Project Director / Financial Lead

AtkinsRéalis
Job Description
Why join us?
It's an exciting time at AtkinsRéalis! We are rapidly growing in the US. Our company's purpose is to build a better world for our planet and its people. We recognize the importance of making sure that our clients and employees feel this purpose every day. AtkinsRéalis is proud of our company culture that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our company ethos includes collaboration through the connection of people, data, and technology. We are a global firm, who leverages having employees located throughout the world, creating valuable partnerships and doing our part to make this planet and its people thrive. We need energetic, passionate and eager professionals like you to join our team. There has never been a better time to be a part of AtkinsRéalis!
We are seeking a Project Director / Financial Lead, which is a pivotal leadership role focusing on our program management contracts with national leading utilities and municipal clients. This position is based out of Alexandria VA, with projects and prospects in the greater District of Columbia area. Initially focused on municipal water and energy projects, this role offers significant opportunities to expand leadership to sustainability and public-private partnership initiatives.
About Us
AtkinsRéalis is one of the world's most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. AtkinsRéalis has been providing infrastructure planning, engineering, construction, environmental consulting, urban planning, architecture, and program management services to public and private clients across the United States for more than 50 years. AtkinsRéalis has the depth and breadth of expertise to respond to the most technically challenging and time-critical infrastructure projects and the urgent transition to a low-carbon economy.
How will you contribute to the team?
The Project Director will primarily lead or support complex projects and programs across target municipal programs within AtkinsRéalis' US markets, specifically emphasizing sustainable infrastructure and public-private partnerships. This role requires the ability to drive teams effectively for deliverables for senior executives with our program management clients. Future opportunities may include international work and travel.
A secondary responsibility would support PPP opportunities in AtkinsRéalis' Energy, Transportation, and Buildings & Places markets.
Key responsibilities include, but not limited to:
What will you contribute?
What we offer at AtkinsRéalis:
AtkinsRéalis realizes that health, mental and financial wellbeing, are all equally needed to achieve balance in life. We are pleased to offer a robust rewards package that helps our employees have peace of mind in and outside of work. Our benefit offerings address all the areas that are part of living a healthy life.
We recognize that what is important to people continues to change. Some of our other benefits to ensure our employees feel supported include continuing to offer health and dental coverage for domestic partners and a full list below. Our culture is one of providing support and training for our employees to thrive. We offer learning and development programs, training, career pathing opportunities, and a tuition reimbursement plan. At AtkinsRéalis, you will enjoy a robust rewards package which includes:
If this sounds like you and you would like to expand your career with us, apply today!
AtkinsRéalis is an equal opportunity, drug-free employer committed to diversity in the workplace. EOE/Minorities/Females/Veteran/Disability.
Please review AtkinsRéalis Equal Opportunity Statement here:
https://careers.atkinsrealis.com/equal-opportunities-statement
AtkinsRéalis cares about your privacy and is committed to protecting your privacy. Please consult our Privacy Notice on our Careers site to know more about how we collect, use and transfer your Personal Data.
By submitting your personal information to AtkinsRéalis, you confirm that you have read and accept our Privacy Notice.
The expected compensation range is between $169,000 - $180,000 annually.
Upon acceptance of an offer, all candidates must go through a drug screen test and background check. AtkinsRéalis is a federal contractor which mandates a satisfactory background screening report and drug test that supersedes state laws.
Note to staffing and direct hire agencies:
In the event a recruiter or agency who is not on our preferred supplier list submits a resume/candidate to anyone in the company, AtkinsRéalis family of companies, we explicitly reserve the right to recruit and hire the candidate(s) at our discretion and without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. https://careers.atkinsrealis.com/recruitment-agencies
Worker Type
Employee
Job Type
Regular
At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.
Why join us?
It's an exciting time at AtkinsRéalis! We are rapidly growing in the US. Our company's purpose is to build a better world for our planet and its people. We recognize the importance of making sure that our clients and employees feel this purpose every day. AtkinsRéalis is proud of our company culture that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our company ethos includes collaboration through the connection of people, data, and technology. We are a global firm, who leverages having employees located throughout the world, creating valuable partnerships and doing our part to make this planet and its people thrive. We need energetic, passionate and eager professionals like you to join our team. There has never been a better time to be a part of AtkinsRéalis!
We are seeking a Project Director / Financial Lead, which is a pivotal leadership role focusing on our program management contracts with national leading utilities and municipal clients. This position is based out of Alexandria VA, with projects and prospects in the greater District of Columbia area. Initially focused on municipal water and energy projects, this role offers significant opportunities to expand leadership to sustainability and public-private partnership initiatives.
About Us
AtkinsRéalis is one of the world's most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. AtkinsRéalis has been providing infrastructure planning, engineering, construction, environmental consulting, urban planning, architecture, and program management services to public and private clients across the United States for more than 50 years. AtkinsRéalis has the depth and breadth of expertise to respond to the most technically challenging and time-critical infrastructure projects and the urgent transition to a low-carbon economy.
How will you contribute to the team?
The Project Director will primarily lead or support complex projects and programs across target municipal programs within AtkinsRéalis' US markets, specifically emphasizing sustainable infrastructure and public-private partnerships. This role requires the ability to drive teams effectively for deliverables for senior executives with our program management clients. Future opportunities may include international work and travel.
