Director of Projects

VeraSun Energy's mission is to be a leading producer of renewable fuels by building and operating large-scale and highly efficient ethanol plants.

Job Summary:

Directs and leads the planning, organizing, and execution of major (greater than $100 million capital investment) projects.  Reports to SVP Operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

* Provides input on site selection.
* Coordinates project activities with activities of government regulatory or other governmental agencies to ensure that permits and other regulatory requirements are in place.
* Manages the site development activities by selecting contractors and directing their work.
* Assists with planning of plant layout.
* Manages activities of the design and engineering company and the general contractor.
* Assists with the procurement of construction supplies and plant equipment.
* Manages other contractors (e.g., rail, water, administration building, etc.).
* Manages the project schedule.
* Assists with presentations to investors and lenders.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Manager:   Directly supervises Site Construction Managers, Project Engineers and support staff (VeraSun and contractors) on assigned projects. Establishes personnel performance expectations, provides routine feedback and formal appraisals and recommends promotions, salary changes, transfers, and terminations to the SVP Projects. Implements the standard VeraSun Project Management Process on assigned projects, providing monthly progress reports with comprehensive analysis of progress and issues to-date and forecasts to completion.

Leader:   Reinforces VeraSun's values, conducting himself/herself professionally and modeling the company's focus on safety, integrity, and high ethical standards. Provides consultation, advice, and problem analysis to senior management as well as other individuals and organizations within the company.

Developer:   Establishes a culture of performance and execution excellence by developing stretch targets for multiple project teams and alliance partners. Selects, develops, and coaches project managers, leaders, and individual contributors. Takes a leadership role in the development of employees for assignments requiring increased knowledge and/or responsibility.

Planner:   Establishes an implementation plan for the Projects Group's strategic objectives and works across organizational boundaries to obtain any required support. Provides input into strategic planning and has an operational focus of one to five years.

Scheduler:   Assures resource-loaded department and project schedules are developed and maintained. Assures proper progress and timely response to needed changes through frequent interaction and communication with direct reports.

Evaluator:   Develops critical Key Performance Indicators and qualitative metrics and provides routine monthly feedback regarding performance against targets. Establishes aggressive corrective action for those areas under his/her scope of responsibility that are not meeting targets. Performs ongoing process reviews to identify lessons learned and uses this information to achieve continuous improvement.

Controller:   Conducts periodic assessments to compare current department performance against established expectations. Deviations are addressed via corrective action/recovery plans.

* Exhibits positive attitude and high energy to achieve company goals.
* Strong interpersonal, teamwork, and communication skills.
* Well developed management skills in the areas of administration, budgeting, contract administration, personnel management, effective delegation, and presentations.
* Demonstrated project management skills including the ability to scope, plan, execute, and control multiple projects.
* Proven ability to able to handle complex personnel and management issues.
* Knowledgeable of strategic, tactical, and long-range planning techniques and programs.
* Practical philosophy in combination with knowledge of processes for making decisions regarding complex project planning and implementation issues.

Education/Experience:

*4-year Engineering Degree from an accredited institution, preferably Civil/Structural; Mechanical; Electrical/Instrumentation & Control; Architectural; consideration given to individuals with 4-year Construction Management degrees.
* Twenty (20) years combined experience required, to include the following:

o Seven years (minimum) experience with management of large (greater than $100 million) engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) projects. Beneficial EPC experience includes work with both direct-hire and subcontracted engineering and craft labor forces. Must possess "hands-on" field jobsite experience with construction Safety and Quality Assurance/Quality Control programs. Experienced with implementation of automated Project Control (estimating, planning, scheduling, and cost management) systems. Experience with negotiation and administration of engineering, procurement, construction and operating plant services contracts.

o Two years experience (minimum) with planning and execution of industrial, energy or manufacturing plant systems start-up and facility turnover to operations.

o Five years (minimum) experience in management of industrial, energy or manufacturing plant operations. Prefer experience in functional areas of plant operations, maintenance and modification, engineering support, and/or training.

o Seven years (minimum) experience in leadership positions as direct first-line supervisor or lead, manager, director, or team project manager.

Computer Skills:   To perform this job successfully, the successful candidate must have expertise and proficiency with basic office computer software, e.g., word processing, email, and spreadsheets. Experience with CAD design and project management software is desirable.

Communication Skills:   Must have excellent written and spoken communication skills. Must write clearly and informatively, editing work for spelling and grammar and varying writing style for the audience. Must have the ability to write reports as well as present numerical data.

Travel:   Travel will be required. Candidate must possess personal credit cards to enable handling travel expenses until reimbursement is processed and must have the ability to use personal credit cards to rent vehicles for travel as required.

Supervisory Requirements:   Will directly recruit, hire, and supervisor Site Construction Managers for new VeraSun Projects. Will directly supervise additional Project and Construction Managers as VeraSun's expansion and growth strategy is implemented.

Work Environment:   Position requires exposure to on-site construction work, requiring use of PPE and adherence to all company safety standards.

To Apply:

Please send a brief cover letter and resume by email.  See our website to download an employment application.