Project Leader
Location: Laurel
Posted on: June 23, 2025
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Job Description:
Company Description About Veolia North America A subsidiary of
Veolia Group, Veolia North America (VNA) offers a full spectrum of
water, waste and energy management services, including water, and
wastewater treatment, commercial and hazardous waste collection and
disposal, energy consulting and resource recovery. VNA helps
commercial, industrial, healthcare, higher education, and
municipality customers throughout North America. Headquartered in
Boston, Mass., Veolia North America has approximately 10,000
employees working at more than 350 locations across the continent.
Please visit our website www.veolianorthamerica.com. Job
Description BENEFITS Veolia's comprehensive benefits package
includes paid time off policies, as well as health, dental and
vision insurance. In addition, employees are also entitled to
participate in an employer sponsored 401(k) plan, to save for
retirement. Pay and benefits for employees represented by a union
are outlined in their collective bargaining agreement. Position
Purpose: In the role of Regional Leader, the successful candidate
will lead the execution of strategic initiatives within your
region, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and
prioritizing key regional issues. Thrive in dynamic,
region-specific environments, effectively overcoming obstacles with
a resilient and adaptable approach to changing conditions. Clearly
articulate regional strategies and goals, while actively listening
to the needs and concerns of your team and stakeholders to ensure
effective communication and collaboration. Foster a positive and
cohesive team environment by demonstrating high emotional
intelligence and building strong, supportive relationships across
the region. Tackle region-specific challenges with a hands-on
approach, developing and implementing innovative solutions that
address complex issues. Promote diversity and inclusion within your
region, respecting cultural differences and ensuring an inclusive
work environment for all team members. Drive the growth and success
of the regional business, contributing to the overall expansion and
sustainability of the organization. Safety: Establish and nurture a
safety culture driven by individual behavior and accountability
across a multi-state region. Ensure all sites have specific
training, resources, and facility-required PPE (Personal Protective
Equipment) needed to perform the work. Maintain compliance with
OSHA, State, and Veolia Safety and Environmental Programs across
the entire region. Compliance: Lead efforts to ensure compliant
execution of contracts for assigned projects, including adherence
to established environmental, health, safety, operating,
maintenance, and emergency response procedures. Reliability:
Oversee project delivery performance, ensuring that delivery
consistently meets or exceeds professional operations standards.
Guide project leaders to demonstrate skills and responsibilities
related to dependable project execution, maintaining high quality
standards, and delivering consistent results. Apply ingenuity and
initiative to coordinate problem resolution, manage conflicting
priorities, and meet deadlines within a team environment. People
Focused: Lead and nurture assigned projects with a positive
culture, focusing on being the employer of choice. Ensure project
leaders effectively manage resources (e.g., personnel, equipment,
materials, facilities, funds, and reputation). Demonstrate
effective communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
while interfacing with project leaders, customers, and employees.
Evaluate leader performance, match abilities with job requirements,
and capitalize on talents to meet business objectives. Mentor
reports to grow their capabilities and leadership skills. Ensure
effective communication and execution of business initiatives and
progress toward goals by project leaders. Customer Obsessed:
Collaborate with Project Leaders to create and follow up on leads
for new business opportunities. Ensure project leaders build sound
relationships with customers and work closely with them to prevent
or solve issues. Be available for escalation of issues and address
as needed. Performance measured by Net Promoter Score (NPS) and
participation. Cost Effective: Lead OPEX (Operational Excellence)
initiatives to focus on efficiencies and cost savings across the
division. Maintain full P&L and budgeting ownership for
assigned project sites. Oversee budget preparation and cost
control, with the ability to forecast budget, staffing, and
equipment needs. Spearhead efforts to streamline processes and
increase efficiency Primary Duties/Responsibilities: Job Duties:
Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams
across multiple sites. Skilled in creating a positive, inclusive,
and accountable work culture. Ability to assess team strengths and
areas for development, providing coaching and growth opportunities.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability
to engage and influence employees, clients, and stakeholders at all
levels. Skilled at fostering collaboration and building
partnerships with local governments, clients, regulatory bodies,
and internal teams. Strong focus on setting measurable goals and
achieving operational targets, such as safety, compliance,
financial performance, and employee engagement. Experience with
performance metrics and continuous improvement initiatives. High
emotional intelligence (EQ), with strong self-awareness, empathy,
and the ability to manage interpersonal dynamics. Ability to
navigate sensitive issues with diplomacy and tact, especially in
diverse and challenging work environments. Leadership experience in
enforcing and improving health, safety, and environmental (HSE)
protocol. People Management: Lead and supervise a staff of >30
FTEs, potentially overseeing multiple locations. Manage supervisors
impacting budgeting, cost control, planning, scheduling, and
procedural changes. Foster a positive culture focused on being the
employer of choice. Evaluate leader performance, match abilities
with job requirements, and capitalize on talents to meet business
objectives. Provide training to project leaders on technical and
business-related topics. Possibly, oversee a larger site of at
least 50 employees or multiple sites. Communication and Leadership:
Demonstrate effective communication, presentation, and
interpersonal skills. Build relationships, facilitate team success,
provide direction, and delegate responsibly. Ensure business
initiatives and progress toward goals are effectively communicated
to project leaders. Safety and Compliance: Lead and nurture a
safety culture driven by individual behavior and accountability
across assigned projects. Ensure all sites have specific training,
resources, and required PPE. Oversee plant compliance with OSHA,
State, and Veolia Safety and Environmental Programs. Lead efforts
to ensure compliant execution of contracts, including
environmental, health, safety, operating, maintenance, and
emergency response procedures. Operational Excellence: Accountable
for project delivery performance, meeting or exceeding professional
operations standards. Ensure project leaders demonstrate skills in
dependable execution, maintaining high quality standards, and
delivering consistent results. Coordinate problem resolution,
resolve conflicting priorities, and meet deadlines within a team
environment. Oversee facilities collectively managing >20 mgd
(multiple sites or single large water/wastewater facilities).
