Project Manager - Marine Dredging Marine Dredging Pacific – Vancouver, WA. (On-Site)
POSITION SUMMARY
Orion is a leading specialty construction company providing marine construction, dredging, and heavy civil infrastructure services. Through its Marine segment, Orion supports the development, maintenance, and improvement of critical waterfront infrastructure, including ports, harbors, navigation channels, marine terminals, docks, wharves, and other coastal and inland marine facilities.
Orion's dredging operations support projects involving navigational improvements, maintenance and deepening of waterways, sediment removal, underwater excavation, and marine infrastructure development. Our teams operate specialized marine equipment and work in complex waterfront environments where safety, environmental stewardship, operational efficiency, and precise project execution are essential.
Orion is seeking an experienced Project Manager to support its Pacific Region dredging operations, with a primary emphasis on clamshell dredging projects throughout the West Coast. This position is responsible for managing dredging projects from preconstruction and estimating through mobilization, field execution, financial management, project completion, and closeout.
The Project Manager will work closely with Orion's Area Manager, dredging operations leadership, Superintendents, Dredge Captains, field personnel, subcontractors, and customers to ensure projects are completed safely, efficiently, profitably, and in accordance with contractual requirements.
Successful candidates will bring extensive hands-on knowledge of clamshell dredging methods, marine construction operations, dredging equipment, hydrographic survey technology, and project management. Experience utilizing HYPACK and Trimble GPS positioning and guidance systems is required to support dredging planning, vessel and equipment positioning, production tracking, quantity verification, and accurate project execution.
The ideal candidate will have experience managing complex dredging operations in active marine environments, including projects involving sediment removal, dredge material handling and disposal, navigation improvements, and environmentally sensitive waterways. Experience with backhoe dredging operations and West Coast marine construction conditions is highly desirable.
The incumbent must demonstrate and support Orion's guiding beliefs and core values of Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Teamwork, each built upon the foundation of Integrity.
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
- Works closely with the Vice President, Area Manager, and Orion's dredging and marine construction operations teams to ensure the successful execution, financial performance, and profitability of assigned projects.
- Provides overall project management leadership, direction, and oversight to Superintendents, Dredge Captains, Project Engineers, and field personnel supporting active dredging operations.
- Manages dredging projects throughout the complete project lifecycle, including preconstruction, estimating, bidding, planning, procurement, mobilization, field execution, project controls, demobilization, and closeout.
- Develops and coordinates competitive bid proposals for upcoming dredging projects, ensuring accurate estimates, comprehensive scopes of work, and timely submission of completed proposals.
- Prepares and reviews project cost estimates, including labor, equipment, materials, subcontractors, marine transportation, dredge production rates, sediment handling, disposal requirements, and other associated project costs.
- Applies advanced technical knowledge of clamshell dredging methods, equipment capabilities, operating procedures, and production efficiencies to project planning, estimating, execution, monitoring, and issue resolution.
- Provides project management oversight for clamshell dredging operations and, when applicable, backhoe dredging and other specialized marine excavation activities.
- Utilizes HYPACK, Trimble GPS, and related hydrographic survey and dredging guidance systems to support dredge positioning, project planning, production monitoring, progress tracking, and quantity verification.
- Reviews hydrographic survey information, bathymetric data, dredging elevations, cut depths, tolerances, and production reports to ensure compliance with project specifications and contractual requirements.
- Coordinates with survey teams and dredging operations personnel to verify excavation limits, monitor dredge progress, identify production variances, and support accurate measurement of completed work.
- Develops project execution plans that consider dredging methodologies, equipment selection, marine logistics, environmental restrictions, sediment characteristics, material handling, and disposal requirements.
- Coordinates dredging activities involving barges, cranes, support vessels, tugboats, material transport equipment, and other marine construction resources.
- Oversees dredged material handling, transportation, and placement or disposal activities in accordance with project specifications, environmental permits, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Develops and maintains project schedules, including critical milestones, equipment mobilization, production targets, subcontractor activities, and project completion requirements.
- Monitors project budgets, forecasts, cost-to-complete projections, productivity, equipment utilization, and overall financial performance.
- Identifies potential project risks, operational challenges, differing site conditions, schedule impacts, and cost exposures, developing appropriate mitigation strategies.
- Manages project documentation, including daily production reports, quantity tracking, progress reports, change orders, subcontractor coordination, and customer communications.
- Procures materials, equipment, subcontracted services, and other resources necessary to support successful project execution.
- Interprets construction drawings, dredging plans, hydrographic surveys, technical specifications, contract documents, and applicable regulatory requirements.
