Deputy Project Director

Come Build Your Career at Aecon!

Aecon delivers some of the most complex and impactful infrastructure projects — from transformative transportation networks to critical energy, industrial and nuclear programs. The projects we build connect communities and power future generations. With deep roots in North America and a strong footprint internationally, Aecon brings global expertise and proudly serves public and private sector clients through its Construction and Concessions segment.

Safety Always is not only our #1 core value – it is the standard that anchors our culture. We believe the most ambitious projects deserve the most committed people. At Aecon, you won’t just build your career — you’ll help build what matters to enable future generations to thrive.

At Aecon, you can count on:

• Safety Always. Our number one core value. The safety of our people, projects, partners, and stakeholders is our priority focus – today and always.
• Integrity. We lead by example, with humility and courage.
• Accountability. We’re passionate about delivering on our commitments.
• Inclusion. We provide opportunities where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute fully.

We deliver infrastructure with purpose, and our people are at the heart of everything we do. Aecon employees are incredibly proud to build some of the most impactful infrastructure of this generation – we call it Aecon Proud.

At Aecon we:

• Ensure you and your family receive the services and benefits needed to support your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
• Are intentional when it comes to investing in your development. We help you build your career and advance your skills through our Aecon University, tuition reimbursement, and Leadership Programs.
• Are committed to creating work environments focused on mutual respect, teamwork, collaboration, and new ideas, through meaningful initiatives, training, partnerships with Veteran groups, our Aecon Women in Trades and diversity programs, as well as our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), to ensure we are building with top talent and harnessing our collective strengths within every aspect of our culture.
• Operate responsibly by managing risk, safety, and environmental considerations across all our projects and surrounding communities.

Our success is built on the passion, expertise, and dedication of our people. Together, we embrace strong execution, innovation, and continuous improvement — values that come to life through the unique talents and collaborative spirit of every team member. If you’re inspired to make a difference through future-building projects, join our best-in-class team.

What is the Opportunity?

Aecon is seeking a Deputy Project Director to join the Urban Transportations Solutions group to support dynamic transit projects in Canada. We are proud to support projects that are committed to faster and more convenient travel, ultimately improving transportation experiences. This starts with bringing aboard the best possible team!

Reporting to the Project Director, the Deputy Project Director will provide leadership and accountability for project outcomes through strategic direction, governance, oversight, resource alignment, and cross‑discipline integration, consistent with Urban Transportation Solutions (UTS) delivery principles.

This opportunity is part of Aecon UTS’ proactive talent pipelining as the business continues to expand across major transit projects. We are engaging passive, high-calibre leaders in the market to build relationships ahead of upcoming project awards.

What You Will Do Here:

• Support the Project Director in leading the full project lifecycle within a collaborative delivery model, ensuring alignment across design, construction, systems, commercial, and project controls functions.
• Act as the integration lead across all disciplines, aligning day-to-day execution with project strategy, governance frameworks, and “best-for-project” objectives.
• Lead the development and coordination of the Target Price / Target Proposal, integrating cost, schedule, risk, design maturity, constructability, and commercial inputs into a cohesive and defensible outcome.
• Drive Target Value Delivery principles, including continuous estimating, value engineering, cost optimization, and alignment to target cost and project objectives.
• Oversee development of target cost, target schedule, and risk/contingency models, ensuring alignment with design evolution, market inputs, and delivery strategy.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams (design, construction, systems, commercial, and controls) to actively manage interfaces, dependencies, and key decision points.
• Ensure constructability, sequencing, staging, logistics, and execution strategy are embedded within planning, design development, and pricing assumptions.
• Monitor and report on cost, schedule, risk, safety, quality, and performance metrics, ensuring early issue identification and proactive corrective actions.
• Support commercial strategy and implementation, including open-book cost development, change management inputs, and alignment to contractual frameworks and risk-sharing structures.
• Lead governance processes, including milestone reviews, checkpoint submissions, executive reporting, and decision forums.
• Oversee risk and opportunity management, ensuring risks are identified, quantified, mitigated, and reflected in cost, schedule, and execution plans.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement with clients, partners, and external stakeholders to maintain alignment, manage expectations, and resolve issues efficiently.
• Partner with project controls and commercial teams to ensure integrated reporting, forecasting, and decision-making visibility across all delivery components.
• Support transition from development to execution (where applicable), including readiness, mobilization, and alignment of delivery teams to approved baselines.
• Reinforce a culture of collaboration, transparency, accountability, and high performance across all integrated project teams.

What You Bring to The Team:

• 15+ years of progressive experience delivering major infrastructure projects, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role (e.g., Deputy Project Director, Construction Director, Commercial/Controls Director, or equivalent) on projects exceeding $500M.
• Proven experience across the full project lifecycle, including development, design, pricing, construction, integration, commissioning, and closeout.
• Strong experience in collaborative delivery models (e.g., Alliance, Progressive Design-Build, CMGC, Design-Build), including integrated teams, shared risk/reward frameworks, and joint governance structures.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supporting integrated Target Price / cost model development, including coordination of cost, schedule, risk, design, and commercial inputs.
• Strong understanding of Target Value Delivery principles, including continuous estimating, cost control, value engineering, and alignment of design and delivery to target outcomes.
• Experience managing target cost, schedule, and risk development through progressive design maturity and staged project development processes.
• Strong understanding of how constructability, sequencing, logistics, and design maturity influence cost certainty, schedule confidence, and risk exposure.
• Experience with open-book cost development, market engagement, cost benchmarking, and transparent pricing approaches with clients or partners.
• Strong commercial acumen, including contract interpretation, change management, risk allocation, and understanding of cost and pricing drivers.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-disciplinary teams across civil, structural, systems, utilities, MEP, commercial, controls, and construction functions.
• Experience working in joint venture or multi-partner environments, aligning teams to shared objectives and delivery outcomes.
• Strong stakeholder management experience across clients, municipalities, utilities, and regulatory bodies in complex project environments.
• Excellent communication and executive reporting skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and support decision-making at senior levels.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, competing priorities, and complex dependencies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability with sound judgment in fast-paced, high-pressure environments.
• Post-secondary education in Engineering, Construction Management, or related discipline (or equivalent experience); professional designations (P.Eng., PMP, AACE, etc.) considered an asset.

Reason for vacancy: Proactive/Evergreen

Aecon fosters diversity, inclusion and belonging within and across our organization. We welcome all to apply including, women, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity.

We are committed to adhering to the objectives and requirements outlined in the Accessible Canada Act (ACA), and to meeting the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner. Through the implementation of the requirements of the ACA and its applicable regulations, appropriate accommodations will be provided upon request throughout the interview and hiring process.

As part of our commitment to fair and transparent hiring practices, Aecon may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in screening and reviewing candidates. These tools are applied responsibly and in accordance with applicable privacy laws and Aecon’s AI Usage Policy. All final decisions are made by qualified Aecon team members.