Senior Project Services Specialist (term for a period up to 4 years)
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Date: 3 weeks ago
City: Vancouver, BC
Contract type: Full time

Detailed Job Description
JOIN US IN ENABLING TRADE THROUGH CANADA'S LARGEST PORT.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is an arm’s-length federal agency responsible for the shared stewardship of the lands and waters that make up the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port. Our mandate, as outlined in the Canada Marine Act, is to enable Canada’s trade objectives on behalf of all Canadians, ensuring the safe movement of goods through the Port of Vancouver while protecting the environment and considering local communities.
As an organization with a significant impact on communities and businesses across Canada, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. We strive to create a workplace that mirrors the richness of our community, empowering all employees to achieve their full potential.
The Senior Project Services Specialist (SPSS) works closely with the project managers and the project services and infrastructure delivery leadership teams within a matrix organization and has an overall accountability to provide project services leadership using industry best practices, to all VFPA capital projects.
The SPSS leads project managers and project teams in planning, executing, and finalizing primarily medium to large sized capital projects, as directed depending on the specific needs, makeup, and team structure within assigned project(s). This includes providing senior technical advice, as a subject matter expert, in project services with a focus on contract, cost, planning and schedule, and risk and quality management, while proactively identifying and implementing process improvements and efficiencies.
What You Do
Job type: Bargaining Unit, Full-Time, Term, Hybrid
Working environment: Normal office conditions with occasional construction site visits. A valid BC driver’s license and regular access to a personal vehicle to travel to remote locations.
MARINE TRANSPORATION SECURITY CLEARANCE
The incumbent must obtain and maintain a valid Marine Transportation Security Clearance when specific projects require this position to access restricted areas/information as defined by the Marine Transportation Security Regulations
This is Canadian-based employment, and it is expected that all employees maintain legal entitlement to work in Canada. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process may be subject to background checks, including but not limited to criminal record, credit, and/or reference checks.
At the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, we are dedicated to employment equity and a workplace reflective of the diversity of our port community. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and members of visible minorities. Reasonable accommodation can be provided in the selection process and while working with the port authority. If you require support applying to our openings, please contact us at [email protected].
We recognize and acknowledge that we are located on the traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. To learn more about our indigenous relations and commitment to reconciliation, please visit our website.
JOIN US IN ENABLING TRADE THROUGH CANADA'S LARGEST PORT.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is an arm’s-length federal agency responsible for the shared stewardship of the lands and waters that make up the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port. Our mandate, as outlined in the Canada Marine Act, is to enable Canada’s trade objectives on behalf of all Canadians, ensuring the safe movement of goods through the Port of Vancouver while protecting the environment and considering local communities.
As an organization with a significant impact on communities and businesses across Canada, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and sustainability. We strive to create a workplace that mirrors the richness of our community, empowering all employees to achieve their full potential.
The Senior Project Services Specialist (SPSS) works closely with the project managers and the project services and infrastructure delivery leadership teams within a matrix organization and has an overall accountability to provide project services leadership using industry best practices, to all VFPA capital projects.
The SPSS leads project managers and project teams in planning, executing, and finalizing primarily medium to large sized capital projects, as directed depending on the specific needs, makeup, and team structure within assigned project(s). This includes providing senior technical advice, as a subject matter expert, in project services with a focus on contract, cost, planning and schedule, and risk and quality management, while proactively identifying and implementing process improvements and efficiencies.
What You Do
- Responsible for the collaboration, evaluation and awarding of major contracts, and implementation of construction and consulting services.
- Provides senior level commercial and contract administration advice to ensure that major capital projects are delivered within effective contract and infrastructure management practices.
- Implement best-practice processes for budgeting, forecasting, tracking, analysis, change management, and reporting protocols for all internal and external project related costs (using Earned Value & other methodologies, where relevant).
- Provide monthly reporting of project performance and cost variance to program/project owners, senior management, board of directors and other key stakeholders.
- Develop Business Cases to support the organization’s decision process for large capital transactions, including consideration of alternative approaches, analysis of key risks, and development of mitigations where optimal.
- Lead managers in delivering capital projects and programs to control costs through the provision of accurate, complete, and timely capital project cost management information and required variance analysis and formulate follow-up action plans.
- Develop and integrate project schedules (e.g., master schedules, working schedules, 3-week look ahead schedules) to ensure timely completion of the project.
- Deliver schedule reporting as required (e.g., weekly/monthly/quarterly reports, look-ahead schedules).
- Perform schedule analysis (e.g., critical path, event impact, float consumption), and provide recommendations to project teams on recovery and mitigation actions.
- Develop procedures and guidelines to continually improve the scheduling processes.
- Support program/project owners to manage cost risks (including performing quantitative risk analysis), contingency and spending approvals, and provide them with information and guidance to efficiently manage the project’s costs.
- Participate in the risk management process over projects by maintaining respective project risk registers and facilitating workshops.
- Participate in risk analysis and identify high-risk issues that may impact project success and recommend solutions.
- Executes the Quality Management Plan (QMP) for each project, as assigned.
- Work and liaise with various internal departments to ensure that the requirements are congruent with Program Quality Objectives, where relevant, and alignment between quality management and requirements management processes.
- Audit the compliance of consultants and contractors against their documented quality management systems.
- Administer the collection, reporting and closure of non-conformance reports (“NCRs”) and Corrective Action Request (“CARs”) and monitor the NCR and CAR processes of selected consultants and contractors.
- Interface with project teams and assist as required in other areas of the projects including document controls (e.g. and administration/use of “Procore” where required), safety management, quality etc.
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration or engineering.
- Minimum five (5) years of Project Controls EPCC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Commissioning) experience on major projects, preferably of at least $200 million.
- Preferably experience working in the industrial sector, such as oil and gas, mining, transportation, or power generation.
- Commercial experience, including contracts and procurement is preferred.
- Proficient computer skills, especially Excel, PowerPoint, and working knowledge in any of the Project Controls related software like Prism, Procore, Primavera P6, SAP, Oracle (and Oracle JDE) or equivalent. Experience with risk analysis software (e.g., Primavera Risk Analysis, @Risk, Risk Simulator) to perform Monte Carlo simulations will be an asset.
- A Project Management Professional (PMP) designation or similar certification will be an asset.
- Market-competitive base salaries and variable incentive plan
- Generous and inclusive benefits offering including retirement benefits plan
- Flexible remote work program
- Earned time off program
- Paid vacation and personal care leave
- Learning, development, and advancement opportunities
- Onsite gym with towel service in a national landmark in the heart of Vancouver’s waterfront
- Friendly, unique, and respectful workplace
Job type: Bargaining Unit, Full-Time, Term, Hybrid
Working environment: Normal office conditions with occasional construction site visits. A valid BC driver’s license and regular access to a personal vehicle to travel to remote locations.
MARINE TRANSPORATION SECURITY CLEARANCE
The incumbent must obtain and maintain a valid Marine Transportation Security Clearance when specific projects require this position to access restricted areas/information as defined by the Marine Transportation Security Regulations
This is Canadian-based employment, and it is expected that all employees maintain legal entitlement to work in Canada. Applicants selected to move forward in the hiring process may be subject to background checks, including but not limited to criminal record, credit, and/or reference checks.
At the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, we are dedicated to employment equity and a workplace reflective of the diversity of our port community. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous peoples, and members of visible minorities. Reasonable accommodation can be provided in the selection process and while working with the port authority. If you require support applying to our openings, please contact us at [email protected].
We recognize and acknowledge that we are located on the traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. To learn more about our indigenous relations and commitment to reconciliation, please visit our website.
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