- Coordinates with customers, engineering consultants, port authorities, government agencies, subcontractors, suppliers, and other stakeholders throughout project execution.
- Supports compliance with applicable federal, state, and local environmental requirements, including project-specific permits, water quality restrictions, and dredging operational limitations.
- Works closely with Orion's Safety and Environmental teams to ensure safe operations involving marine equipment, dredging vessels, lifting operations, personnel transfers, and active waterfront construction environments.
- Travels to project locations throughout the Pacific Region and other assigned areas as necessary to support bidding, project planning, mobilization, execution, customer coordination, and closeout.
- Promotes effective communication, teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement across all project and field operations.
EMPLOYEE SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE
- Responsible and accountable for maintaining personal safety and promoting a safe working environment for all employees, subcontractors, and others who may be affected by project operations.
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to Orion's safety culture and actively supports safe work practices throughout dredging and marine construction operations.
- Responsible for ensuring project personnel understand and comply with applicable safety policies, procedures, and job-specific requirements.
- Authorized and obligated to stop work whenever an unsafe condition, activity, or situation is anticipated or observed.
- Supports safe execution of marine operations involving floating equipment, cranes, barges, dredges, tugboats, lifting operations, and personnel working over or near water.
- Participates in project safety planning, job hazard analyses, safety meetings, incident prevention initiatives, and continuous improvement activities.
- Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, environmental permits, and Company policies and procedures.
- Works collaboratively with Orion's Safety and Environmental personnel to identify operational risks, implement corrective actions, and maintain regulatory compliance.
- Promptly reports unsafe conditions, incidents, near misses, and violations of applicable laws, regulations, or Company policies.
- Performs other administrative, technical, operational, and safety-related duties as assigned or requested by immediate supervision.
- Maintains confidentiality regarding Company information, including proprietary business practices, customer information, financial data, project documentation, and trade secrets.
Failure to comply with applicable safety requirements, laws, regulations, or Company policies may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
POSITION COMPETENCIES
- Business Acumen (Business Awareness, Knowledge): Demonstrates a strong understanding of business operations, project financial performance, marine construction markets, and dredging operations. Aligns project decisions with organizational goals, profitability, and customer expectations.
- Change Management (Change Readiness, Conflict Management): Demonstrates adaptability in dynamic marine construction environments and supports operational improvements, innovative dredging technologies, and effective organizational change.
- Collaboration (Relationships, Team Interface): Establishes productive working relationships with operations leadership, Superintendents, Dredge Captains, project teams, customers, subcontractors, and other stakeholders to achieve shared project objectives.
- Communication (Verbal, Written): Communicates clearly and effectively with field personnel, management, customers, engineers, and regulatory representatives. Provides accurate project updates, technical information, and operational guidance.
- Managing Work (Initiative, Productivity, Results Orientation): Effectively plans, schedules, coordinates, and directs project activities while maintaining accountability for safety, quality, productivity, budgets, and project delivery.
- Problem Solving (Analytical, Creative): Evaluates complex technical and operational challenges, identifies practical solutions, and makes sound decisions involving dredging methodologies, equipment utilization, field conditions, and project performance.
- Safety Orientation (Safe Work Philosophy): Demonstrates a strong personal commitment to safety and environmental responsibility. Promotes proactive hazard identification, regulatory compliance, and safe execution of marine construction activities.
- Talent Development (Coaching, Developing Others): Provides guidance, coaching, and professional development opportunities to Project Engineers, field supervisors, and other team members. Establishes clear performance expectations and encourages continuous improvement.
- Trust and Integrity (Integrity, Credibility, Influence): Demonstrates honesty, accountability, professionalism, and sound judgment. Follows through on commitments, maintains confidentiality, and builds trust with employees, customers, and business partners.
JOB-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
- Dredging Project Management: Demonstrates advanced knowledge of managing dredging projects from estimating and preconstruction through field execution, project controls, financial management, and closeout.
- Clamshell Dredging Technology and Methods: Possesses extensive technical knowledge of clamshell dredging operations, including equipment selection, dredging production methods, excavation tolerances, sediment handling, and operational efficiencies.
- Hydrographic Survey and Positioning Systems: Demonstrates proficiency using HYPACK, Trimble GPS, and related dredging guidance technologies to support equipment positioning, survey interpretation, dredge production monitoring, and quantity verification.
- Marine Equipment and Operations: Understands the operational capabilities and limitations of clamshell dredges, backhoe dredges, cranes, barges, tugboats, and supporting marine construction equipment.