A secondary responsibility would support PPP opportunities in AtkinsRéalis' Energy, Transportation, and Buildings & Places markets.
Key responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Supporting program management best practices or centers of excellence within an engineering organization, with a strong focus on sustainable solutions and project delivery.
- Developing best practice reporting and monitoring capabilities through standardized reports and dashboards focused on project delivery and program management, especially for sustainability metrics and PPP performance.
- Experience in capital infrastructure planning and programming including development of annual budgets, 10-20-year capital improvement programs, funding requests, and other financial activities.
- Managing lifecycle of large, complex projects and programs for significant municipal water and energy clients, involving owner's representative or program management engagements, major construction management, alternative delivery project oversight, and large-scale capital infrastructure technology implementations.
- Structuring and overseeing financial mechanisms for sustainable infrastructure projects, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), blended finance models, and innovative funding mechanisms.
- Organizing and directing engineering assessments, investigations, and planning work, focusing on feasibility of alternative design approaches and regulatory specifications for sustainable solutions.
- Preparing comprehensive reports and presentations for diverse stakeholders, including senior executives and client decision makers.
- Providing guidance and mentorship as an experienced professional to junior staff and project teams.
- Developing and maintaining positive client relations with existing and prospective clients, actively pursuing new or expanded opportunities in sustainable municipal and potentially international infrastructure.
- Building and leading "Tiger Teams" or other small groups to help establish innovative programs and projects for clients.
- Instilling best practices within blended Staff-Consultant teams for management of program scope, schedule, and budget.
- Overseeing the financial performance of projects, managing projects as profit centers, and ensuring project profitability and fiscal responsibility.
- Monitoring and enforcing compliance with established quality control standards and conducting appropriate quality assurance activities throughout projects.
- Assisting assigned project staff in facilitating work sharing with other operating units and securing resource support.
- Conducting contract negotiations with clients and sub-consultants, particularly for PPP agreements.
What will you contribute?
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field. A master's degree in finance, economics, or a related field is required.
- Typically requires approximately 10-15 years of progressive experience, with at least five years in a Deputy Program Manager or Senior Project Manager position with complex project management responsibility, ideally in sustainability, municipal, or PPP contexts.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, public speaking, and persuasive ability; strong financial management, team management, and leadership skills; ability to manage and coordinate efforts of various projects to produce budgeted profits and overall results.
- Certification as a "Project Management Professional" (PMP) or "Certified Construction Manager" (CCM) is highly desired upon assuming this position.
- Willingness to travel frequently for business development and project delivery purposes.
What we offer at AtkinsRéalis:
AtkinsRéalis realizes that health, mental and financial wellbeing, are all equally needed to achieve balance in life. We are pleased to offer a robust rewards package that helps our employees have peace of mind in and outside of work. Our benefit offerings address all the areas that are part of living a healthy life.
We recognize that what is important to people continues to change. Some of our other benefits to ensure our employees feel supported include continuing to offer health and dental coverage for domestic partners and a full list below. Our culture is one of providing support and training for our employees to thrive. We offer learning and development programs, training, career pathing opportunities, and a tuition reimbursement plan. At AtkinsRéalis, you will enjoy a robust rewards package which includes:
- Competitive salary
- Flexible work schedules
- Group Insurance
- Two Floating Holidays
- Paid Parental Leave (including maternity and paternity)
- Pet Insurance
- Retirement Savings Plan with employer match
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Learning and development programs, training, career opportunities and a highly regarded tuition reimbursement program
- An inclusive culture of Employee Resources Groups centered around women, African Americans, Hispanics, LGBTQ+, Neurodiversity and Emerging Professionals.
- A Foundation that is employee-funded with a 2-to-1 match from the company providing STEAM education for minorities from K-12 to college.
If this sounds like you and you would like to expand your career with us, apply today!
AtkinsRéalis is an equal opportunity, drug-free employer committed to diversity in the workplace. EOE/Minorities/Females/Veteran/Disability.
Please review AtkinsRéalis Equal Opportunity Statement here:
https://careers.atkinsrealis.com/equal-opportunities-statement
AtkinsRéalis cares about your privacy and is committed to protecting your privacy. Please consult our Privacy Notice on our Careers site to know more about how we collect, use and transfer your Personal Data.
By submitting your personal information to AtkinsRéalis, you confirm that you have read and accept our Privacy Notice.
The expected compensation range is between $169,000 - $180,000 annually.
Upon acceptance of an offer, all candidates must go through a drug screen test and background check. AtkinsRéalis is a federal contractor which mandates a satisfactory background screening report and drug test that supersedes state laws.
Note to staffing and direct hire agencies:
In the event a recruiter or agency who is not on our preferred supplier list submits a resume/candidate to anyone in the company, AtkinsRéalis family of companies, we explicitly reserve the right to recruit and hire the candidate(s) at our discretion and without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. https://careers.atkinsrealis.com/recruitment-agencies
Worker Type
Employee
Job Type
Regular
At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.
JOB SUMMARY
Project Director / Financial Lead

AtkinsRéalis
Washington
a day ago
N/A
Full-time
Project Director / Financial Lead