Project Director - Waste to Energy Plant Development & Execution

We are seeking an experienced and commercially grounded Project Director to oversee the execution of a Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant project under a joint venture structure involving international partners.

The role requires a hands-on senior professional who can drive coordination, execution discipline, stakeholder management and recovery planning across the technical, commercial, contractual and operational aspects of the project.

This is a 12-month contract role focused on stabilising, accelerating and de-risking project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Project Recovery & Execution Oversight

. Conduct a rapid assessment of the current project status, bottlenecks, delay drivers and critical execution risks.

. Develop and drive a practical project recovery and acceleration plan.

. Establish clear milestones, reporting structures and accountability mechanisms across stakeholders.

. Monitor engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and regulatory workstreams.

Joint Venture & Stakeholder Management

. Act as the key coordination lead between joint venture partners, consultants, contractors, suppliers and regulators.

. Manage cross-cultural working dynamics and alignment between local and overseas project counterparties, including China-based project stakeholders.

. Coordinate with project stakeholders across different working styles, business practices and communication approaches.

. Escalate critical issues early and drive resolution at management and board level where required.

. Support governance processes, including steering committee and board reporting.

Contractor & Vendor Oversight

. Review contractor performance, timelines, claims, variations and delivery commitments.

. Work closely with EPC contractors, OEMs and technology providers to ensure execution discipline.

. Identify gaps in coordination, sequencing, procurement and commissioning readiness.

Commercial & Risk Management

. Identify cost overruns, contractual exposure, liquidated damages risks and execution liabilities.

. Work alongside legal, finance and technical teams to protect project and shareholder interests.

. Ensure proper documentation, reporting and project controls are maintained.

Regulatory & Operational Readiness

. Coordinate with relevant government agencies, utilities and licensing authorities.

. Ensure project planning supports eventual operational handover and plant readiness.

. Assist in establishing operational governance, staffing and commissioning frameworks where necessary.

Requirements

Experience

. Minimum 15 years of relevant experience in one or more of the following areas:

. Waste-to-Energy

. Power generation

. Large industrial infrastructure

. Environmental engineering

. EPC project execution.

. Proven experience managing large-scale complex projects with multiple stakeholders.

. Strong track record in recovering delayed or troubled projects preferred.

. Experience working with EPC contractors, OEMs, technology providers, state-owned enterprises, joint venture structures or international project stakeholders, including China-based project parties, will be highly advantageous.

. Experience in Southeast Asia projects preferred.

Technical & Commercial Capability

. Strong understanding of:

. EPC contracts

. Project controls

. Construction sequencing

. Commissioning processes

. Commercial risk management.

. Ability to read and challenge project schedules, technical reports and execution assumptions.

Leadership & Communication

. Strong executive presence with ability to manage difficult stakeholders.

. Comfortable operating at board, shareholder and project execution levels.

. Pragmatic, decisive and execution-oriented.

. Able to balance diplomacy with firmness.

. Able to work effectively with stakeholders from different business, technical and cultural backgrounds.

. Ability to communicate with Mandarin-speaking project stakeholders will be necessary, as the role may involve coordination with overseas contractors, suppliers and joint venture partners on technical, commercial and project execution matters.

Other Information

. Contract basis: 12 months

. Work arrangement: Flexible working arrangement, subject to project needs

. Travel: Willingness to travel regionally as required

Preferred Candidate Profile

This role is suitable for candidates with backgrounds such as:

. Former EPC / project directors

. Former utility or infrastructure executives

. Senior consultants with hands-on execution backgrounds

. Senior professionals with experience turning around delayed industrial projects

. Individuals with strong project recovery, commercial risk and stakeholder management experience.

Success Metrics

The successful candidate will be expected to:

. Stabilise project governance and reporting

. Reduce execution bottlenecks and delays

. Improve stakeholder alignment

. Deliver a credible recovery roadmap

. Improve probability of successful commissioning and operational handover.

Reporting Line

The Project Director will report directly to the shareholders / board representatives of the joint venture and work closely with senior management across the project stakeholders.