Role Overview & Project Scope

Laing O’Rourke is currently seeking applications for the position of Project Director. As a $6 billion privately owned global engineering and manufacturing-led construction leader, Laing O’Rourke delivers some of Australia’s most complex and iconic infrastructure projects across defence, rail, transport networks, health, water, and utilities.

This role forms an essential part of Laing O’Rourke’s major capital delivery capabilities, driving certainty of delivery, safety culture, and industry-leading standards.

Core Responsibilities & Key Deliverables

In this role at Laing O’Rourke, your key responsibilities and deliverables will include:

• ​Provide overall leadership and direction for the successful delivery of the project, ensuring performance across safety, quality, programme, commercial and client objectives.
• Develop and execute project delivery strategies that support the safe, efficient and profitable delivery of project outcomes from design through to commissioning and handover.
• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary project leadership team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Drive project performance through effective management of programme, cost, risk, resources and operational delivery activities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, Joint Venture partners, government stakeholders, supply chain partners and industry representatives.
• Ensure project delivery complies with contractual, statutory, regulatory and governance requirements while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.
• Lead the identification and management of project risks and opportunities, ensuring proactive mitigation strategies are implemented to support successful delivery outcomes.
• Act as the senior representative for the project, leading engagement with client executives and key stakeholders on strategic delivery matters.
• Champion a culture of safety, inclusion, wellbeing and high performance across all project teams.

Selection Criteria & Candidate Profile

Laing O’Rourke evaluates applicants against demonstrated technical capabilities and experience aligned with this role:

• Degree qualified in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Extensive experience leading the delivery of major infrastructure, defence, transport, energy, resources or complex construction projects.
• Demonstrated success in leading large multidisciplinary teams and delivering projects within complex stakeholder and governance environments.
• Proven ability to develop and execute project delivery strategies that achieve safety, commercial, programme and client outcomes.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing large project budgets, contracts, risk, opportunities and financial performance.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate at executive level.
• Strong leadership capability with a track record of building, mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation and decision-making skills, with the ability to lead confidently in a fast-paced and highly regulated environment.
• Experience delivering projects within Defence, Nuclear, Utilities or other highly regulated sectors will be highly regarded.
• Applicants must be Australian citizens and hold or be able to obtain an Australian Defence Security Clearance to NV1 level.

Key Competencies & Technical Proficiencies

Benefits, Rewards & Flexibility

At Laing O’Rourke, you are supported to build a meaningful, rewarding career. Some of the benefits offered include:

• In-house training programs and on-the-job skill development.
• Industry-leading parental leave giving all employees access to six months paid parental leave at full pay.
• Additional purchased leave options, and access to volunteering leave.
• Exclusive discounts and savings across hundreds of retailers across Australia.

Application Instructions

To inspect the complete official vacancy announcement and submit your confidential application directly through the PageUp career portal, click the Apply on Employer Site button above.