Project Specialist

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Basic Purpose: What is the overall function of the job? 

The Project Specialist provides project management and technical leadership for laboratory-related projects and solutions. The role is responsible for the planning, coordination, and successful delivery of projects across three primary areas:

1. Laboratory Design & Assessment: Assessment, planning, design, optimization, and implementation of laboratory facilities, equipment, systems, workflows, and supporting infrastructure.
2. Onsite & Field-Testing Solutions: Coordination, planning, estimating, mobilization, and project management of complex, multi-department testing solutions delivered at client or other field locations.
3. End-to-End Laboratory Project Management: Management of laboratory projects from initial definition and planning through design, procurement, construction, commissioning, operational handover, and close-out.

Depending on the nature, scale, and complexity of the assignment, the Project Specialist may act as the Project Manager, technical resource, or both, coordinating clients, internal departments, consultants, vendors, contractors, equipment, logistics, schedules, budgets, and other resources required for successful project delivery.

The position ensures projects and solutions are delivered safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively in accordance with defined scope, schedule, budget, technical requirements, applicable standards, client expectations, and business objectives

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Key Accountability/Responsibilities: What specifically is this job expected to accomplish?

1. Laboratory Design & Assessment
•    Perform and coordinate laboratory assessments, requirements definition, conceptual planning, design development, optimization, and implementation activities.
•    Coordinate multidisciplinary requirements involving architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, controls, laboratory equipment, and related building systems.
•    Develop, review, and update project design packages and coordinate technical resources required to achieve project objectives.
•    Review vendor drawings, equipment cut sheets, shop drawings, technical submittals, and other design documentation for alignment with project scope, specifications, technical requirements, and applicable standards.
•    Participate in site investigations, field verification, equipment installation inspections, deficiency reviews, commissioning, and project handover activities.
•    Evaluate technical alternatives and recommend solutions considering safety, technical performance, cost, schedule, constructability, operability, maintainability, and lifecycle considerations.
•    Coordinate and manage technical and design changes and assess their impact on project scope, cost, schedule, safety, quality, constructability, and operational requirements.
•    Ensure project designs appropriately address applicable codes, regulations, industry standards, company requirements, client requirements, and recognized best practices.
2. Onsite & Field Testing Solutions
•    Lead the coordination, planning, estimating, and project management of complex, multi-department Onsite and Field Testing Solutions.
•    Define project requirements, scope, execution strategy, schedule, budget, and resource requirements in coordination with clients and internal stakeholders.
•    Coordinate technical resources, internal departments, equipment, vendors, contractors, logistics, site requirements, and other stakeholders required for successful delivery.
•    Plan and coordinate mobilization, field execution, operational support, demobilization, and project close-out.
•    Ensure field solutions are appropriately scoped, estimated, resourced, scheduled, and executed in accordance with client requirements and company safety, quality, technical, operational, and financial expectations.
3. End-to-End Laboratory Project Management
•    Manage assigned laboratory and capital projects through applicable phases of initiation, planning, design, procurement, construction, commissioning, handover, and close-out.
•    Develop and manage project scope, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), schedules, milestones, deliverables, resources, dependencies, budgets, forecasts, and stakeholder activities.
•    Develop scopes of work and technical procurement documentation and participate in tendering, proposal evaluation, vendor selection, and procurement activities.
•    Coordinate consultants, contractors, vendors, internal teams, and other resources throughout project execution.
•    Conduct and coordinate project hazard analyses and risk assessments and ensure appropriate controls are incorporated into planning and execution.
•    Monitor project performance, identify risks and variances, manage changes, and communicate impacts to scope, schedule, cost, safety, and quality.
•    Coordinate commissioning, operational handover, and project close-out, including as-built documentation, operations and maintenance information, lessons learned, and other required project records.

Key Accountability/Responsibilities: What specifically is this job expected to accomplish?

4. Financial, Commercial & Stakeholder Management
•    Develop and manage project budgets, estimates, forecasts, expenditures, billing projections, and resource requirements.
•    Monitor financial performance, identify variances, and communicate potential scope changes and change-order requirements in a timely manner.
•    Apply value-engineering and cost-management principles to support project objectives while managing client and stakeholder expectations.
•    Establish and maintain effective relationships with clients, Laboratory Operations, consultants, contractors, vendors, and other internal and external stakeholders.
•    Participate in new project opportunities, feasibility assessments, Return on Investment (ROI) studies, estimates, and presentations to project sponsors.
5. Safety, Quality & Professional Responsibilities
•    Promote and maintain a strong safety culture throughout project planning and execution.
•    Act as the designated competent person for applicable project activities where qualified and assigned, ensuring required training, Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs), and project-specific safety requirements are addressed.
•    Comply with applicable Federal and Provincial occupational health and safety legislation and company HSE policies, procedures, safe-work practices, and requirements.
•    Immediately report unsafe conditions, incidents, and workplace injuries and take reasonable precautions to protect personal and worker safety.
•    Maintain effective project documentation and document control in accordance with company and project requirements.
•    Maintain professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders and represent company values and interests in project and client interactions.
•    Pursuing professional, project-management, and technical development.

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Skills and Knowledge:  What skills and knowledge are used to carry out job responsibilities and solve problems?

• University degree or college diploma in Engineering, preferably Process, Chemical/Chemistry, Mechanical, or a related discipline, and/or equivalent relevant education and experience.
• Minimum five years of relevant industry experience; experience in chemistry, petroleum, environmental, laboratory, construction, or related technical environments is an asset.
• Formal Project Management training or certification preferred. Relevant certifications or professional memberships, including PMI membership where applicable, should be identified.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex technical projects, multidisciplinary teams, multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, budgets, schedules, and project risks.
• Strong project-management, organizational, analytical, documentation, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills.
• Experience with AutoCAD, Revit, Microsoft Project, and project cost-management tools is an asset.
• Experience with construction, tendering, procurement, commissioning, and contractor/vendor coordination is an asset.
• Strong customer-service and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and effectively coordinate diverse technical and operational stakeholders.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to act as a professional role model for project stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, in one or more languages in addition to English is an asset.
• Valid driver's license and ability to meet applicable company driving requirements

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Working Conditions:  physical work environment, physical and mental effort, visual/listening attention and travel

• Mainly (95%)  an in person office environment
• Primarily an in-person office environment with frequent interaction in laboratory, construction, client, and field environments.
• Technical leadership and coordination responsibilities involving laboratory personnel, clients, consultants, equipment vendors, contractors, and other stakeholders.
• Work involves changing priorities, multiple concurrent demands, internal and external negotiations, and deadlines in a fast-paced project environment.
• Flexible working hours, overtime, or shift work may occasionally be required based on project and operational requirements.
• May involve limited exposure to hazardous materials and industrial or construction environments, subject to appropriate controls and PPE requirements.
• Expected to travel to customer locations, other company locations, and client or project sites as required. Must maintain a valid passport in good standing, be able to travel internationally when required, and be available for travel on short notice based on project, client, and business needs.