Project Director

Location: Seraing, Belgium | Belgian employment contract

Are you ready to lead major industrial projects, strengthen project delivery and make a tangible impact on operational performance and customer satisfaction?

Driven since 1817 by the entrepreneurial spirit and thirst for innovation of its founder, the John Cockerill Group develops large-scale technological solutions to meet the needs of its time: facilitating access to low-carbon energies, enabling sustainable industrial production, preserving natural resources, contributing to greener mobility, enhancing security, and installing critical infrastructures.

Its offer to companies, States and communities consists of services and associated equipment for the sectors of energy, defense, industry, the environment, transports, and infrastructures.

With over 8,000 employees, John Cockerill achieved a turnover of €1.417 billion in 2024, operating in 28 countries across 5 continents.

Within this framework, John Cockerill Services supports customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their industrial installations, delivering maintenance, upgrades, revamping, spare parts, digital solutions and operational support to enhance performance, reliability and sustainability.

Learn more about our Services activities: https://services.johncockerill.com/en/

Why join John Cockerill Services?

• Operational impact: contribute directly to the performance, availability and longevity of critical industrial assets.
• Global reach: collaborate with multicultural teams and support customers worldwide.
  Discover our international talent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvUiEakGcsQ&t=72s
• Field & expertise driven: combine technical expertise, customer proximity and pragmatic problem-solving.
• Engineering & decision centers on the same site: evolve in an agile environment enabling fast and informed decisions.

Your role

As Project Director within John Cockerill Services in Belgium, you will take ownership of a portfolio of strategic industrial projects, from pre-project preparation and launch through execution, contractual close-out and financial completion. You will directly manage one major project while overseeing several others, combining hands-on delivery with portfolio governance.

A key focus of the role is the execution phase on site, where the Project Director will take ownership of the operational delivery of projects, ensuring that works are carried out safely, to the required quality standards, within budget and schedule, and in line with contractual commitments. This requires a strong understanding of site execution, proven experience managing industrial projects in the field, and a genuine appetite for being closely involved in the day-to-day challenges of project delivery, working alongside site teams, subcontractors and customers to anticipate risks, resolve issues and drive performance.

The position is newly created to strengthen and professionalise project management practices, build a more proactive approach to risk and performance, and support a substantial pipeline of upcoming projects.

Our Belgian Services activities span energy, wind, industrial maintenance, mechanical and electromechanical works, electrical and hydraulic systems, metal fabrication, the sugar industry and public-sector contracts. Project sites are primarily in Wallonia (Liège, Namur and Charleroi), with activity also in Flanders (including Ostend and Antwerp).

Your key responsibilities

Project leadership and delivery

• Define project execution strategies, priorities, milestones and resource allocation across the portfolio, while retaining direct operational responsibility for major projects.
• Personally lead major projects while overseeing others, chairing project reviews, monitoring KPIs, driving corrective actions and reporting to management.
• Lead on-site project execution, coordinating site activities, teams and subcontractors to ensure safety, quality, cost and schedule targets are met.
• Maintain a strong field presence to monitor progress, anticipate risks, resolve operational issues and ensure effective coordination between stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with contractual commitments and coordinate internal functions, project teams and external stakeholders throughout project delivery.

Financial and contractual management

• Monitor site performance against budget and schedule, identify deviations and take corrective action to protect project margins.
• Prepare and monitor budgets, financial forecasts and cash-flow plans, reporting risks and financial exposure to management.
• Manage contractual obligations, amendments, claims and related documentation, particularly in public procurement.
• Anticipate and mitigate technical, financial and contractual risks.

Customers, teams and continuous improvement

• Represent John Cockerill in relationships with strategic customers, participate in significant negotiations and maintain long-term customer confidence.
• Lead, coach and evaluate Project Managers and project teams; develop capabilities, versatility, accountability and collaboration.
• Strengthen project management methods, planning discipline, risk anticipation and reporting, and bridge operational execution with management.
• Prepare, facilitate and follow up management committee meetings where required in the SSM context.
• Ensure HSE compliance, legal and internal procedural compliance, and participation in audits and compliance reviews.

Your team

You will collaborate with engineers, technicians, project managers, planning, legal and HR functions, customers and subcontractors. The team needs experienced guidance and further structure as project management practices continue to mature.

Following a substantial organisational restructuring, the business now benefits from a more robust structure, stronger teams and a positive, collaborative working environment. The next step is to further improve project governance, anticipation and delivery discipline. The management approach is participative, trust-based, pragmatic and action-oriented

Your profile

Experience & technical skills
• A senior project leader with at least 10 years of experience managing complex industrial projects and at least 5 years in project management role, including substantial hands-on experience in the on-site execution of industrial projects.
• Ideally a civil or industrial engineer, particularly in mechanical, electromechanical or civil engineering disciplines. A business or management degree may also be suitable when combined with substantial experience managing technical projects.
• Demonstrated expertise in complex project delivery, including site mobilisation, planning and coordination of works, subcontractor management, progress monitoring, cost control, quality, HSE and resolution of operational issues.
• Strong capabilities in financial steering, contract management, negotiation, planning and control, risk management and executive reporting, with a clear understanding of the link between site performance and project profitability.
• Sound understanding of industrial and technical environments, including multidisciplinary delivery teams, field operations and international industrial operations.
• Experience with public procurement is particularly valuable, including official correspondence, contractual amendments, claims, insurance, quality assurance, contractual risk and public-sector customer relationships.
• Fluent French and English; basic Dutch is desirable.
• Previous experience within John Cockerill and familiarity with its organisation would be an advantage.

Personal & behavioural skills
• Demonstrated leadership: sets direction, engages multidisciplinary teams, develops colleagues and builds ownership and accountability.
• Entrepreneurial judgement and autonomy takes decisions, acts promptly and takes responsibility for outcomes.
• Structured and forward-looking: anticipates risks, monitors project performance and turns complexity into practical action.
• Operational mindset and field engagement enjoys being close to site activities, works effectively with field teams and proactively addresses execution challenges.
• Financial and contractual judgement: challenges assumptions, protects project interests and understands the impact of operational performance on project margins

Influential communicators and negotiator builds credibility with strategic customers, management, project teams, subcontractors and partners.
• What success looks like

• Operational performance: contractual deadlines, budget and margin objectives, and achievement of project milestones.
• Customer outcomes: satisfaction, prevention and management of major disputes, and sustained relationships.
• HSE: prevention of serious accidents, compliance with safety rules and positive audit outcomes.
• People and organisational development: team engagement, retention, stronger Project Manager capabilities and more mature project management practices.

What we offer

At John Cockerill, we deeply value your contribution:

• Attractive salary package with extra-legal benefits: company car, meal vouchers, flat-rate expenses, hospitalisation, life, death and guaranteed-income insurance; variable remuneration of 0-25% of gross annual salary and a profit-sharing scheme linked to progress and results.
• Flexible arrangements, including 1-2 remote-working days per week after training.
• A comprehensive six-month onboarding and training programme, regular reviews and a broad training catalogue.
• Career development and potential opportunities across sectors, businesses and regions.
• 31 days off.

The recruitment process

Ready to take responsibility for major industrial projects and help shape the next stage of project management at John Cockerill Services?

The selection process includes discussions with Olivier Leroy and Jean-Marc George, preferably in person. Additional HR and final-stage arrangements will be communicated during the process.

Is it a match between you and John Cockerill? May this collaboration begin!

Want to find out more about John Cockerill Services' activities and projects? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqzD3BX6fG8

This is not the opportunity you are looking for? Join our talent pool: http://www.johncockerill.com/jobs