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Director of Capital Projects
Crest IndustriesGeismar, Louisiana, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 6 May 2025
About the role
Come join our team at Optimal!
We know a few things about competing with giants and exceeding expectations.After years of working in the field, our founders decided to break from tradition and build the company they wanted to work for. They believed in starting a company rooted in trust, its team, and the idea that everyone matters and has a part in getting the job done right.
Quickly building a reputation from the ground up and growing the company along with our list of clients, Optimal is now influencing the industry and the people we serve. We live by the values that make us who we are.And that is how we deliver the impossible for our clients and team members every day.
Optimal Field Services, a Crest Industries company, is looking to hire an experienced Director of Capital Projects to work at our Geismar, LA Office. The Director of Capital Projects is a dynamic and experienced leader whose primary focus is on growing our capital projects division. This executive-level role is responsible for the full lifecycle of capital projects—from preconstruction and estimating through execution, closeout, and client relationship management. This is a seasoned leader with deep experience in industrial construction (especially refineries, petrochemical, and chemical plants), a sharp commercial mindset, and a hands-on understanding of field operations.
Responsibilities:Leadership & Strategy· Provide executive oversight of all capital project activities across the region.· Develop and implement long-term strategies to grow the capital projects division, including market penetration, resource planning, and client alignment.· Lead, mentor, and develop project managers, superintendents, estimators, and project controls personnel. Project Execution· Oversee the execution of capital projects from estimating through final turnover, ensuring performance in safety, quality, schedule, and budget.· Serve as an escalation point for resolving project challenges and ensuring alignment between field execution and contract requirements.· Drive process improvement and standardization across project delivery, forecasting, and reporting.
Estimating & Preconstruction· Review and approve capital project estimates and proposals for accuracy, competitiveness, and risk.· Work closely with preconstruction, procurement, and engineering teams to ensure scope clarity and constructability.· Engage in client negotiations and contract development during the bid phase.
Client Engagement & Business Development· Serve as a primary point of contact for key capital clients; build strong, long-term relationships.· Identify opportunities for repeat work, scope expansion, and new business with existing and prospective clients.· Represent the company at industry events, client meetings, and strategic forums.
Financial Management· Monitor project financial performance including revenue, margins, and cash flow.· Support budgeting and forecasting for the capital division in coordination with finance and executive teams.· Ensure project risks are identified early and managed effectively.
Requirements:· Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field; MBA or advanced degree is a plus.· 15+ years of experience in industrial construction, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing large-scale capital projects.· Proven success in leading capital project teams in refineries, petrochemical, or chemical facilities.· Strong estimating background and a deep understanding of cost control, productivity, and execution planning.· Demonstrated success in building and growing client relationships and business units.· Excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.· Proficient in project controls systems (Primavera P6, estimating software,
We know a few things about competing with giants and exceeding expectations.After years of working in the field, our founders decided to break from tradition and build the company they wanted to work for. They believed in starting a company rooted in trust, its team, and the idea that everyone matters and has a part in getting the job done right.
Quickly building a reputation from the ground up and growing the company along with our list of clients, Optimal is now influencing the industry and the people we serve. We live by the values that make us who we are.And that is how we deliver the impossible for our clients and team members every day.
Optimal Field Services, a Crest Industries company, is looking to hire an experienced Director of Capital Projects to work at our Geismar, LA Office. The Director of Capital Projects is a dynamic and experienced leader whose primary focus is on growing our capital projects division. This executive-level role is responsible for the full lifecycle of capital projects—from preconstruction and estimating through execution, closeout, and client relationship management. This is a seasoned leader with deep experience in industrial construction (especially refineries, petrochemical, and chemical plants), a sharp commercial mindset, and a hands-on understanding of field operations.
Responsibilities:Leadership & Strategy· Provide executive oversight of all capital project activities across the region.· Develop and implement long-term strategies to grow the capital projects division, including market penetration, resource planning, and client alignment.· Lead, mentor, and develop project managers, superintendents, estimators, and project controls personnel. Project Execution· Oversee the execution of capital projects from estimating through final turnover, ensuring performance in safety, quality, schedule, and budget.· Serve as an escalation point for resolving project challenges and ensuring alignment between field execution and contract requirements.· Drive process improvement and standardization across project delivery, forecasting, and reporting.
Estimating & Preconstruction· Review and approve capital project estimates and proposals for accuracy, competitiveness, and risk.· Work closely with preconstruction, procurement, and engineering teams to ensure scope clarity and constructability.· Engage in client negotiations and contract development during the bid phase.
Client Engagement & Business Development· Serve as a primary point of contact for key capital clients; build strong, long-term relationships.· Identify opportunities for repeat work, scope expansion, and new business with existing and prospective clients.· Represent the company at industry events, client meetings, and strategic forums.
Financial Management· Monitor project financial performance including revenue, margins, and cash flow.· Support budgeting and forecasting for the capital division in coordination with finance and executive teams.· Ensure project risks are identified early and managed effectively.
Requirements:· Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field; MBA or advanced degree is a plus.· 15+ years of experience in industrial construction, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role managing large-scale capital projects.· Proven success in leading capital project teams in refineries, petrochemical, or chemical facilities.· Strong estimating background and a deep understanding of cost control, productivity, and execution planning.· Demonstrated success in building and growing client relationships and business units.· Excellent negotiation, communication, and leadership skills.· Proficient in project controls systems (Primavera P6, estimating software,
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