Specialist Project Engineer, Development

Position Overview

You’re a senior engineering professional who brings sound judgement, systems thinking and business acumen to the development of complex capital projects. You’re comfortable balancing technical, cost, schedule, stakeholder and regulatory considerations, and you know how to turn complex information into clear recommendations and decisions. You build alignment across teams, coach others and keep multiple priorities moving in a fast-paced environment.

These qualities make you a strong candidate for our Specialist Project Engineer, Development. In this role, you’ll be the senior engineering expert for major gas capital projects through the development phase. You’ll lead direct reports and oversee broader cross-functional project teams through influence, helping major projects progress from early development through management approval and the British Columbia Utilities Commission’s Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) process.

You’ll lead the development of major gas infrastructure projects with expected total investment costs ranging from $15 million to $500 million, including transmission, distribution, compression, LNG and related infrastructure. Your work will support disciplined planning, clear decision-making, stakeholder alignment and readiness for regulatory review across our gas major projects capital portfolio.

In year 1, you will:

• Lead the planning and development of major gas projects by setting priorities, sequencing and coordinating work and keeping projects moving toward management and regulatory approval.
• Guide teams in defining and comparing project alternatives and developing cost estimates, contingency allowances, schedules, execution assumptions and recommendations for business cases, leadership decisions, and regulatory review.
• Prepare and present business cases, recommended actions and decision materials for senior management, communicating project status, key risks, required decisions, and budget and schedule trends.
• Use your engineering and project experience to balance quality, cost, timing and risk, resolve issues early and raise concerns when needed.
• Lead, coach and set priorities for direct reports who coordinate broader project teams through informal influence, while building strong working relationships across engineering, operations, project delivery and other stakeholders.
• Support regulatory applications by making sure the project’s technical, cost and schedule information is clear, complete and well supported.

In year 2, you will:

• Lead increasingly complex project development work and support annual and multi-year planning for current and emerging major gas infrastructure projects.
• Prepare and explain the information needed to support regulatory review and approval of major projects.
• Improve project-development practices, phase-gate governance tools and decision-making processes to support consistent management and regulatory reviews.
• Apply lessons learned from completed projects to improve future planning, estimates and decisions.
• Strengthen team capability through technical direction, coaching, review and knowledge sharing, while influencing cross-functional teams toward timely, well-supported decisions.

What it takes:

• A bachelor’s degree in Engineering from a recognized program, plus 8 to 12 years of relevant experience, primarily focused on capital project development and supported by engineering, project management and technical leadership experience. Requires experience developing major gas infrastructure projects, including related regulatory applications, phase-gate materials, cost estimates, schedules, risk assessment, and senior management reporting.
• Eligibility for registration as a Professional Engineer with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC.
• Strong knowledge of how major capital projects are planned and developed, including AACE guidelines and best practices, estimate classification, project controls, cost estimating, contingency planning, scheduling, risk management, phase-gate governance and project approvals.
• Strong knowledge of CPCN requirements, utility regulation, applicable codes and standards, and approval processes for major gas infrastructure projects.
• Knowledge of gas transmission, distribution, compression, LNG and related infrastructure, including how projects interact with operations and how practical design, construction, and operational needs affect project planning.
• Demonstrated ability to lead direct reports, coach others and influence cross-functional teams without relying solely on formal authority.
• Exceptional organization and the ability to manage competing priorities and demanding schedules while maintaining high-quality work and meeting deadlines.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to turn complex information into clear, practical recommendations for senior leaders and regulatory audiences.
• Comfort using project management, reporting and business software.
• A Project Management Professional (PMP) designation is considered an asset.
• Ability to travel across FortisBC’s service territory as required.