Director, Early Works

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 Civil is a recognized leader in the market, backed by strong self-perform capabilities and deep local expertise. We play a key role in building and enhancing infrastructure across Canada, the U.S., and an expanding international footprint improving everyday life through the roads, bridges, tunnels, and transit systems that connect communities. With more than a century of experience and a full suite of integrated services, Aecon is a trusted partner for delivering complex civil projects, including tunnels, transit expansions, airports, ports, highways, and large-scale site development.

The Hamilton LRT Alliance has been selected by Metrolinx as the development partner for the Hamilton LRT – Package 1: Civil & Utilities. Under the alliance model, Aecon provides construction capability and resources as part of an integrated team, working collaboratively with all alliance participants to progress design, cost, and construction schedules during the project’s development phase.

The Hamilton LRT isn’t just a transit project—it’s reshaping how a city connects, grows, and moves. Join us in being part of a dynamic team building critical infrastructure that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come!

Reporting to the Project Director, the Early Works Director will be responsible for leading and directing all pre-construction and early works activities, including utility relocations, enabling works, third-party coordination, traffic staging, property access, and early civil construction packages. The role will ensure early project phases are executed safely, efficiently, and in alignment with project schedule, budget, stakeholder commitments, and delivery objectives, setting the foundation for successful main works execution.

This opportunity is part of Aecon 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'll Do Here:

• Lead all construction activities within a collaborative delivery model (Alliance), ensuring “best-for-project” outcomes across safety, cost, schedule, and quality.
• Develop, implement, and govern the Construction Management Plan (CMP) integrated with overall project strategy, target value delivery, and open-book performance frameworks.
• Own construction readiness, mobilization, and field organization across early works and main works, ensuring clear structure across geographic zones, disciplines, and trade supervision.
• Provide constructability leadership during design development, ensuring sequencing, logistics, access, and means & methods are fully embedded before IFC release.
• Build and actively manage the construction risk profile, identifying and mitigating risks related to methods, interfaces, utilities, third parties, and urban constraints.
• Lead subcontractor and trade partner execution, including coordination, performance management, lookahead planning, constraint removal, and production tracking aligned to project controls.
• Define and manage interfaces between project pillars, Design, third-party agreements, Commercial, and Construction disciplines, ensuring coordinated handoffs, access windows, and area turnover to support integration.
• Drive Lean construction practices (e.g., Last Planner System, pull planning) to improve workflow reliability, productivity, and field execution certainty.
• Partner with commercial and project controls teams to align field execution with cost forecasts, target price, and gainshare/painshare outcomes.
• Lead staging, sequencing, and logistics planning for complex urban environments, including traffic, transit, rail corridor access, utilities, and stakeholder constraints.
• Maintain transparent communication with clients and partners, supporting governance forums, issue resolution, and a “no surprises” delivery approach.

What You Bring to the Team:

• 15+ years of construction leadership experience on major infrastructure projects, including 5+ years in a senior role (Construction Manager or equivalent).
• Proven delivery of complex urban transit, rail, or heavy civil projects across the full lifecycle (early works to commissioning and handover).
• Experience working in collaborative delivery models (Alliance, Progressive DB, CMGC, DB), including familiarity with integrated teams, shared risk/reward, and joint governance structures.
• Deep expertise in construction means & methods including underground works (cut & cover, SEM, TBM), stations, guideway, utilities, and multi-discipline infrastructure.
• Strong ability to integrate construction with design development through constructability reviews, sequencing input, and design-for-delivery alignment.
• Demonstrated experience managing large field organizations and coordinating subcontractors and trade packages.
• Strong understanding of construction cost drivers, production-based forecasting, and the commercial impact of sequencing and productivity decisions.
• Experience managing complex third-party interfaces including utilities, municipalities, transit authorities, rail operators, and community stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of Lean construction systems (pull planning, constraint management, workflow optimization) applied at scale.
• Strong understanding of testing & commissioning sequencing and how construction completion and handover supports integrated system delivery.
• Post-secondary education in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline; P.Eng., PMP, or equivalent considered an asset.

Reason for Vacancy: New

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.