Director, Project Management Office

In January 2024, Livent merged with Allkem Limited to create Arcadium Lithium plc. While we work to integrate our technology systems, including our recruitment platforms, Arcadium Lithium plc will use Livent’s ADP system to capture all candidate information.

About Arcadium Lithium: We are change-makers, joining forces to drive progress. A world enabled by the critical mineral, Lithium - the elemental source powering modern life and our global transition to clean energy.

For decades, we’ve grown alongside and collaborated with our people, our customers and communities. Pioneering, collaborating, and evolving Together.

From the birth of the first lithium-ion battery to the breakthrough lithium advancements that have followed. We've helped lead the change, powering the future of lithium innovation.

Our growth continues to be strategic, expansive and sustainable. With a wealth of premier lithium resources spread across the world in key locations. We can reliably, safely and responsibly provide the resources to meet the diverse needs of our customers.

No matter where they are. No matter the challenge. It's all about delivering on the high expectation for quality, performance and sustainability.

And our duty goes even further. It includes everyone on the planet using a lithium-powered device or vehicle.

Every battery charged. Every device powered. Every lithium application utilized. Underscoring our commitment to quality, collaboration and our shared vision of powering a more sustainable future for everyone.

Arcadium Lithium is more than just a company. It's a promise, and a commitment by our people. To act ethically and responsibly ensuring that our legacy is one of positive impact and lasting change.

Position Summary: As part of an international project execution team, the Director- Project Management Office is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing and optimizing the project management function within Livent for Capital Projects. They will be responsible for managing the PMO for all global capital projects in excess of $20 Million. They will play a pivotal role in aligning project management practices with the Company’s strategic objectives, while maintain a focus on HSE, quality, cost and schedule. The Director – PMO will provide strategic direction, guidance and support to ensure the successful planning, execution and delivery of Capital Projects.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The PMO will support the following types of projects:

• All greenfield capital projects
• All brownfield capital expansions and
• All large manufacturing retrofits including, but not limited to, process improvements and equipment installations.

The Director - PMO will be accountable for the PMO which provide functional support to all capital projects including but not limited to:

• Strategic Leadership
  1. Develop and execute the PMO strategy, in alignment with the Company’s goal and objectives
  2. Ensure that project management practices and methodologies are in line with industry best practice and evolving trends
• Team leadership
  1. Manage and mentor a team of Project Management SME’s
  2. Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the PMO
  3. Provide a mentoring, advise and support to all project’s capital project across all elements of Project Management including:
     • Project Controls – Cost and Schedule Control
     • Reporting
     • HSSE
     • Risk Management
     • Quality Management
     • Engineering
     • Construction Management
     • Pre-Commissioning
     • Fabrication Management
• Resource Management
  1. Oversee resource allocation and capacity planning
  2. Oversight of Capital Function employee/talent development systems including recruitment/ transfers/promotions/training & development/ succession planning
  3. Monitor project portfolios to balance workload and resource availability
• Systems and Processes
  1. Custodian of Project Management Systems including tools and software
  2. Custodian of Capital Deployment Process (CDP)
  3. Standardize approach to project execution where applicable.
  4. Custodian of Lessons Learned database and systems and continuous improvement
  5. Project standard’s owner/custodian
• Assurance
  1. Internal Peer and Assurance Reviews
  2. Joint Venture Assurance Reviews
• Project Management expertise
  1. Project Management SME
  2. Mentor, advising and support projects

This position reports to the Chief Projects Officer. Preference will be given to candidates either located in (or willing to relocate to) Houston.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Development and execution of the PMO Strategy including:

• the required organization and human resources
• the development of Project Management standards, policies and procedures that are fit for purpose and ensuring that they are in full compliance with
  1. regulation requirements (laws, regulations, codes)
  2. Livent’s policies, practices, procedures and objectives for Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS)
  3. Livent’s policies, practices, procedures and objectives for Quality.
• implementation of project management templates for Project Execution Plan, Monthly Reporting & Steering Committee meetings.
• Provide peer and assurance reviews for Capital Projects executed by Livent
• Provide external assurance reviews for Capital Projects executed by Joint Venture or Livent Partners
• Define and be the custodian of Project Management Systems including tools and software
• In accordance with Livent HR processes and systems provide oversight of Capital Function employee/ talent development systems including recruitment/ transfers/promotions/ training & development/ succession planning
• Develop and be the custodian of Capital Projects Lessons Learned database and processes
• As the Project Management SME provide mentoring, advice and support to Capital Projects

Travel: 30-50% travel required, including frequent international travel to Asia and South America.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related discipline or equivalent job experience in lieu of formal degree, required.
• 15+ years of Project Management experience in execution of major capital projects with budgets in excess of $500M required.
• Experience in managing a PMO in a capital intense heavy industry such as refining, chemical processing or similar
• Project Management related certification, such as PMP/Agile/Lean a plus.
• Experience coordinating outside services with an EPCM partner through the entire project lifecycle required.
• Experience working cross-functionally with international teams and international projects required (experience with capital projects in Asia and South America, a plus).
• Experience with modular project delivery a plus.
• Experience with SAP project module and other basic SAP transactions a plus.

Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Proven track record of safety leadership including setting expectations and being visible in the field.
• Expert knowledge of Project Management methodologies, processes, tools, systems and best practices
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Proven ability to lead and influence Project Directors and Managers from a PMO perspective
• Experience in Risk Management and Project Execution Planning
• Knowledge of engineering and construction cost estimating and structure.
• Knowledge of construction contracting strategies and package preparation requirements.
• Knowledge of tools and methodologies for cost and schedule control (engineering, procurement and construction progress, productivity measurement, completion forecasts).
• Knowledge of ASME and other codes typically applied in capital project delivery.
• Availability and willingness to work outside normal U.S. business hours.
• Proficiency in English language required; proficiency in additional languages such as Spanish a plus.
• Strong negotiation skills for effective management and resolution of conflicts with internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers of equipment and services, fabricators as well as construction contractors.
• Strong organizational and communication skills for effective leadership of multi-disciplinary teams and alignment of project objectives between various stakeholder groups.
• Enthusiasm, collaborative spirit, creative problem-solving skills, and drive for continuous improvement.

Safety Requirements: All employees are expected to carry out their work functions in a healthy and safe manner, to encourage and support safe work practices at all times, and to report and/or rectify any unsafe conditions that may come to their attention immediately.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to walk and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; climb or balance and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and color vision.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Personal Protective Equipment: Must wear PPE as required based on job duties or when traveling to locations where PPE is essential.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

LIVENT employs people across a broad range of occupations in locations across the world. We are looking for people to join us in creating, developing, and improving our products, our processes, and our markets. Employees enjoy competitive compensation, a menu of work/life benefits and opportunities to continue developing their skills and building their career.

LIVENT is an Equal Opportunity Employer, EEO, AAE, MFDV and supports a drug free workplace.

based on job duties.