Ameresco has an immediate opening for
VP of Construction in
Richmond Hills, Canada. The Vice President, Construction is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and execution of Ameresco Canada's construction portfolio. The role provides strategic and operational leadership to Project Directors, Construction Managers, Project Managers, and field teams to ensure projects are delivered safely, profitably, on schedule, and in accordance with contractual obligations.
The VP of Construction serves as the senior executive accountable for construction execution across all Canadian projects and is a key member of the Canada leadership team. This is a hands-on, deliverables-focused leadership role that requires an executive who is willing to engage directly in the details of project execution, drive results, and lead from the field as well as the boardroom.
Responsibilities:Project Execution Leadership- Lead execution of all Canadian construction projects including energy infrastructure, BESS, solar, federal, utility, and industrial projects.
- Establish standardized construction methodologies, controls, and reporting requirements.
- Ensure projects achieve budget, schedule, quality, and safety objectives.
- Drive project recovery efforts for underperforming projects.
Schedule & Delivery Management- Establish national schedule governance processes.
- Review critical path activities and major project risks.
- Lead project recovery planning and execution.
- Ensure proactive management of construction delays and productivity impacts.
Client & Stakeholder Management- Act as executive sponsor for key client relationships.
- Support project teams in managing difficult customer situations and issue escalation.
- Participate in major negotiations involving project execution, claims, and change orders.
- Build long-term relationships with owners, utilities, government agencies, and strategic partners.
Commercial Risk Oversight- Ensure construction operations comply with contract requirements.
- Provide oversight of:
- Change management
- Claims management
- Surety and bonding issues
- Warranty obligations
- Commercial dispute resolution
- Partner with Legal, Contracts, and Finance to mitigate risk exposure.
People Leadership- Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing construction leaders.
- Establish succession plans for key operational roles.
- Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional respect.
- Coach Project Directors and Construction Managers on leadership and client management.
Construction Operations Excellence- Develop and implement national construction standards.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives.
- Implement lessons-learned reviews across projects.
- Establish consistent field reporting, productivity tracking, and project controls.
Financial Accountability- Responsible for construction P&L performance.
- Review project financial performance, forecasts, and earned value metrics.
- Ensure early identification and mitigation of cost overruns.
- Support annual planning and backlog execution strategies.
Health, Safety & Quality- Champion safety culture across all Canadian operations.
- Ensure compliance with applicable regulations and company standards.
- Lead quality assurance and construction quality management initiatives.
Minimum Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, or a related field;
- Minimum of 15 years of progressive construction leadership experience, including senior leadership of large-scale energy, infrastructure, or industrial projects.
Additional Qualifications:- P.Eng., PMP, or Gold Seal designation is an asset.
- Demonstrated experience delivering EPC and/or self-perform construction projects, ideally including BESS, solar, federal, or utility work.
- Proven track record managing construction P&L, project controls, schedule governance, and project recovery.
- Strong commercial acumen, including change management, claims, and dispute resolution.
- Demonstrated bias for action and a hands-on, deliverables-driven leadership style, with a willingness to engage directly in project details and lead from the field.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with experience building and developing high-performing teams.
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