- Estimating and Cost Control: Develops accurate project estimates, monitors budgets, evaluates production costs, manages project forecasts, and applies historical cost and production information to improve future estimates.
- Scheduling and Project Controls: Develops and manages project schedules, monitors critical activities, evaluates production performance, and implements corrective actions to maintain project milestones.
- Environmental and Regulatory Compliance: Understands dredging-related environmental considerations, permitting requirements, sediment management, water quality restrictions, and applicable marine construction regulations.
- Technical Interpretation: Demonstrates the ability to interpret dredging plans, hydrographic surveys, bathymetric data, construction specifications, project drawings, and contractual requirements.
- Leadership and Field Coordination: Provides effective leadership and coordination between project management, dredging operations, field supervision, subcontractors, and customers.
- Work Standards: Establishes high performance expectations, demonstrates initiative and accountability, and consistently delivers assignments with minimal supervision while maintaining Orion's standards for safety, quality, and operational excellence.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Engineering Management, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Marine Engineering, or a closely related field is required.
- A minimum of eight (8) years of dredging project management experience is required, with demonstrated responsibility for project planning, estimating, field execution, financial management, and successful project delivery.
- Demonstrated experience managing clamshell dredging projects is required, including direct knowledge of dredging equipment, operational methods, production management, and marine construction environments.
- Experience with backhoe dredging operations is preferred.
- Previous experience managing dredging projects in West Coast waters, including Pacific Coast ports, harbors, navigation channels, and marine infrastructure environments, is strongly preferred.
- Proficiency with HYPACK and Trimble GPS hydrographic survey, positioning, and dredging guidance systems is required.
- Strong understanding of dredging project planning, marine equipment operations, dredged sediment handling and transportation, disposal requirements, and project production monitoring is required.
- Demonstrated experience preparing project estimates, developing bid proposals, managing project budgets, evaluating cost-to-complete forecasts, and maintaining project profitability is required.
- Working knowledge of marine construction materials, procurement, subcontractor management, scheduling, project tracking software, construction engineering principles, and contract administration is required.
- Ability to interpret hydrographic survey data, dredging plans, technical specifications, project drawings, and quantity measurements is required.
- Familiarity with federal, state, and local regulations governing marine construction, dredging operations, environmental compliance, and safe work practices is required.
- Experience coordinating with port authorities, government agencies, engineering consultants, customers, and marine construction subcontractors is preferred.
- Strong leadership, communication, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills are required.
- Ability to work effectively with operations leadership, Superintendents, Dredge Captains, Project Engineers, field personnel, and customers at all organizational levels is required.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple project priorities, respond to changing field conditions, and make sound decisions in demanding marine construction environments is required.
- Willingness and ability to travel to project sites throughout the Pacific Region and other locations as business needs dictate is required.
- Ability to quickly learn and apply new technologies, operational procedures, and technical aspects of Orion's dredging and marine construction business is required.
The Company expects and requires the incumbent and all other employees to observe and fulfill their safety responsibilities and actively contribute to maintaining a safe and productive workplace. Failure to meet these responsibilities may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable workplace accommodation.
The position requires the ability to work in both office and active marine construction environments, including project sites, waterfront facilities, dredging vessels, barges, and other locations associated with marine construction operations.
The individual must be able to wear and properly utilize appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when working in or visiting areas where such equipment is required. This may include hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, respirators, steel-toed footwear, personal flotation devices (PFDs), and other protective equipment appropriate to the work performed and the project location.
The incumbent must be qualified and physically able to operate regular passenger vehicles to travel to offices, project locations, and active jobsites.
The position may require walking on uneven surfaces, accessing marine vessels and floating equipment, climbing stairs or ladders, and working in outdoor environments subject to changing weather, tides, and marine conditions.
The incumbent must possess the ability to remain calm and exercise sound judgment during emergencies, operational challenges, and other potentially hazardous situations. The individual must respond appropriately in accordance with established Company procedures and direction provided by Safety Representatives or other management personnel.
The incumbent must be capable of safely evacuating work areas in a timely manner should an emergency arise.
Compensation & Benefits:
An excellent compensation and benefits package is offered. Benefit plans include:
- Medical, including Prescription Drugs
- Dental
- Vision
- Life and AD&D Insurance
- Short Term and Long-term Disability Insurance
- Employee Assistance Plan
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off for Vacation, Sick, Holidays, Jury Duty, and Bereavement Leave
- Pre-Tax Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Career Growth & Development
- Salary: $170,000 - $200,000 range