Customer Relations: Work with the Vice President to create and
follow up on new business opportunities. Ensure project leaders
build sound relationships with customers and address issues
promptly. Be available for escalation of issues and address as
needed. Performance measured by NPS score and participation.
Financial Management: Lead a division focused on efficiencies
through the OPEX program. Full P&L and budgeting ownership for
assigned areas (>$10M in Revenue). Lead budget preparation, cost
control, and forecasting. Monitor area financial performance,
including cost center budget compliance, personnel utilization,
pricing, invoicing, and collections. Prepare monthly reports and
annual budgets, ensuring performance meets or exceeds the plan.
Business Development and Contract Management: Coordinate due
diligence processes and support the WIN process. Perform final bid
reviews and complete proposals on time and on budget. Participate
in negotiations of regional, multi-site, and/or complex agreements.
Manage change variations, securing favorable financial and risk
terms. Interpret contracts to define deliverables and fulfill
schedules. Procurement and Resource Management: Leverage area
resources and national contracts to maximize purchasing power.
Manage contract MBE/WBE/VBE procurement requirements. Identify and
justify capital expenditures partnering directly with the client.
Work Environment: Spends 40% time in an office environment and 60%
at projects. Occasional exposure to plant and field environments.
Attends client meetings (e.g., city council, utility board or
internal management). Makes visits to existing and potential
customer facilities. Frequent travel. Qualifications
Education/Experience/Background: A degree in Business, Finance,
Engineering, or a related field is strongly preferred but not
required. 8 years of leadership experience, 5 of which leading and
managing teams, with a strong emphasis on regional leadership and
operational excellence. Knowledge/Skills/Abilities: Leadership and
Management: Demonstrates strong leadership abilities. Understanding
of Human Resources principles and practices. Skilled in team
building and motivating personnel at all levels. Strategic and
Financial Acumen: Possesses strategic business planning and
financial management skills. Experienced in P&L ownership,
budgeting, and cost control. Demonstrates ability to identify and
maximize business opportunities. Customer Relations and Sales:
Proven track record in delivering excellent customer satisfaction.
Effective sales skills with ability to close attainable
opportunities. Successful experience in contract negotiations and
management. Skilled in building partnerships and relationships with
diverse stakeholders. Ability to interface effectively with clients
including preparing and presenting information at public forums
including but not limited to clients governing boards.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills: Excellent written, verbal,
listening, and presentation skills. Ability to handle sensitive
communications at all levels. Adaptable communication style to
relate to various personalities. Outgoing, self-directed,
goal-oriented, and creative. Operational Excellence: Effective
organizational and project management skills. Strong attention to
detail. High degree of initiative, judgment, and resourcefulness.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and find creative solutions.
Knowledge of safety, environmental, and health requirements.
Skilled in facilities and capital equipment management. Ability to
gain knowledge of the operation, maintenance, and process control
of water/wastewater treatment facilities. Problem-Solving and
Innovation: Proactive in addressing issues related to personnel,
capital, margin enhancement, and profitability. Demonstrates skills
in problem-solving and developing effective solutions. Commitment
to total quality management principles. Compliance and Ethics:
Committed to compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and
company policies. Adheres to the Company's Code of Business
Conduct. Technical Proficiency: Strong PC skills with proficiency
in word processing, spreadsheet, and database software. Ability to
optimize technology and systems to streamline processes and
increase efficiency. Additional Competencies: Skilled in technical
writing. Adaptable to changing priorities and multi-faceted
challenges. Committed to continuous improvement and innovation.
Required Certification/Licenses/Training: Must be able to obtain
the required certification. Additional Information We are an Equal
Opportunity Employer! All qualified applicants will receive
consideration for employment without regard to race, color,
religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national
origin, disability or protected veteran status. Disclaimer: The
salary, other compensation, and benefits information is accurate as
of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to
modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.
Keywords: , Hattiesburg , Project Leader, Engineering , Laurel, Mississippi
