, personnel utilization, pricing, invoicing, and collections.
• Prepare monthly reports and annual budgets, ensuring performance meets or exceeds the plan.
• Business Development and Contract Management:
• Coordinate due diligence processes and support the WIN process.
• Perform final bid reviews and complete proposals on time and on budget.
• Participate in negotiations of regional, multi-site, and/or complex agreements.
• Manage change variations, securing favorable financial and risk terms.
• Interpret contracts to define deliverables and fulfill schedules.
• Procurement and Resource Management:
• Leverage area resources and national contracts to maximize purchasing power.
• Manage contract MBE/WBE/VBE procurement requirements.
• Identify and justify capital expenditures partnering directly with the client.

Work Environment:

• Spends 40% time in an office environment and 60% at projects.
• Occasional exposure to plant and field environments.
• Attends client meetings (e.g., city council, utility board or internal management).
• Makes visits to existing and potential customer facilities.
• Frequent travel.

Qualifications

Education/Experience/Background:

• A degree in Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field is strongly preferred but not required.
• 8 years of leadership experience, 5 of which leading and managing teams, with a strong emphasis on regional leadership and operational excellence.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Leadership and Management:
• Demonstrates strong leadership abilities.
• Understanding of Human Resources principles and practices.
• Skilled in team building and motivating personnel at all levels.
• Strategic and Financial Acumen:
• Possesses strategic business planning and financial management skills.
• Experienced in P&L ownership, budgeting, and cost control.
• Demonstrates ability to identify and maximize business opportunities.
• Customer Relations and Sales:
• Proven track record in delivering excellent customer satisfaction.
• Effective sales skills with ability to close attainable opportunities.
• Successful experience in contract negotiations and management.
• Skilled in building partnerships and relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to interface effectively with clients including preparing and presenting information at public forums including but not limited to clients governing boards.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills:
• Excellent written, verbal, listening, and presentation skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive communications at all levels.
• Adaptable communication style to relate to various personalities.
• Outgoing, self-directed, goal-oriented, and creative.
• Operational Excellence:
• Effective organizational and project management skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• High degree of initiative, judgment, and resourcefulness.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and find creative solutions.
• Knowledge of safety, environmental, and health requirements.
• Skilled in facilities and capital equipment management.
• Ability to gain knowledge of the operation, maintenance, and process control of water/wastewater treatment facilities.
• Problem-Solving and Innovation:
• Proactive in addressing issues related to personnel, capital, margin enhancement, and profitability.
• Demonstrates skills in problem-solving and developing effective solutions.
• Commitment to total quality management principles.
• Compliance and Ethics:
• Committed to compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Adheres to the Company's Code of Business Conduct.
• Technical Proficiency:
• Strong PC skills with proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
• Ability to optimize technology and systems to streamline processes and increase efficiency.
• Additional Competencies:
• Skilled in technical writing.
• Adaptable to changing priorities and multi-faceted challenges.
• Committed to continuous improvement and innovation.

Required Certification/Licenses/Training:

• Must be able to obtain the required certification.

Additional Information

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Disclaimer: The salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.