VP Projects

CEL Critical Power – Powering the AI Revolution:

CEL has an opportunity for you to join our rapidly growing US business, where you will have an opportunity to make a significant impact on our immediate and long-term success of our Supply Chain function.

CEL is an Irish based 40-year manufacturer, distributor and exporter of electrical switchgear and controls, and related products and services, now focused on the supplying the global Data Centre industry.

Operating from our newly acquired 400,000ft2 facility in Williamsburg, Virginia, we aim to double in size each year for the next three years.

CEL is led by a hard-working team who follow traditional working practices, value collaboration, continuous improvement, excellence in quality and commercial curiosity; this is your chance to develop your career as part of a dynamic US SMT who will shape the future of our business.

We strongly believe that seeking out and hiring the most diverse talent and creating an inclusive workplace is the way to create an exceptional and innovative workplace for our employees which will deliver excellence in service to our customers.

We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and experience to join this multicultural, hard-working team.

Position Overview:

The position is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) responsible for leading a team of Program and Project Managers ensuring the professional delivery of complex electrical switchgear projects to our global data centre clients. This strategic leadership role ensures that all projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the highest QA and H&S standards.

Maintaining excellent client relationships and acting as a point of escalation is a critical aspect of the role. This role requires a strong technical understanding of Project Management Systems and Techniques, exceptional relationship development skills and a very high degree of financial and commercial acumen.

What You'll Be Doing:

Leadership & Strategy:

• Develop and implement a Project Management Process, ensuring alignment between US and IRL systems.
• Balance strategic goals with immediate business needs, ensuring projects align with company objectives.
• Provide strategic direction and strong leadership, ensuring your team deliver professionally / consistently.

• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration and excellence.
• Collaborate with HR to ensure workforce planning, training and succession development.

• Align your resource / capacity planning with our SIOPS process.
• Promote professional development and knowledge sharing across the team.

Financial & Project Governance:

• Ensure rigorous financial and commercial management through all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Implement and maintain department-level governance, reporting and documentation standards.
• Regularly review project performance, verify financial targets and contractual obligations are achieved with rational to explain as required.
• Implement early warning KPIs to identify a project which is not achieving its performance goals.
• Developing mitigation strategies to correct non-performing projects with peer teams as required.
• Monitor general Project Management KPI’s, ensuring trends are monitored / corrected as required.
• Provide accurate reports which provide clarity of alignment of performance to the business strategy.

Project Delivery:

• Oversee the end-to-end delivery of multiple concurrent electrical switchgear / internal CEL projects.
• Implement and utilise Master Scheduling / SIOPS processes to ensure alignment across all functions.
• Ensure adherence to project scope, timelines, budgets and quality standards.
• Implement robust project governance, risk management and reporting structures.
• Provide clear, accurate and regular reports on all active projects.

Risk Management:

• Proactively identify, monitor and mitigate project risks and issues (internal or external).
• Develop mitigation strategies and escalate to ensure project momentum and successful outcomes.
• Utilize regular Lessons Learned activities to ensure identified risks are not repeated.

Client Engagement:

• Act as a senior point of contact and escalation for key clients.
• Maintain strong client relationships, manage expectations, ensure satisfaction and repeat business.
• Ensure all commercial and contract management negotiations are carried out in line with CEL policies.
• Ability to travel in the region of 30% - 40% of standard hours.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve project delivery processes, project tools and team performance.
• Drive standardization and best practices across the Project Management function.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Engineering, Manufacturing and Supply Chain.

Key Competencies:

• Strategic and analytical thinker with a hands-on, results-driven mindset.
• Strong leadership presence and ability to inspire cross-functional teams.
• Financially and commercially astute with sound business judgment.
• Excellent problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management abilities.
• High level of integrity, professionalism and resilience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Project Management or related field with a PMP, PRINCE2 or similar project management certification being essential.
• 5+ years in a senior leadership role (VP or similar) managing technical / engineering teams.
• 10+ years of senior level PM experience, including leadership of complex, engineered-to-order projects.
• Strong background in low-voltage switchgear, power distribution, or electrical infrastructure sectors.
• Proven ability to manage highly complex, large project portfolios with full financial accountability.
• Expert in project planning tools (MS Project, Primavera, or equivalent) and project financial analysis.
• Demonstrated success in stakeholder management, risk mitigation and performance improvement.
• Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal and change-management skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to ensure our business goals and your functional goals are met / exceeded.

•  Strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, with strong analytical skills which drive decision making.

• Ability to travel are required – approx. 30% - 40%.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• A dynamic and growing team focused on innovation and excellence