PURPOSE: Reporting to the Associate Director of Public Works, the Public Works Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring the successful completion of assigned department projects. The purpose of the position will be to oversee all aspects of assigned projects from initiation to completion; ensuring projects are completed on time, within budget, and according to specified requirements. Key responsibilities include planning & organizing, team coordination, resource management, risk management, monitoring & reporting quality control and stakeholder communication. This is a full-time permanent position that is required to work in the office, remotely, and with moderate travel required.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Cowichan Tribes offers an excellent benefit and pension plan available after successful completion of the probationary period. The position includes paid training, paid vacation and paid sick leave. Depending on experience, the position starts at $56.15-$60.15 per hour ($102,197.43 - $109,476.89 annually).
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Planning and Organizing
- Define the project's scope, objectives and goals
- Direct all phases of the projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope and budget
- Identify and allocate necessary resources, such as personnel, budget and tools
- Integrate climate resilience, aquatic habitat protection and cultural values into infrastructure design and delivery
- Navigate permitting and regulatory processes (e.g., DFO, FNHA, CVRD, ECCC.)
- Establish a clear project plan that includes dependencies and critical path
- Other related duties as required
Team Coordination
- Identify and onboard external consultants, contractors and third-party vendors based on project needs
- Clearly define roles and responsibilities for each external partner involved in assigned project
- Facilitate effective communication between the project team and external partners; ensuring alignment on project objectives
- Coordinate and manage the workflow between consultants, contractors and any internal team members to ensure smooth collaboration
- Monitor progress and ensure that external partners are meeting their deadlines and deliverables
- Foster a collaborative environment and address any issues or concerns that arise between internal team members and external partners
- Ensure that all team members, including external partners, have access to necessary project information and resources
- Other related duties as required
Resource Management
- Ensure that all necessary resources (e.g., manpower, technology, budget) are available and properly allocated
- Track resource usage to prevent overuse or shortages
- Monitor project budget, ensuring financial resources are used efficiently
- Adjust resource allocation as needed to meet project demands
- Identify and resolve any resource-related conflicts or constraints
- Other related duties as required
Risk Management
- Identify potential risks (e.g., financial, technical, operational) early in the project
- Assess the likelihood and impact of each risk
- Develop risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans
- Monitor risks continuously throughout the project and adjust plans as necessary
- Address and resolve issues that arise in a timely manner to minimize project impact
- Other related duties as required
Monitoring and Reporting
- Track the progress of the project against predefined milestones and timelines
- Use tools (e.g., Gantt charts, project management software) to monitor project status
- Identify any delays, bottlenecks, or deviations from the project plan
- Provide regular progress updates to stakeholders, clients, external partners and team members
- Adjust the project plan based on performance data and feedback
- Other related duties as required
Quality Control
- Establish quality standards for the project deliverables
- Ensures that Cowichan Tribes financial policies and procedures are adhered to
- Monitor project deliverables to ensure they meet quality criteria
- Implement quality assurance processes, such as testing or reviews
- Address any defects, errors or gaps in deliverables
- Ensure that the final product or result meets stakeholder expectations and requirements
- Other related duties as required
Stakeholder Communication
- Identify key stakeholders and understand their needs, interests and expectations
- Set up regular communication channels with stakeholders (e.g., email, meetings)
- Provide clear, consistent and transparent updates to stakeholders
- Manage stakeholder expectations by addressing concerns and providing solutions
- Ensure alignment between stakeholder goals and the project’s objectives throughout project lifecycle
- Other related duties as required
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: (please attach all required documents)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science, Natural Resources, First Nations Studies, Public Administration, Business Administration, or other related field required
- Minimum 5 years’ experience with progressively more management responsibilities and related project management experience required
- Demonstrated experience managing multi-stakeholder projects involving environmental and regulatory processes required
- Experience overseeing budgets and completing reports required
- Experience with project documentation (e.g., contracts, project charters, status reports) required
- Experience with stakeholder communication and negotiation.
- Experience identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks, including technical, financial, and operational risks
- Experience working in a First Nations community and a willingness to learn about culture, customs, and traditions of Cowichan people
- Project Management Professional (PMP) designation preferred
- Satisfactory Criminal Record Check required
- Valid BC driver’s license, satisfactory driver’s abstract and reliable vehicle required
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of Cowichan Tribes internal departments and programs
- Knowledge of Cowichan culture, customs and traditions
- Knowledge of federal, provincial, municipal and First Nations government and services
- Knowledge of budgeting and cost management tools
- Proficiency with project management methodologies
- Familiarity with contract management, including vendor agreements, service-level agreements (SLAs) and intellectual property considerations
- Strong understanding of environmental permitting and compliance in British Columbia
- Ability to create, manage and track project schedules using tools like Microsoft Project, Trello, Asana or Wrike
- Comfortable using collaboration tools (e.g., Webex, Zoom, Microsoft Teams) to maintain communication with remote teams and contractors
- Understanding of budgeting and financial forecasting
- Strong verbal and written communication, including the ability to tailor messages to various stakeholders
- Ability to lead virtual and in-person meetings, facilitate discussions and resolve issues
- Skilled in writing clear and concise reports, presentations and updates for stakeholders
- Strong influence skills to guide, align and motivate external partners, contractors, and consultant
- Proficient in setting priorities, multitasking and meeting deadlines from multiple external partners and internal teams
- Strong decision-making skills to address challenges that arise during project execution
HOW TO APPLY: Interested applicants are invited to submit a current resume, a detailed cover letter and three references to Human Resources by email or in person before the deadline with the Reference No. included. If you are emailing your application, indicate the Reference No. in the subject line of your email.
Reference No. PW-ADM-PM-0526
Cowichan Tribes Human Resources Department 435 Trunk Road – Unit 302 (third floor) Duncan, BC, V9L, 2P5
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.cowichantribes.com/employment
Deadline: Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
Pursuant to section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code, preference may be given to applicants of Indigenous ancestry. We thank all applicants in advance but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Pay: $56.15-$60.15 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Dental care
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Life insurance
- On-site parking
- Paid time off
- Vision care
- Wellness program
Work Location: In person
